High-spirited training with punches thrown was “healthy competition” within the Wallaby squad in the countdown to their opening World Cup game tomorrow, center Anthony Fainga’a said yesterday.
There were reports of an intense workout by the Wallabies squad at a closed training session on Wednesday, with flying punches underscoring the pent-up tension and aggression within the ranks ahead of the Italy game.
Flanker David Pocock was quoted as saying the “the boys just got stuck into each other” as it got willing at training.
Photo: Reuters
“It was brutal. It was full-on contact, very physical and pretty intense,” Pocock said.
“Guys like Wycliff Palu were just fired up, which was great to see, particularly for the group. I think it’s safe to say he is back to full fitness after yesterday [Wednesday],” he said.
Rugged-tackling outside center Fainga’a didn’t shirk the issue when probed by reporters yesterday about the reports.
“There’s 30 guys in a squad and only 22 can put on the jumpers, so there’s always going to be a few punches and words at training,” the Queensland Reds’ midfielder said.
“There’s spots up for grabs and no one has really secured their spot, so it’s one of those things that need to be sorted. That’s how we become the better players, by having guys chasing right behind you and making you become a better player, but also just keeps you on your toes the whole time,” he said.
“It creates a healthy culture. You have to take a game attitude to every training session that you have, so we train how we play,” he added.
Deposed Wallaby captain Rocky Elsom said full-blooded training was the right preparation for a fierce contest with the Azzurri forwards at North Harbour.
“I can rarely ever fault us at training. I think if there’s one thing we do well and that’s prepare,” blindside flanker Elsom said.
“We know Italy are a very good side, we’ve experienced pressure from them in the past, so I think we have a reasonable handle of what they are going to bring to the game,” he said.
Fainga’a, who has justified coach Robbie Deans’s faith in him after the shock dumping of 92-capped Matt Giteau from the Wallaby squad, said he was working hard on developing an understanding in the centers with fellow newcomer Pat McCabe.
“It’s something Pat and I have been working hard on and we’re also working with Quade [Cooper] to make sure that we both understand his game,” he said.
“Both Italy’s centers are fantastic and for us it’s about containing their backline, they’re very big dudes so it’s going to be a test on Sunday [tomorrow]. I’m a tackling center, that’s my trademark, but it’s do what I do and that’s tackling, run hard, ball play if I have to and play like another 12 [inside center] with the 13 [outside center] on my back,” he said.
Fainga’a, whose twin brother Saia is tomorrow’s reserve hooker, said he has benefitted from playing outside Cooper for the Reds and Wallabies.
“I’ve learned a lot playing outside Quade. He has been sort of our quarter-back, he just throws passes and he only attacks so it’s been good,” he said.
“I’ve played with him over the last two years so I have got a bit of an understanding of Quade Cooper and how he works. I know just from his body language how things can pan out,” Fainga’a said.
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