Deans and Mortlock : Wallabies still believe

Coach Robbie Deans and captain Stirling Mortlock are confident the Wallabies can bounce back in Brisbane and win the Tri-Nations.

Both coach and captain firmly believe that the Men of Gold have got what it takes to break New Zealand’s stranglehold on the two pieces of silverware up for grabs - the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cups.

In the wake of Australia’s heaviest ever Test defeat at the hands of the Springboks last Saturday, Mortlock and Deans remained positive that the team that broke the Wallabies’ eight year losing streak in South Africa can deliver the goods in eight days time in Brisbane.

Deans said that to focus too hard on the raw statistics of the loss would do an injustice to the progress that the team has made since he took control of the Wallabies at the beginning of June.

“I'm not too concerned about the numbers to be frank” said a brutally honest Deans. “It hurts when you lose. You can chase the statistics all you like.”

The Wallabies 27-15 victory over South Africa the week before in Durban showed that a new look Wallabies side under the guidance of the master tactician could win away from home, and win well.

However as the old adage goes ‘a week in Rugby Union is a long time’, and the Wallabies certainly learnt their lesson the hard way, in front of a patriotic crowd at Coca-Cola (formerly Ellis) Park when they were outclassed by their hungrier opponents by a staggering 53-8.

Suddenly the drought breaking win in Durban was threatening to become nothing more than a distant memory. The Men of Gold returned home with as many questions than answers.

"It was disappointing, disappointing and disappointing," Deans said.

Nonetheless the game in Johannesburg may prove to be a blessing in disguise with the Wallabies mentor claiming that the loss will better prepare the team for when they take on the All Blacks in what has become a Tri-Nation’s “Grand Final”.

"We have genuinely started something," he continued. "We've picked up something to show for it along the way, but the thing we'd really like to show for it is ahead of us”.

Stirlingechoed his coaches sentiments. “There's nothing we can do or say that'll change that result, we get an opportunity now to have a few days off and then a real genuine chance to do something special in a week and a half," said the Wallabies Captain Courageous.

The hard running Brumbies centre says that the strength within the squad would allow them to regroup after the heavy loss to the Boks’.

"I guess as a group we have proved that we can come back from disappointment so that's one positive thing," he said.

"But certainly at the moment we'll be licking a few wounds and taking this time to reflect and re-energise so that when we get back into camp on Sunday we're ready to go."

One thing is for certain, line-out ace Dan Vickerman will be unavailable for selection for Brisbane after the shoulder injury he sustained against the Springboks in South Africa has been slow to recover.

A similar injury to inside-centre Berrick Barnes in the same match has also been slow to heal and Barnes only rates himself as a 50/50 starter. An injury cloud also surrounds prop Benn Robinson after he injured his hand in the big loss but the injury is suspected to be only minor so Robinson will most likely start the final game of this year’s Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series.

Despite the obvious injury concerns for the squad, Deans said that he will not look beyond the current squad of players for inspiration as he believes every player within it is capable of delivering victory against the All Blacks.

Once again Mortlock mirrored his coaches optimistic sentiments.

“We have so much to play for next week” finished the 31-year-old, "I think everyone will be absolutely mentally where they need to be, in the right place."