New Zealand hooker Dane Coles says the All Blacks pack has work to do to take on the Wallabies scrum after contrasting fortunes in their last Test outings.
Coles was impressed with the Wallabies’ set-piece work in their win over Argentina in Brisbane, where the Aussie front rowers exerted dominance over their Pumas rivals.
"They gave them a bit of a touch up,” Coles said.
"I think it is coming down to they’ve adjusted to that new law better than other teams, and I thought their bench was good when they come on too. They caused a bit of damage with their front row.
"And our game we weren’t too flash, we got pushed over the ball a couple of times by the Boks. So we need to do a bit of work there. They have a pretty experienced front row and obviously the bench came on and did a job as well.
"We need to adapt a bit better and be a bit sharper, to stay in the game.”
Coles explained the law change, and required adaptation, was around a recent World Rugby edict outlawing the practice of hookers resting their heads on a rivals shoulder before the scrum engages.
"Now they want space between your head and their shoulder and more of a gap,” Coles said, adding it was only a minor adjustment.
The All Blacks say are they’re looking to improve in a handful of areas after opening their Rugby Championship campaign with a narrow win in Argentina and a draw against the Springboks in Wellington.
Like Australia and South Africa, the All Blacks made plenty of changes to their team between those two Tests but Coles said the basic focus was on fixing up a sub-standard skill level across both.
"If you look at those first two games, there are a lot of guys who haven’t played rugby for a while. I think especially in the first half of those games, our skill sets were terrible,” he said.
"We dropped a lot of pill. We can blame it on a bit of rust but there is an expectation you have to go out there and perform. Little things like that.
"We got some good learnings from our defence side and our attack side, form the review.
"Without giving too much away, you own your skill sets and then tempering our attack plan and our defence plans, we can hopefully … well we have to to better, because if we play like that from the last few weeks it’s going to be a tough old day.”
The Wallabies have indicated they’ll keep tinkering with their starting team ahead of the World Cup but the All Blacks appear likely to field as strong a line-up as possible, to post as strong a performance as possible.
That could be seen as a measure to ensure the All Blacks establish, and then carry forward, some momentum into the World Cup, which starts next month.
But Coles and All Black veteran Ben Smith both stressed the focus of the Kiwis would be strictly on the Bledisloe Cup, and nothing further.
"I know you guys are thinking about the World Cup, but for us … if you do have that on your mind, it’s going to trip you up and you’re not going to perform,” Coles said.
"I was reminded pretty early when I came into this team about how important the Bledisloe Cup is. You really want to be the team holds it.
"Sorry about the cliche but all we can do is focus on this week and not look ahead or worry about World Cup momentum or selection. It’s about Bled One, putting everything you can in so we are in the best shape for Saturday, and to get it.
"I think that will be both team’s mentality. Because if you think about World Cup selection and momentum going into a World Cup, you are taking attention away form where it needs to be. And everyone’s attention needs to be in Perth.”
Smith sidestepped a question on whether the Wallabies would be a lesser rival force without Israel Folau.
"Obviously he is a world class player Israel but they have other quality backs, Kurtley Beale steps into that role and he has that same x-factor. He is a quality player too, so they’ve got that depth,” Smith said.
Coles said he hadn’t studied the Wallabies’ opening two games with any great depth but felt they’d be in the same boat as the All Blacks: better for the run.
"They have always had that flair. It was a good turnaround from them,” he said.
"They didn’t start the competition the way they wanted to but you could see the way they played against the Argies, they had an attacking mindset.
"I think both teams are trying new things and I think it is a bit of a learning stage, and getting better.
"Both teams will be better off for it after those first two games.”
The Wallabies take on New Zealand at Optus Stadium, Perth, on Saturday August 10, kicking off at 5;45pm local, 7;45pm AEST, with the Wallaroos-Black Ferns kicking off at 3pm local, 5pm AEST. The Wallabies are LIVE on Network Ten, FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and RUGBY.com.au RADIO while the Wallaroos will be shown on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.
