AUSTRALIA

Wallaby line-out not so Sharpe

Sunday 03rd August 2008

Bound and gagged: All Blacks lock Ali Williams gets to grips with the Wallaby veteran

Australia's line-out ace Nathan Sharpe says that he struggles to remember a time when the Wallabies' jumpers were so comprehensively disrupted as during Saturday's Bledisloe Cup demolition job by New Zealand.

The official stats show that Australia lost eight of their line-outs in the 39-10 loss at Eden Park against a side they are usually considered superior to in the air.

Replacement lock Dan Vickerman ended up being Australia's top jumper as the Wallabies' poor line-out contributed to 27 turnovers.

"It's been a fair while since that one (a line-out so poor) so all you can do there is learn from your mistakes and, next time you go forward into a match, make sure that you've got those things that placed pressure on us sorted out and move forward from here," Sharpe told AAP.

Sharpe, who captains the Western Force, has taken charge of the Wallabies line-out while Vickerman makes his slow but steady return from injury.

The situation could be a luxury coach Robbie Deans can no longer afford as the side heads to South Africa for two crucial Tri-Nations Tests later this month.

"I just think generally inaccuracy from everyone right across the board (was the problem)," Sharpe said.

"Our lifting, our throwing and our jumping, a combination of that just puts pressure on ourselves so it was disappointing.

"The line-out's been going very well up until tonight (Saturday) and when you have a night like that it seems like nothing falls into place.

"And coupled with that it was one of those games where it felt like everything the All Blacks did turned to gold."

On the back of three gruelling matches in a row, the Wallabies receive a three-week break before tackling the Springboks in Durban on August 23.

Sharpe felt the break would give the team a chance to refresh and regroup after three consecutive bruising encounters.

"There's going to be plenty of enthusiasm getting over there and that is one thing that's certainly very important in these big games," he said.

"When you have a loss like this it just about guarantees that you're going to have pretty good performance when the team next goes onto the field.

"Whilst the guys are all going to hurt for the next couple of weeks until we play the next game, the next performance will be a big one from us I'm sure."

After a dominant performance last week, the Australian forwards were also thoroughly outplayed by an All Black pack buoyed by the return of captain Richie McCaw.

The loss of influential number eight Rocky Elsom was felt, openside flanker George Smith was fighting a losing battle with referee Mark Lawrence and Phil Waugh found the going tough after being concussed by McCaw's elbow in a tackle.

"I think we put too pressure on ourselves in not executing things well right across from the line-out to the breakdown as well," said Sharpe.

"When they [the All Blacks] come with that sort of intensity and we make those sorts of mistakes then it puts them on the front foot and it's very hard to recover from that."

Wallabies pivot Matt Giteau described the setback as a "reality check" for a previously buoyant squad.

"It might be good for the guys and bring us a bit back down to earth," he said.