Wallabies: Dave Rennie aiming for fast start against the Springboks

Colin Newboult 22 Aug 2022 8:57 AM

Australian coach Dave Rennie is seen before the second Test match of the International Rugby Test series between Australia and England at at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Saturday, July 9, 2022. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY ** STRICTLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE, NO BOOKS **

Australia head coach Dave Rennie ‘expects to see a response’ when they take on South Africa in the third round of the Rugby Championship.

Following a positive opening to the tournament, coming from 19-10 behind to beat Argentina, they were utterly annihilated a week later.

The Wallabies succumbed 48-17 to Los Pumas in what was their largest ever defeat to the South Americans.

Although they have sustained a number of injuries and absentees during the early part of this international season, Australia are not using it as an excuse.

Rectifying the first half performances

Rennie is instead looking to rectify their efforts in the opening quarter of matches having struggled in the first half of both Argentina Tests and two of the three England clashes in July.

“We haven’t started well enough, that’s an issue for us and we’re look at what we’re doing there,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“We’re looking at everything we’re doing. It’s easy to blame players when you get a really disappointing result, but we’re looking at everything.

“How we’ve prepared them and ensuring that we’re doing every little thing to make sure we’re ready to go on Saturday.

“We’ve got an outstanding staff and, if you ask the players, they’ll say they’re being well catered for. But you can’t abdicate responsibility when you get a result like that.”

The Wallabies have had a week off following that thrashing at the hands of Argentina, but have returned to camp with renewed vigour to right the wrongs of that encounter.

They have reviewed the game and Rennie is fully anticipating his players to put in a much-improved display against the Springboks.

Looking forward

“Ideally we win an England series and we’re in a solid position in the Rugby Championship. It’s disappointing, but we’ve got to look forward,” he said.

“We get a bit of ammunition back this week, it’s going to help.

“I expect to see resolve. There’s been a fair bit of poking in the chest, a little bit last night and today. I expect to see a response.”

Australia