AUSTALIAN COACH Robbie Deans has refused to blame wet and windy conditions for today’s shock loss against Scotland.
The Wallabies suffered their second straight loss to the physical Scots in a match played in gale-force winds and driving rain at Hunter Stadium. And Deans conceded his side’s lack of killer instinct and cohesion were to blame for the 9-6 reverse.
“We weren’t all on one page,” a dejected Deans said after the loss. ”We lacked a bit of clarity around our direction in terms of just banking games like that and I guess it’s not in our DNA (to play in wet and windy conditions) but it’s an art we’ve got to develop.
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“We had enough possession to put the game out beyond reach but credit to Scotland they got one opportunity in the second half and took it.
“We started the half pretty well we thought and had momentum but as tends to happen in conditions like that when you don’t turn the scoreboard over it gets messier as the game goes on the opposition grows a leg and anxiety kicks in.
“The conditions obviously contributed to that … but we lacked the co-ordination to work our way out of it.
Asked how much of a factor the conditions were amid reports some Wallabies players were suffering from hypothermia after the match, Deans praised the plucky Scots.
“We weren’t accurate enough in closing the game out it was that simple,” he said. ”You could put it down to missed kicks, we had opportunities to turn the scoresheet over we didn’t take them, the Scots got one and they took it.”
Deans bristled at suggestions the Wallabies disrespected the Scots by scheduling a Test match four days before the first Test against Wales in Brisbane.
“You’re talking to the wrong bloke really,” he said. ”There’s a lot of respect from our group, total respect, it’s a test match. Those (scheduling) decisions are made higher up the food chain.”
The coach concedes there were similarities with last year’s 32-23 loss to Samoa but is confident his players can regroup against the Six Nations champions.
“It’s a similar circumstance, but something good came out of that so that’ll be our intention in this instance,” he said.
Deans dejected after Scotland shock
AUSTALIAN COACH Robbie Deans has refused to blame wet and windy conditions for today’s shock loss against Scotland.
The Wallabies suffered their second straight loss to the physical Scots in a match played in gale-force winds and driving rain at Hunter Stadium. And Deans conceded his side’s lack of killer instinct and cohesion were to blame for the 9-6 reverse.
“We weren’t all on one page,” a dejected Deans said after the loss. ”We lacked a bit of clarity around our direction in terms of just banking games like that and I guess it’s not in our DNA (to play in wet and windy conditions) but it’s an art we’ve got to develop.
“We had enough possession to put the game out beyond reach but credit to Scotland they got one opportunity in the second half and took it.
“We started the half pretty well we thought and had momentum but as tends to happen in conditions like that when you don’t turn the scoreboard over it gets messier as the game goes on the opposition grows a leg and anxiety kicks in.
“The conditions obviously contributed to that … but we lacked the co-ordination to work our way out of it.
Asked how much of a factor the conditions were amid reports some Wallabies players were suffering from hypothermia after the match, Deans praised the plucky Scots.
“We weren’t accurate enough in closing the game out it was that simple,” he said. ”You could put it down to missed kicks, we had opportunities to turn the scoresheet over we didn’t take them, the Scots got one and they took it.”
Deans bristled at suggestions the Wallabies disrespected the Scots by scheduling a Test match four days before the first Test against Wales in Brisbane.
“You’re talking to the wrong bloke really,” he said. ”There’s a lot of respect from our group, total respect, it’s a test match. Those (scheduling) decisions are made higher up the food chain.”
The coach concedes there were similarities with last year’s 32-23 loss to Samoa but is confident his players can regroup against the Six Nations champions.
“It’s a similar circumstance, but something good came out of that so that’ll be our intention in this instance,” he said.
VIDEO: Scottish players celebrate famous win against Australia… with a head-butt
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