KEY POINTS:
Wallabies assistant coach Jim Williams says the Australian side is ready to fix the defensive lapses which allowed All Blacks star Daniel Carter to run riot during last Saturday's Bledisloe Cup rugby test in Sydney.
New Zealand lost the match 34-19 but through no fault of the brilliant
Carter, who terrorised the Wallabies defence with several clean breaks.
"Individuals making sure that they can make their tackles, that's what probably let us down a little bit, just individuals missing tackles," Williams said.
"So we made sure the guys are aware of that and they'll rectify it and make sure they know what to do next time they come up against him."
Australia's defence has been a standout since Robbie Deans' takeover of the side this international season - apart from the lapses on Carter - and Williams said the Wallabies' consistent intensity had impressed him most.
"The work at the breakdown's been good and their scrambling," Williams said.
"Ever since the first test against Ireland we've had to do a fair bit of scrambling so they've become adept at defending well, covering each other.
"Their attitude and their talk's been excellent and it's just improved and obviously the physicality with each game has come up as well."
But the Wallabies' defence will face a stern test at Eden Park on Saturday as the All Blacks rebound seeking to preserve a winning record against Australia at the venue which goes back 22 years.
Meanwhile, Wallabies props Al Baxter and Benn Robinson have been granted some creative license, something which has been evident in their mobility and ball-play this season.
"I think it's just a general philosophy of how Robbie wants us to play the game, it's pretty much there's no restrictions, you do what you want to do, obviously to a certain extent," Baxter said.
"You get your bread and butter done and then anything you add on top of that is all good. Benn and I are really enjoying ourselves because I guess we have that freedom to go and look for work and do things that we haven't been required or sort of been asked to do in the past.
"It's probably partially the ELVs (experimental law variations) but I would say probably a combination of both ELVs and Robbie.
"Robbie's certainly just said to us, 'look, you bring you own skill set to the table and you do everything how you like'."
Meanwhile, the Wallabies were unconcerned at the prospect of a contest marred by Auckland's forecast wet weather.
"Obviously there'll probably be more spilt ball so I guess there will be more scrums and set pieces, but as a front-rower that's what you want, the set piece is your area of expertise so I'm more than happy with that," Baxter said.
"The Waratahs, I think we played eight of the 15 (Super 14) games in pretty much torrential conditions so all the Waratahs are certainly used to it."
- AAP