KEY POINTS:
Wallaby fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper only gave himself a slim chance of being retained for the Tri-Nations decider tomorrow.
At best he felt he might sneak onto the bench, after blaming himself for many of the Wallabies' woes during their humiliating 53-8 defeat - their worst ever - in
their last match against the Springboks. It is a result which has stained Robbie Deans' record even though it was only his second loss since taking over as coach this season.
Ashley-Cooper expected to be chopped for his display but Deans sees a great deal of potential in the fullback and has offered him the chance of redemption in the Tri-Nations decider.
Deans likes the fullback's all-round game though he was bemused at Ashley-Cooper's poor tactical kicking and chasing in the Johannesburg defeat. He was part of a back three which failed to click and looked very disorganised in their communication.
They hung back instead of chasing to apply pressure to the Springboks and the home team were able to mount counter-attacks far too easily.
But Ashley-Cooper held his place in a backline otherwise heavily rejigged for tomorrow's decider. Captain Stirling Mortlock moves from centre - where he has often plagued the All Blacks - to second five-eighths.
Ashley-Cooper has vowed there will be no repeat tomorrow at Suncorp Stadium.
He says he needs to repay Deans for giving him the chance to make amends as the Wallabies chase their first Tri-Nations title in seven years.
"Everyone was very worried after that last performance in South Africa, well, I certainly was," Ashley-Cooper said.
"I took that loss very badly. I wasn't very happy with all my kick returns, and I certainly thought that had an effect, an impact, on the team's overall performance. So I hope to rectify all that this weekend.
"Kicking up-and-unders is a tactic all teams use with the new laws, but obviously the execution wasn't on in Johannesburg.
"The kicks were too deep, and that's why I've been working pretty hard this week on those kick returns."
The fullback refused to blame the altitude for his kicking inaccuracy but perhaps gave a clue to his chasing reluctance when he said the conditions made it pretty tough on the lungs and fitness.
"Sometimes it felt as if I was in no-man's land," he said.
"But I suppose that came from problems with communication among the back three. We were all off, and that certainly reflected in the performance."
While Ashley-Cooper has vowed to sort out the kick-and-chase element of his repertoire, he will also be expected to address the All Blacks' kicking tactics which will have him scuttling around Suncorp.
He has been practising getting into position to defuse the angles from Daniel Carter's sweet left boot and coming forward to meet the grubbers and chips the All Blacks five-eighths also uses.
"When you compete against Dan Carter, you expect to be targeted," the Wallaby said. "Every fullback does. He's got a great kicking game, so hopefully he is a little bit off on Saturday. It all revolves around getting to know his left foot, knowing where he likes to kick, where he likes to put them, and defending well by getting good field position, and getting there early. You have to anticipate."
When the Wallabies announced their combination for this test, it placed even more heat on Ashley-Cooper as coach Deans has chosen just two back reserves.
Drew Mitchell can cover wing or fullback but Deans will be wary about using him too early to cover any frailties in case there are final quarter injuries which need to be covered.
It has left the Wallabies and Ashley-Cooper little room to manoeuvre and no time for stagefright.