Wallabies think they have jump on us

CHRISTCHURCH - Sound familiar? One side backs its scrum, the other has big raps on its lineout.

It was a scenario played out at the start of this international season when the All Blacks flexed their scrummaging muscles and the rest of their game to battle past the Irish lineout and tenacity.

That balancing act re-emerges at Christchurch this weekend with the All Blacks confident they can worry the Wallabies with their scrum while the visitors have retained a pack full of lineout leapers.

The Wallabies feel that if conditions are at all difficult on Saturday night they will be able to create a decisive edge with a cluster of specialist jumpers: Dan Vickerman, Nathan Sharpe, Mark Chisholm, Rocky Elsom and possibly George Smith as well.

"When you have four lineout jumpers it makes it harder for the opposition to cover the 10 metres space," said Sharpe, who calls the Wallaby lineouts.

"The lineout usually has a big influence on games, especially Bledisloe Cup matches," he told the Australian.

"If one team can get the upper hand in the lineout, especially in wet conditions, it makes it difficult for the other team to get out of its own half and establish an attacking platform."

The All Blacks struggled on their ball against twin Irish leaping threat of Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan and need to refine their strategies for the Awesome Foursome threat from the Wallabies.

The Australians coped comfortably in the lineout against the Irish last week in Perth and beyond that, new assistant coach Michael Foley was predicting great things for his locks, Sharpe and Daniel Vickerman.

Foley felt the pair complemented each other so well in general play they could become one of the best locking combinations in Wallaby history. On Saturday they had to dominate the lineout initially so the Wallabies could work their way into the test.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks have been working extra hard on their lineout drills to correct some of the frailties of the opening three tests.

"It feels smoother, there has been a lot of work done on ironing out combinations and getting different options," rookie test lock Jason Eaton said yesterday.

"Our lineouts have been terrible so far but we are confident we can change that."

While any of the All Black back five can jump, they rely more on finding space for Eaton or Chris Jack, who will play his 50th test on Saturday.

Steve Hansen, the assistant coach in charge of the forwards, spoke of the greater emphasis this week on the forward exchanges and the way the Wallabies had responded to some of their previous deficiencies.

"The set pieces are obviously going to be an area of the test where there will be a huge focus," he said.

"They probably feel they have an edge at lineout time and we may have a small edge at scrumtime but we'll see what happens.

"Australia are very similar to us in having three coaches coming back from the UK, as we [Graham Henry, Hansen and Wayne Smith] did in 2004. With us there was a huge emphasis on set pieces, and the physicality of the game.

"I'm sure that's what Australia are looking to do too right now."

During the series against Ireland, Henry defended the performances of individuals and skirted around the team efforts. He has however, since expressed concern about the side's efficiency.

"We have shown a lot of character and backbone but we have not played well in the last three games," he said.

* The Wallabies arrived to a chilly welcome in Christchurch yesterday prepared for the winter blast with woollen hats and thermal vests.

Captain George Gregan said the chilling 6C temperatures were not a problem despite the Wallabies having trained in the almost-tropical climes of Coffs Harbour on the northern New South Wales coast.