Rotation tactic piles on Rugby World Cup pressure

Rotation is a murky subject in All Black discussions, but the Wallabies are comfortable with the concept.

Assistant coach David Nucifora was bullish about the idea yesterday as he spoke about the side's opening victory against Italy and their next assignment against Ireland at Eden Park on Saturday.

"I think it is good if everyone is putting pressure on everyone else," he said.

"If we are too settled then people will get comfortable and we don't want to be too settled.

"We'd much prefer if every player got the chance, whether it is off the bench in some of the other games, and keeps applying pressure to guys who are getting run-on positions and that is the way we will get the best performances out of everyone."

Nucifora coached the Brumbies in the Super 14 series then switched to the Blues before returning to the Australian Rugby Union and the Wallabies.

He thinks the Wallabies are being practical with their ideas about testing the bulk of their squad under the pressure of match conditions.

Teams all had 30 players and the Wallabies intended using as many as possible to ensure they got a fair chance to showcase their credentials.

They were under way in their preparation for game two against Ireland who would pose a much different set of threats than Italy did at the weekend.

Italy had not deviated much from their usual patterns.

They put a great deal of heat on at the tackle, setpiece and with box kicks into space.

It was a strong formula and would give other teams trouble in their pool.

"Ireland have probably got a bit more in their attacking basket than the Italians, with some of their backs, so they will throw more at us in the backs and ask different questions of us defensively," Nucifora suggested.

They would also be rugged competitors in the tackle area and that would be a massive test for the Wallabies.

Nucifora defended his team scrum, saying they had one lapse on their line but otherwise showed they could compete strongly. All that showed was that any mental miscues would get punished.

The Wallabies enjoyed playing Ireland in World Cups.

They were always great competitors and demanded enormous respect and that sort of attention to detail would be right in the Wallabies eyeline this week.

Openside flanker David Pocock will be a key man in the breakdown battle.

He was not delirious when he was subbed against Italy but knew it was a plan to give others valuable matchplay.

A bonus-point victory was a strong start for the Wallabies after being in a deadlock until the second half.

Then were able to turn pressure into points, playing field position, holding on to the ball and ramping up the pressure as coach Robbie Deans instructed at the interval.

Ireland had many experienced players who would provide a relentless 80 minute challenge and it would take a complete team performance to get over the top of them.

"We have got to be smarter and not concede so many penalties," Pocock said.

He had no complaints about referee Alain Rolland's decisions at the breakdown.

He had been very consistent and that was what players wanted.