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Home / Sport / Rugby / Rugby World Cup

Rugby: Internal rivalry keeps Wallabies' minds focused

By Robert Smith
27 Sep, 2007 05:26 AM3 mins to read

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Australian Rugby World Cup player Adam Freier attends a training session. Photo / Reuters

Australian Rugby World Cup player Adam Freier attends a training session. Photo / Reuters

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KEY POINTS:

MONTPELLIER - The Wallabies are looking to the intense rivalry within their ranks to erase any complacency for Saturday's World Cup match with Canada in Bordeaux.

The Australians are resting their key players a week out from their quarter-final in Marseille and are wheeling out the players in
the squad who have yet to get game-time to face the Canadians.

Australia have claimed all five of their Tests against Canada and the two sides have not met since the Wallabies won 74-9 in Brisbane in 1996.

The Canadians are backing up from Tuesday's match with Japan in Bordeaux where a late converted try cost them victory in a 12-12 draw.

The Wallabies are expected to safely negotiate the Canadians, but hooker Adam Freier has warned his team-mates from expecting an easy time.

"I think these games are more difficult for us in the fact that mentally we are all preparing for a game that could turn into a lot of points," Freier said.

"It's easy to get up for a game like New Zealand or Wales, it's easy to be ready and mentally switched on but these are the games you need to be cautious about.

"We can easily go out there with that mindset and expect an easy day at the office, but in doing that we're going to make it difficult on each other.

"So our mindset this weekend is that we're competing against ourselves, we see ourselves, especially the forwards, as being the best forward pack in the world, so we're driving to get those standards.

"Although we will be competing against a ferocious Canadian outfit who will be desperate for a win after Tuesday's draw, we will also be competing against ourselves and looking to achieve the standards we set ourselves at the start of the tournament."

Coach John Connolly is expecting a confrontational Canadian team.

"I coached (second row) Mike James at Stade Francais and (scrum-half) Morgan Williams, captain and vice captain, so we know those players well. They're very direct and confrontational. That's what we expect," he said.

Connolly cautioned against expectations of a high-scoring win for the Wallabies.

"We saw Canada play New Zealand in Hamilton this year when it was a point or two just before halftime and New Zealand scored on the bell to have 26-13 lead at halftime.

"Who would have thought that just because one side hit the field a little bit lax and Australia have done it over the years.

"Teams you think you should beat comfortably ... so you need your minds on the job."

Inside-centre Scott Staniforth will have to pass a fitness test on a bruised left shoulder at training on Friday to play.

- AFP

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