Start delivering Wallabies told

By DAVID LEGGAT at the World Cup

Australia's best rugby players went to bed last night with their ears ringing from a giant serve delivered by the man who writes their pay cheques.

Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill dished it out with both barrels as the defending champions prepare for their quarter-final against Scotland at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

Speaking in the wake of a scratchy display in beating Ireland by one point last weekend, O'Neill rolled up his sleeves and handed out a decent rucking, saying it was time the ARU had a return on its hefty financial investment.

"This is a professional game. Players are highly paid; they're trained as well as we can possibly provide for them ... No stone has been left unturned to ensure the preparation has been first-rate.

"It's time to actually put it together," O'Neill said.

Warming to his theme, he conceded that Ireland had played well - but Australia had not.

"If this team's got the ability to win the World Cup we're going to find out very soon. They won't progress much further if they play like that again."

Wallaby coach Eddie Jones made three changes for the Scotland game - Stirling Mortlock in at centre instead of Matt Burke, who is gone from the 22, perhaps for good; Lote Tuqiri on the wing, with Joe Roff dropping to the reserves; and big lock Justin Harrison comes onto the bench for Daniel Vickerman.

Even the changes produced a clip over the ear from O'Neill.

"We've played 11 tests this year," he said. "We should be getting to the stage where we know who the final 22 players are."

But while the bulk of the talk has been about rearranging the Wallaby backline to best effect, loosehead prop Bill Young is talking up a storm about the pack's performances.

"We want other packs to think, 'If we enter that tackle-ruck zone there's going to be hell to pay'," he said.

"We know on our day we're as good as, if not better than, these other packs."

The Scots are unlikely to pose a serious threat on Saturday, and they are sticking to a well-rehearsed line about how formidable their opponents are.

"Whatever team they pick they're going to be strong," captain and classy halfback Bryan Redpath said yesterday.

"We just have to make sure our game is right and we have to take our game to them and put the pressure on them."

That's unlikely to have Jones tossing and turning in his sleep, but if the Scots are still close after an hour, life might be distinctly uncomfortable for the hosts, with O'Neill's words burning their ears.

The Scottish team will be named today.

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