VIDEO: Wallabies ‘unfulfilled’ ahead series decider.
JUNE SPOTLIGHT: Australia have to focus on producing a ‘fulfilled’ performance during Saturday’s series decider against Ireland, fullback Israel Folau revealed.
Australia took a 1-0 Series lead after their hard-fought 18-9 win over Ireland two weeks ago in Brisbane. However, an impressive tactical defensive display made sure the Grand Slam Champions levelled the series with a 26-21 victory in Melbourne last weekend.
Unlike in the first Test, Ireland, boosted with talisman Johnny Sexton, set out a technique to nullify Folau’s aerial chances which have proven to be a vital component to Wallabies attack in the first Test.
Australia attack coach Stephen Larkham was far from impressed with Ireland’s defence and the 44-year-old labelled it illegal blocking tactics on Monday.
Folau, on the other hand, made no ‘excuses’ instead the fullback praised Ireland’s defence and said his team should focus on executing their own attack better.
“I never look for excuses, they escorted really well,” Folau said.
“What I do think in terms of our team is that we can execute a lot better in terms of the kicks.
“I think the most exciting thing for us as a group is we had that feeling coming off the back of the last two weeks, even the win in Brisbane, we still kind of felt unfulfilled in terms of the way that we played,” he said.
“Hopefully going into this weekend, I can find myself doing that a bit more and working with Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley to find those opportunities but definitely going into the game, [I’m] wanting to look for those opportunities and get my hands on the ball,”
The fullback also revealed that one way to combat Ireland is to dominate the breakdown area which will limit the influence of the halfback pair Johnny Sexton and Connor Murray.
“The big thing is our defence. If we can put in some dominant tackles up front and slow the ruck down, I think we can limit the opportunities that guys like Sexton and Murray have with the ball in hand.
“Hopefully this weekend we can get out defence-line set and come up strong, obviously limit the space that Ireland have,”
“Going into the game we have to back our game plan and execute it on Saturday,”
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