Aussies dismiss claims: The Australian camp yesterday dismissed claims by England coach Clive Woodward that the Wallabies use decoy runners as a deliberate ploy to block defenders.
Woodward reignited a long-running feud with Wallabies coach Eddie Jones by claiming Joe Roff's try in Australia's opening World Cup game against Argentina came as a result of a "blatant midfield block" from Matt Burke.
Matt Giteau fed the ball to Roff behind Burke's back, and the ACT Brumbies winger was free to ghost over for the game-clinching try without a Pumas defender laying a hand on him. "We have discussed the Roff try," said Woodward. "It's back to the old chestnut of what is a block or a dummy run. For me, he blocked him. It was very well done and very difficult to referee because of the speed at which it is happening, but it is the rules of the game. Whether it is good for the game going forward, that is for another time, it is a part of this World Cup."
Burke, though, insisted he had run his line, as he is perfectly entitled to do, and did not make contact with the Argentinian defender as Giteau spun it to Roff.
Australia's assistant coach Glen Ella claimed the use of decoy runner is far from illegal and that the Wallabies have been employing the deceptive tactic for over a decade.
"We've been doing those sort of plays since 1979, 1980 and no one complained about it then and all of a sudden we're starting to get complaints about it again," Ella said.
Jones unlikely to change
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones will not make changes for the sake of it this weekend when his team tackles Romania in Brisbane. Having emerged with a solid victory over Argentina in the World Cup opener on Friday, Jones's men have given themselves some breathing space in the battle to top Pool A. With Namibia to play after the Romania clash before the crunch encounter with Ireland in Melbourne on November 1st, it was thought Jones might be tempted to rest some of his key men at Suncorp Stadium.
However, after a recent poor run of form and eight weeks' inactivity, Jones believes his side would benefit more from continuity of selection. So, although Stirling Mortlock and Chris Latham are both likely to be available to face Romania following recent illnesses, they may be frustrated in their selection hopes.
"We are trying to win a tournament here not give people Test experience," said Jones. "We have had a fairly consistent stance about team selection and we will make changes if we feel it improves the side."
Italy reconstruct side
John Kirwan yesterday made 14 changes to the Italy side that conceded 11 tries to New Zealand on Saturday. Back into the starting line-up come captain Alessandro Troncon, centre Christian Stoica, the Dallan brothers and flanker Aaron Persico, and Kirwan will ensure there is no negative hangover from the All Blacks game.
ITALY: G Canale; N Mazzucato, C Stoica, M Dallan, D Dallan, Rima Wakarua, A Troncon (cpt); A Lo Cicero, F Ongaro, M Castrogiovanni, S Dellape, M Bortolami, A de Rossie, A Persico, S Parisse. Replacements: C Festuccia, S Perugini, C Checchinato, M Bergamasco, M Mazzantini, F Mazzariol, A Masi.
Three beers for Krige
Springboks skipper Corne Krige yesterday insisted that discipline is a priority for South Africa as they began preparations to face England on Saturday. Memories are still fresh from South Africa's violent approach to their Twickenham clash against England last November.
"When you play for the Springboks, every Test match is a life and death matter," he said. "Every Test match for me is about just keeping the players calm and making them understand that it is fire in the heart and ice in the brain. Rugby is a contact sport, where it is contested between the four lines, and that's where it should stay. Once you get off the field, you should have a beer together and be friends - that's what rugby is all about."
