0
Adam Ashley-Cooper refining radar
September 10, 2008
RELIEVED Wallabies fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper has vowed to repay Robbie Deans' faith by fine-tuning his bombing radar for Saturday night's Tri-Nations decider.
Ashley-Cooper took Australia's record 53-8 loss to South Africa harder than most following a poor general-play kicking performance which left him and his chasers in “no-man's land”.
Wallabies great and expert commentator Tim Horan was among many expecting the Brumbies utility to be dumped in favour of Drew Mitchell after his overcooked bombs simply handed possession back to the Springboks.
But Deans, who also watched Ashley-Cooper fail to execute the garryowen tactics in last month's 39-10 loss to New Zealand, has stuck by a nervous Ashley-Cooper who has gone back to school this week.
“I think everyone was pretty worried about that performance in South Africa, I certainly was,” he said today. “I took the loss pretty harsh, especially individually.
“I wasn't very happy with it, all my kick returns were off and I think that had an affect, an impact on the team's performance so hopefully we can rectify that this weekend.
“(Deans' selection) was a great boost and now I'm really really excited about it.”
The up-and-under kick-return has become an almost universal tactic employed under the new experimental laws but Ashley-Cooper's efforts in Auckland and Johannesburg took the pressure off Australia's opponents as chasers had no chance to compete for the falling ball.
“Obviously the execution wasn't on, the kicks were too deep and I've been working pretty hard this week on those kick returns so hopefully this Saturday night I go out and return it and it pays good results for the team,” he said.
more here...Adam Ashley-Cooper refining radar | The Australian
including this handy bit of info: Reserve halfback Brett Sheehan played as a rugby league halfback for both South Sydney and Brisbane and looms as potential cover at No.10.