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By Jim Morton,
AAP
Updated August 22, 2013, 1:39 pm
Ewen McKenzie has kept the faith but also sent a blunt message to his beaten Wallabies: Perform or perish.
While sticking with his first Test team for Saturday night's return Bledisloe Cup clash at Westpac Stadium, McKenzie quickly warned on Thursday he's in no mood to wait patiently for results.
Rebuilding, or renovating as the new coach likes to call it, will not provide any protection to rookies taking time to adapt or stalwarts failing to deliver, even against the highly-experienced world champion All Blacks.
Unlike predecessor Robbie Deans, who had a four-year charter to prepare for the 2011 World Cup when he started in 2008, McKenzie isn't looking at his job as a long-term "project".
McKenzie's retained under-fire Brumbies Jesse Mogg and Matt Toomua in an unchanged backline from the 47-29 loss in Sydney, but also let all know that international opportunities can be fleeting.
McKenzie thought long and hard about changes but felt small tweaks and more work on their under-construction base game would go further in overturning the result - especially after giving up four soft tries in Bledisloe I.
"We had five guys on debut last week so we are renovating the team in that sense but this is not a three-year project," McKenzie said. "We don't have time to be messing around.
"We have to get on with it and own up.
"I'm not sitting here suggesting it's going to take time. We have good players.
"If you perform you get a go, you have to take that opportunity. If the train stops at the station you have to get on.
"Otherwise it leaves. That's how it works."
Australia's only change is forced through injury with abrasive Brumbies lock Scott Fardy replacing Hugh McMeniman (shoulder) at blindside flanker and expected to do better cleaning out and making an impact at the breakdown.
There's a fortnight in between the Westpac Stadium encounter and their next, against South Africa in Brisbane on September 7, and greater preparation time would certainly allow for alterations in personnel and plans.
Veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper indicated the young backline knew they were on notice.
"This is Test match football so we understand there's a lot of competition for spots in the backline and if we don't perform Ewen will make changes," the 81-Test centre said.
McKenzie said both Toomua and Mogg had responded well this week and the biggest challenge was finding a better run-kick balance after holding the ball for twice as many tackles got them little reward against the All Blacks.
New Zealand surprised by gambling on rookie Tom Taylor ahead of Colin Slade to solve a five-eighth injury crisis which has sidelined Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett.
An inside centre with the Crusaders, Taylor's 90 per cent goalkicking record swayed the decision for coach Steve Hansen, particularly with Wellington notoriously blustery.
Wallabies: Jesse Mogg, Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Lealiifano, James O'Connor, Matt Toomua, Will Genia; Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, James Horwill (capt), Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Res: Saia Fainga'a, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Liam Gill, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani.
New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea; Tom Taylor, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Steven Luatua; Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Res: Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Jeremy Thrush, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Colin Slade, Charles Piutau.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...ith-same-team/
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