September 04, 2009

Star forward Rocky Elsom has implored the Wallabies generation next to stand up and make their mark now to end Australia's Tri Nations woes at Suncorp Stadium.

South Africa's world champions stand as a huge mountain to scale, even at the Wallabies' favourite venue at Suncorp Stadium, but Elsom says it's achievable if all up-and-comers rise to the challenge.

The inspirational flanker said an average age of 23 was no excuse for a side desperate to end their worst losing streak in four years on Saturday night.

"We do have a young average age in the squad but everyone has to produce the same thing," Elsom said.

"Just because our guys are younger doesn't mean they don't have to carry a bigger load, and that's what we're pushing, for everyone that's out there to do what they need to do for us to win."

Most pressure will be on new halfback Will Genia, 21, who Springboks skipper John Smit indicated would be in for a fierce baptism in front of a Brisbane home crowd.

Genia and ball scavenger David Pocock will start their first Tri Nations Tests while front-rowers Tatafu Polota-Nau and Ben Alexander start their second and exciting backs James O'Connor and Quade Cooper are 19 and 21 respectively.

The performances of those players are as important as any; Elsom, Matt Giteau and George Smith included.

In his third game back from injury, Elsom is enjoying the extra responsibility that has come his way as a senior player in a rebuilding outfit under Robbie Deans.

The Wallabies enforcer pointed to the opening exchanges at Suncorp Stadium as pivotal, especially after conceding two tries in the opening 10 minutes in their 32-25 loss to the Springboks last weekend in Perth.

"I think they came out very hard at us and that's going to be crucial to both sides who will want to get on top early," Elsom said.

In Perth it was fundamental ball-handling and defensive errors which let the Wallabies down.

Before that it was ill-discipline which allowed South Africa and the All Blacks to score wins through a string of penalty goals.

In their opening Tri Nations Test, Australia basically missed the chance to build a sizeable 17-3 lead through poor finishing.

Coach Deans, who turned 50 on Friday and was on the end of a happy birthday rendition before training, was succinct when he considered the Wallabies' winless ways.

"I'd like to think we've found all the ways we're going to find to err," he said.

Deans wants to see his men give a packed crowd an entertaining running rugby spectacle but stressed the platform must be laid first up front.

"We've got to earn that right," he said.

"In Test rugby it doesn't get given to you.

"If you don't enter the wrestle and actually demand something of your opponent you can't skirt around them and play frivolously."

Boosting Australian hopes is a fine record at Suncorp Stadium where they love to play and where the Springboks have never beaten the Wallabies.

Their last Brisbane contest was a 49-0 whitewash by the home side in 2006.

Since then, high-flying Sharks and Bulls Super 14 teams - the provincial sides of 11 of the Boks' starting 15 - have lost to the hapless Queensland Reds.

Smit denied the ground would be a factor but was unsure why South African teams struggled at Suncorp.

"If it was something we knew we probably would have rectified it by now," he said.


http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-32464,00.html