Rocky ready to rumble

Wallabies skipper expects hostile reception at Murrayfield

Last updated: 20th November 2009  

Rocky ready to rumble

Elsom: Murrayfield return

We don't want to be the team that loses full stop, to anyone.

Rocky Elsom
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Australia captain Rocky Elsom is determined to preserve the Wallabies' fantastic record against Scotland.

The two teams clash at Murrayfield on Saturday with Andy Robinson's men aiming to end a 27-year winless run against their opponents from Down Under.

The last time Elsom graced the home of Scottish rugby he put in a man-of-the-match display to inspire Leinster to Heineken Cup glory against Leicester.

The no-nonsense flanker had his name chanted all around the ground that day and some of the crowd even donned 'Rocky' costumes in his honour.

However, Elsom is expecting a rather different reception this weekend.

Desire

"I don't think anyone will be wearing their costumes," he said.

"It'll be a different environment; that was very much a home crowd for us and we know that they can make a lot of noise here.

"But we've had that the whole tour."

Scotland will need all the support their fans can give them having lost their last 16 matches against the Wallabies.

However, Elsom has no desire to be the first Australia captain to taste defeat since Keith Robertson's try helped the Scots to a 12-7 win in Brisbane almost three decades ago.

"We don't want to be the team that loses full stop, to anyone," he said.

Beautiful

"I guess you've got to make that happen; it doesn't just fall for you. I think that's what it'll be about.

"They are pretty keen to get a win; so are we."

Brumbies star Elsom was also quick to play down talk the weather could play a part in the outcome, acknowledging he was unlikely to experience the Australian-style sunshine the Heineken Cup final was played under.

"I think we had a beautiful dry day there, whereas we're not looking at the same thing tomorrow," he said, insisting rain would not overly affect the Wallabies' game.

"We wouldn't make any wholesale changes. There's small things you tweak but not a whole lot.

"You normally see a tightening of the scoreline but that doesn't mean you can't do what you want to do."