Australia coach Robbie Deans bemoaned his side's poor performance in Saturday's narrow 30-20 win over Italy.
Deans unhappy with kicking despite win
Australia coach Robbie Deans bemoaned his side's poor performance in Saturday's narrow win over Italy.
With the scores tied at 20-20 with just eight minutes remaining, a dazzling late try from debutant back Quade Cooper was enough to rescue victory, but Deans was still peeved with the Aussies' poor start to the game.
The 49-year-old New Zealander was unhappy with the lack of kicking discipline showed by his team, although he still believes the match has prepared the Wallabies for bigger tests to follow.
Three huge games against England, France and Grand Slam champions Wales now await the two-time world cup winners and Deans is demanding a vast improvement for the rest of their European tour.
Poor discipline
"Essentially our kicking was poor," Deans said. "We didn't help ourselves - the Italians had six points before they had any possession.
"We were ill-disciplined in our own half and in attack in terms of the decisions we made and hence we alleviated our own pressure when we were on the front foot and building pressure."
Australia started the game well and when Lachie Turner went over in the right corner on eight minutes to give the tourists an 8-3 lead, it seemed as if it could become a very uncomfortable afternoon for Italy.
But the Azzurri dug in and stayed in contention throughout the first half, taking the lead at 14-11 after a brilliantly-worked try, finished off by winger Mirco Bergamasco.
And although Deans voiced his displeasure that the match was so tight, the Wallabies boss was also keen to praise the tourist's late response.
"Obviously Italy were converting position into points and at the 65 minute mark it was game on," he said.
"They had an opportunity to do something very exciting and they have the experience to do it.
"But the response from our boys from 65 to 80 minutes was remarkable. We'll hold onto that and then go back and look at the elements that contributed to us being in that situation at 65 minutes."
Saturday's win at the Stadio Flaminio followed the Aussies 19-14 defeat to New Zealand the previous weekend, and Deans feels the two encounters have set his outfit up well for the matches ahead.
"It was a good work-out, we've now got 33 players who've played rugby (over the two games)," added Deans, a New Zealander.
"Prior to this some of our boys hadn't played for three months and even the others hadn't played for eight weeks.
"These two games were always going to be really challenging for us but we're under way in test match rugby."
Special praise
Deans reserved special praise for prop Ben Alexander, who has yet to make his full debut for his club side ACT Brumbies but started for the Wallabies on Saturday.
"Bennie had an outstanding game, particularly in that position," Deans added.
"Coming off a background of having played no rugby and not coming off until the 70 minute mark, he was very active.
"His decisions in carrying the ball were exceptional, I might even get him to have a word with a few of our backs."
