The Wallabies won’t be shying away from running at the All Blacks in the opening Bledisloe, skills coach Mick Byrne says.
Australia scored a combined 27 points across last year’s Bledisloe series, but the addition of Kurtley Beale at inside centre bolsters their potency.
Byrne said they wouldn’t be going into their shells on Saturday night.
“We're going to play a running game, that's the way Cheik's been building up all his teams is to run the ball and play hard,” he said.
“Our challenge is hang on to it.
“If we're going to run the ball, hang on to it and back our skills and back the quality of work these guys have done.
“I think you're going to see a pretty frenetic game of footy tomorrow night.”
Beale’s return adds an unpredictable edge for the Wallabies in attack but the utility will also prove crucial support for flyhalf Bernard Foley when it comes to using the ball off the boot.
“It's great to have that in that 12 position, it takes a little bit of pressure off Bernard as well but I think Kurtley also - the attacking part of his game adds another dimension as well,” he said.
“We're really looking forward to seeing him link up with a few of his old mates tomorrow night and get the game going.
“If it is going to be windy tomorrow night, it's good to have a quality kicker outside 10 as well.”
A style heavy on ball-in-hand will hopefully stem the ability of Damian McKenzie to slip through defence, Byrne said.
“All the players that are like that that have got tremendous running ability is to not give them the ball, too much time and too much space,” he said.
“One of the key things is to make sure our game plan is executed, just don't give those guys the opportunity to pick you off.
“Our guy down the other end of the field, you wouldn't want to give him too much room as well. It's really a challenge for the team when you've got a little bit of a player that can do those sorts of things, just make sure you keep to your game plan and hang on to the ball.”
The Wallabies have plenty of newer faces in their fold this year but it’s the influence of players like Kurtley Beale, Will Genia and Bernard Foley that will prove decisive.
“If our forwards do their work and our 9,10 and 12 can direct us around the park we're going to be in great shape,” Byrne said.
“It is a key to have clear heads there with those three guys.
“They've got experience, they've worked well together, a couple of them have got a little bit of overseas experience now so they've got that game management aspect that comes into it from where they've been and experience they've brought back.
“I think that's going to play a big part.”
