Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has called on his side to adjust to the ferocity of the British & Irish Lions as they look to level the series.
Schmidt’s team have been boosted by the return of Will Skelton and Rob Valetini for Saturday’s second Test in Melbourne.
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It comes after the forward pack struggled to gain momentum and dominate the collision battle in their eight-point defeat in Brisbane.
“We didn't have the intention last week, and we don't have the intention this week, of being submissive. I just think that they played on the edge really well,” Schmidt said to reporters.
“They got in amongst us, sometimes just beside us, which made it very hard to play, and we're hopeful that we will be able to take that to them this week and keep them on the back foot a little bit more.
“But there's a lot of work that goes into doing that, and we've got to make sure that we create clear pictures and that we initiate that momentum.”
Schmidt notes they can’t directly copy the strategy of First Nations Pasifika, who pushed the Lions all the way in Melbourne on Tuesday, yet conceded six line breaks in the first 15 minutes.
However, the coach was confident they were well adjusted to the style of play the Lions would throw at them.
“Again, we don't want to be nice, and we don't want to be submissive,” he explained. “I thought the First Nations Pasifika team did a fantastic job… but if we do [concede that many line breaks] in a test match, we could be a lot further behind than the FNP team were on Tuesday evening.
“We've got to make sure we get the balance right so that some of that aggressive line speed that they brought, we've got to bring that, but we've also got to make sure that it's connected, because when you leak like that and they can play in behind you, then it's very hard to get back in front of them.”
The return of Valetini helps that immensely for the Wallabies, with the two-time John Eales Medalist back at blindside flanker.
"He's just happy to be back, trained really well today, and we're happy to have him back obviously,” Schmidt added.
“I did think that Nick Champion de Crespigny acquitted himself incredibly well in a furnace last week, making his Test debut, but the experience that Bobby brings in, and he probably brings confidence to other players as well, because of his experience and his ability to take the ball forward.
“…Getting through Tuesday and Thursday was really important for Rob. Rob did elements of last week's training as well, so it was just making sure that he was ready for a full training week, which he completed this week.
“He tends to play full games for us, but I doubt whether that's going to be the case. If you have a look at his history last year, he's been incredibly resilient. I think he's missed very few Test matches since he made his debut. He’s one of those players who finds a bit in reserve so we'll get to half-time, we'll have a look at how he's travelling, and then during that second half, just again, see how he's travelling.”
