Recovering Rocky confident of overturning unbeaten Boks

AUSTRALIA have finalised preparations for today’s Tri-Nations clash with South Africa at Subiaco Oval in Perth and remain confident of a victory to remain alive in the competition.

Flanker Rocky Elsom has overcome an ankle injury to be close enough to 100% fit to play and feels the Wallabies are capable of downing the unbeaten Springboks.

“There’s always a lot of pressure because you are playing the best sides over and over. If you don’t perform not only could you lose, but it could get embarrassing too,” Elsom said. “There’s always an element of pressure to perform and that doesn’t change because we didn’t get the win last week. It’s not necessarily about pride, we want to beat South Africa because we think we can and they are the best team in the world at the moment.”

Elsom’s ankle was problematic early in the week, but he is feeling confident enough on it now and also in the lineout to overcome the problems the team had in Cape Town.

“Early on in the week I didn’t do too much which helped and I had a run yesterday and today, and am feeling pretty good. It’s going better than expected and I’m happy about that,” he said.

“A key thing for us is to back our options. Our execution during the week has been good, it was a bit of a step up last week again and what we are doing is fine, it’s just about getting out there and doing it on the field.

“It’s obvious they have the best lineout in the game so it won’t be easy, but we think we have enough to do what we need to do there.”

Adam Ashley-Cooper has to adjust to playing at inside centre in the absence of Berrick Barnes and he acknowledges it will not be easy, but has put in all the work this week to ensure he acquits himself well.

“I’m playing outside Matt Giteau, which makes it a lot easier but it’s a very tough challenge for me. It’s something quite new to me and I haven’t played 12 in a while, but I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Ashley-Cooper said.

“It’s different for me, but Berrick Barnes has been giving me a few pointers. He’s basically told me to be an option-to-ball player, be another option to Matt Giteau, don’t have the mindset an outside back would have and have the focus on using the ball.”

George Smith remains captain in the absence of Stirling Mortlock and has been impressed with the work put in by the selected team since Nathan Sharpe and Barnes were ruled out through injury early on.

“Our mental state has been good during the week. We were obviously disappointed with the loss, but the way the boys have applied themselves to training has been fantastic,” Smith said.

South Africa coach Peter De Villiers made two changes to the match 22 with Ruan Pienaar the surprise inclusion at full-back at the expense of Frans Steyn. Schalk Burger was named on the bench in place of Danie Rossouw, who is recovering from injury.

De Villiers’ side have won all three of their matches thus far but he is refusing to look too far ahead.

“We are taking things one game at a time,” said De Villiers. “We are going to throw everything into this weekend’s match and only then focus on the next game, whatever the outcome.

“The Wallabies have had a few injury problems but we will not underestimate them in any way. They are playing at home and they remain a very good side.”