Weather not to blame for weak Wallabies

Australia international Lote Tuqiri insists there can be no excuse for a poor autumn Test series in Europe this year.

The Wallabies travel to Murrayfield tomorrow aiming to finish a disappointing series with a win over Scotland.

Defeat in Ireland last weekend was preceded by a draw against Wales and a late win in Italy but 27-year-old Tuqiri, who will make his 50th appearance for the Wallabies, believes the match against the Scots will be a different proposition.

“They use a lot of cut-out passes and we are used to dealing with that,” he said. “It will be a case of using the touchlines as an extra defender.

“I predicted, correctly, that the Ireland game last weekend would be tight. This weekend I think it will be much more free-flowing, if the weather allows.

“I understand now why teams from the northern hemisphere struggle when they come down to play us because conditions are so different.

“Having said that, we are not blaming the weather for the way we have played on this trip. We just have not performed the way we have wanted to.”

Tuqiri is determined to mark his half century of caps by helping his team end the tour on a high note.

He added: “Obviously, I would love to have reached the landmark on home turf in front of our own supporters and in front of my family, but it is a massive honour for me and will mean even more if we win.

“Of late, we have not been getting the ball out to the wide positions nearly enough, and that has led to all sorts of problems.

“It is traditional for Australia to play an expansive game, and that is what we must work to get back to in the build up to the World Cup.

“Our results on this tour have been disappointing and so have the performances.

“I think we have been too concerned about what the opposition teams might do, when we should have been concentrating more on what we can achieve if we play the right way.”

Scott Staniforth will start at Murrayfield in the fourth successive change at centre by Connolly.

Stirling Mortlock will move to outside centre as Tuqiri moves back to the wing and Clyde Rathbone drops out of the side after the 21-6 defeat in Dublin.

Loosehead prop Benn Robinson replaces Al Baxter while hooker Stephen Moore comes in for Tai McIsaac in the front row of the pack.

Lock Al Campbell replaces Mark Chisholm, with flanker Phil Waugh dropping out of the starting XV for George Smith.

David Lyons replaces Wycliff Palu at number eight.