17 Jul 2009

Sharpe says Wallabies looking to improve lineout

6:16 am on 17 July 2009

Lock Nathan Sharpe believes there's little chance of a repeat of last year's lineout meltdown at Eden Park when the Wallabies open their Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations series on Saturday night.

Completing the All Blacks' comprehensive 39-10 demolition of Australia was their lineout stealing eight throws from the normally solid Wallabies jumpers.

But Sharpe, the Wallabies lineout chief, is hoping his team can turn the tables on Saturday as they seek to end a 10-match losing streak in Auckland.

Sharpe says the All Blacks have a simple system which they operate effectively.

Despite a huge improvement in the Australian scrum, Sharpe said the tight five still had goals at the set piece.

He says the pack has to deliver consistent ball to the bak of the scrum.

Thirty-one-year-old Sharpe is enjoying a late-career resurgence since he was omitted from the Wallabies squad to tour South Africa last year.

The Wallabies will have their final training run on Friday, when they will also get a look at the construction work which has reduced the capacity at Eden Park while it is redeveloped for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.