18 Aug 2009

Discipline the key for Wallabies

6:26 am on 18 August 2009

The Wallabies are stressing the need to not give away penalties through poor discipline in Saturday's Tri Nations Test against the All Blacks, after the Australians had three men sin-binned in the Cape Town match against the Springboks.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has warned the selectors will look at dropping players for ill-disciplined play, and veteran lock Nathan Sharpe says discipline is something they've addressed as a team.

Sharpe doesn't think the Wallabies not trusting each other enough in defence is the issue, saying their defence has been very good this year and it's over-keenness.

Winger Drew Mitchell says he doesn't think Australia have lost any confidence from being beaten in their first two Tri-Nations matches and that the key thing for the team is self-belief.

Five-eighth Matt Giteau says he expects New Zealand's backs to mix things up, alternating a kick-and-chase game with a desire to spread the ball wide.