1 Nov 2008

Deans hopes pain will help motivate Wallabies

12:17 pm on 1 November 2008

The Wallabies rugby coach Robbie Deans says he suspects his side is still hurting from the Bledisloe Cup/Tri-Nations loss six weeks ago and will use that in tonight's fourth Cup encounter in Hong Kong.

As the All Blacks bemoaned a "rushed" preparation for the historic encounter, Deans has called on the depleted Wallabies to overcome the odds and at least salvage a 2-2 series draw.

Already without Test regulars Lote Tuqiri, Wycliff Palu, Rocky Elsom, Dan Vickerman and James Horwill, the Wallabies have suffered yet another setback with reserve hooker Adam Freier ruled out with a calf strain.

Regarding the Brisbane loss, Deans says those experiences make up who you are, so you do bring some of that forward into the next game.

Freier's replacement is Tatafu Polota-Nau.