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Wallaby Elsom misses training ahead of rugby Tri decider
AFP - September 11, 2008, 5:28 pm
AFP ©
BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) - The Wallabies have had a fitness concern ahead of their Tri-Nations rugby series decider against New Zealand with key flanker Rocky Elsom missing training here Thursday.
The Leinster-bound Elsom stayed at the team hotel nursing a virus and was substituted by Hugh McMeniman at training.
Wallabies' management said sidelining Elsom was a precautionary measure and he was not in doubt for the winner-takes-all Tri-Nations Test against the tournament holders at Lang Park on Saturday.
"(Elsom) is just a little bit under the weather and I think they're being a bit careful with it to make sure he's fit for the game," Wallabies' lock James Horwill said.
Elsom, vying for his 40th international this weekend, is playing his last Test match of the year before linking with Irish club Leinster next week.
Wallabies' assistant coach Jim Williams is keen to see Elsom, who has an option to play one or two seasons in Europe, return to Australia as soon as possible.
"It will certainly leave a huge hole just with the way he plays the game and his attitude on the pitch," Williams said Thursday.
"He's very aggressive, a good ball-runner, an excellent operator in the lineouts and the way he gets around the field his work-rate is excellent."
The All Blacks believe Elsom is a significant factor in the decider which also doubles as a third Bledisloe Cup Test, and he was sorely missed in the Wallabies' 39-10 loss to New Zealand in Auckland last month.
"They did miss Rocky Elsom in Auckland, obviously in the lineouts and he's a pretty good ball carrier as well," All Blacks' skipper Richie McCaw said Thursday.
"They get quite a bit of inspiration from him, just what he brings to the team, his energy."
The All Blacks are expecting the Wallabies to hit back this weekend after their record 53-8 mauling by the Springboks in Johannesburg a fortnight ago.
Lock Ali Williams, who played under Wallabies' coach Robbie Deans at the Canterbury Crusaders, knows from experience that Deans has a way of getting players to quickly forget about failure, focus on the positives, and rebound immediately.
"Robbie doesn't change a hell of a lot after a loss, but he instead drives triggers that make you win," Williams said.
"We all know 'Deansy'. He will be winding them up, and the Wallabies will be nothing like how they were in Johannesburg.
"As he is an educated man, he would have gone back, and worked out what happened. He doesn't just look at the game, but would have also gone back over the whole week's preparation and the people's mindsets.
"He would have done a lot of homework, and he'll make certain that they will be a lot different this weekend."
Wallaby Elsom misses training ahead of rugby Tri decider Australian Sport - Yahoo!7 Sport