Wallabies look to Rogers as perfect 10
Emergency five-eighth Mat Rogers has been given free rein to pilot an unpredictable attack-at-all costs Wallabies gameplan to ambush the All Blacks on Saturday.
Coach Eddie Jones selected livewire Rogers to partner record-equalling captain George Gregan in the halves and unravel New Zealand at Auckland's Eden Park with his intuitive running game.
Jones said the unpredictability of the former international league winger had won him his first start in the position he had ambitions of playing when he first switched to rugby four years ago.
Rogers, 29, is keen to take the bit between the teeth after pledging to enjoy a helter-skelter game as New Zealand attempts to secure the Tri-Nations trophy in the 400th Test in history.
"It's something I've always enjoyed even at fullback - there's no real restriction put on me where I go and what I do," he said.
"I certainly won't be playing like (former NZ enigma) Carlos Spencer but if I can add a little bit of unpredictability with my running game hopefully that will help out."
Rogers said the current injury crisis - which has claimed 17 Test players, including flyhalf options Stephen Larkham, Elton Flatley and Matt Giteau - and four straight defeats had fortified belief in an unconventional approach.
"We don't have anything to lose," he said. "We've been belted from pillar to post already. Our captain and coach are under enormous siege and we haven't won a game (in six weeks).
"What can happen we lose the game and it happens again for another week?
"I'll just go out and play what's in front of me."
![AAP](https://www.thefanatics.com/images/aaplogo2.gif)
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.