Genia urges Wallabies to get it together
Rookie halfback Will Genia is demanding Australia discover a ruthless streak against Scotland after their failure to land the knockout blow shattered the Wallabies's grand slam dream in Dublin.
Genia says the Wallabies' revised goal of completing an unbeaten tour of the UK and Ireland will come under immediate threat at Murrayfield if they are unable to master the "one percenters" that are so vital in protecting a lead.
One of three 21-year-olds in Robbie Deans' new-age line-up, along with playmaking centre Quade Cooper and flanker David Pocock, Genia is already talking like a leader, urging the Wallabies to put Scotland to the sword.
Australia have converted halftime advantages just once in five Tests since Genia debuted during the Tri Nations tournament and once again lapsed in Sunday's despairing 20-20 draw with Ireland.
"We did well sustaining pressure throughout the whole 80 minutes, but it's just getting the little things (right) where we've got our opposition by the throat and we let them off," Genia lamented.
"It's more that killer blow we need."
Of primary concern to Genia is Australia's inability to retrieve possession from the kick-off after a Wallabies score.
Twice Australia established a seven-point buffer against Ireland - 13-6 through a Matt Giteau penalty goal in the 54th minute and then 20-13 with a Rocky Elsom converted try in the 62nd minute - only to hand over the ball from the ensuing kick-off.
The Six Nations champions took full advantage on both occasions, winger Tommy Bowe crossing almost immediately in the first instance to level the scores at 13-13 before the Irish camped inside the Wallabies quarter second time round until finally snatching a draw with Brian O'Driscoll's last-minute try.
Genia says the lapses are undermining the rebuilding Wallabies' progression.
"It's the little things, you want to secure the ball off the kick off so you can get out of there straight away," he said.
"That's an important thing for us. We kind of struggle with it a little bit, just maintaining possession straight after we score.
"We seem to do it well when we're five points down but not so much when we're five points up.
"Ireland, they got the ball off the kick off and built up pressure in phases and scored off that.
"It's a big focus for us. We need to make sure when we do score points that we do get back out of our half straight away."
Genia, Cooper, Pocock, fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper, wingers Peter Hynes and Adam Ashley-Cooper, lock James Horwill and prop Ben Alexander will all be facing Scotland for the first time.
Genia, though, says the Wallabies have done ample analysis to know what to expect against the world's ninth-ranked side.
"They're a side that can play both games - tight and expansive," he said.
"Their backs like to play it wide and defensively they like to get up quickly off the line, so that will be a bit of a challenge for us."
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