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Vocal Tuqiri lost for words

Tuesday 02nd September 2008

Tuqiri: Can't explain Wallabies' blowout

Australia winger Lote Tuqiri hopes that time will heal most of the wounds from the Wallabies' record 45-point loss to South Africa in last weekend's Tri-Nations match in Johannesburg.

The veteran winger could not say why the Wallabies performed so poorly, where they were trying to win for the first time in 45 years.

"We started OK and they just got on top of us, they just kept rolling and rolling and we just didn't have much to combat them," said Tuqiri.

"They were just too good on the day. I really can't put a finger on it."

Australia play New Zealand at Brisbane on September 13, with both the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup trophies on the line.

"We've got a couple of weeks now to think about it and hopefully do a job in Brisbane," said Tuqiri.

"It's going to be even tougher, it's going to be probably the toughest game we've played this year."

The Wallabies trail the All Blacks by a point (14 to 13) going into the final and deciding game. But New Zealand have a far superior points-for-and-against total - New Zealand is plus 42, Australia minus 40.

The 53-8 defeat at Ellis Park last Saturday was Australia's second big loss of the tournament following their 39-10 defeat to New Zealand in Auckland.

Both the Wallabies and All Blacks now have a won three, lost two record in the 2008 Tri-Nations.

Narrow losses are one thing but humiliations like those suffered by the Wallabies at Eden Park and Ellis Park can be haunting - to players and coaches.

In a tournament of contrasting performances and results from all three teams it will be fascinating to see how the title match plays out.

The All Blacks have momentum on their side after their impressive wins over the Wallabies and South Africans. But that has also been stalled by their inactivity over the past fortnight and having just a "Test" against a worringly weak Samoan side on Wednesday before heading to Brisbane.

Proven match-winner Tuqiri is adament that Australia didn't have to stray from their usual style to beat the All Blacks.

"We've just got to stick to our patterns. We've just got to play the way we want to play," Tuqiri said of the Brisbane match.

"Back home now, a few days rest and back into it.

"But hopefully everyone will be fighting to put their hand up to be able to be selected for that game, because it's going to be huge."