Alaalatoa says crucial Australia keep win streak going against Georgia

Wallabies skipper Allan Alaalatoa stressed on Friday the importance of maintaining momentum under new coach Joe Schmidt, forecasting a physical game against Georgia this weekend.

Australia won back-to-back Tests this month against Wales to get the New Zealander’s reign off to a flying start.

“It’s massive, it’s something we addressed early in the week,” Alaalatoa — Australia’s third captain in as many Tests — said of keeping the win streak going.

“We’ve purely made this week all about us and understanding the reasons why we have put in good performances the last couple of games against Wales.

“But we also addressed areas that we need to be better at.”

They meet Georgia, ranked just one place below Wales, in an afternoon kickoff on Saturday in Sydney, with the visitors fresh from a narrow victory over Japan and gunning for another upset.

“We’ve come here to win, we’ve not come here to make the numbers up or keep the score down, so we’ve got to go full throttle and have a go,” coach Richard Cockerill told reporters.

“Whether that’s realistic enough and we’re good enough, we’ll find out on Saturday.”

Alaalatoa said the Wallabies were preparing for a bruising battle.

“We understand that Georgia are a bloody good team. Beating Japan in Japan is no easy game,” he said. “They are a quality side with a lot of experience and a lot of their players playing in France.

“We are going to be in for a physical game, which the boys are ready for. It will be a massive battle up front.”

Schmidt is still looking to bed down his best team before the Rugby Championship in August, where they will start with back-to-back games against world champions South Africa.

With that in mind, he has made 10 changes to the starting side.

Winger Darby Lancaster will make his debut with prop Alex Hodgman set to come off the bench and join rare company as just the fourth man to represent both New Zealand and Australia in Test rugby.

“There’s just been an excited feel through the whole week,” said Alaalatoa.

“A handful of boys getting a starting opportunity, to get some minutes, it’s an awesome opportunity.”

mp/lec/dhw

AFP

(NAMPA / AFP)