The Wallabies are taking responsibility for the pressure being heaped on coach Robbie Deans, but insist they will not use speculation about his future as motivation for the remainder of the Rugby Championship.
There are rumblings that Deans' contract may be prematurely ended if the Wallabies continue to struggle in the Championship, after they slumped to a 10th-straight Bledisloe Cup series defeat with back-to-back losses to the All Blacks.
Prop Ben Alexander denies rumours surrounding Deans' job security will be a factor in Saturday's clash with South Africa in Perth, but made it clear the playing group was rallying behind its coach.
"That criticism of Robbie, it hurts us too because it's how we played and a reflection of us and how we represented our country, and we didn't do a great job," he said.
"We feel a responsibility for the side not performing ... [but] as far as all that speculation goes, it's not a focus of ours.
"Our focus is just going out, playing well and representing our country with pride."
The challenge of turning around their Rugby Championship fortunes got even tougher for the Wallabies on Thursday, with hooker Stephen Moore ruled out of the Springboks clash after suffering a hamstring injury at training.
Alexander admits the Wallabies have been taught some harsh lessons by the All Blacks this year and says the squad is determined to give their supporters the performance they deserved against the Springboks.
"We got stood up by the best side in the world and we've copped that on the chin and we've looked back and they exposed us everywhere," he said.
"Now we get a chance to right those wrongs.
"We're very proud Australians and the country deserves a better performance than what they've had to put up with the last few weeks."
The Wallabies have won their past four matches against the Springboks, including last year's controversial World Cup quarter-final.
But the Springboks enjoy a healthy 3-2 advantage (with one draw) from their six matches against the Wallabies in Perth.
Alexander believes the Springboks are more athletic than usual and sees rookie loose forward Marcell Coetzee as a huge threat at the breakdown due to his big motor and high tackle rate.
"They're probably the most physical side in the world ... but I think this is the most mobile pack they've picked in a long time," he said.
AAP
Tags: rugby-union, sport, perth-6000 First posted September 06, 2012 20:47:40
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