Wallabies keen to set tour tone in HK

The Wallabies have stressed the importance of setting the right tone for their
challenging end-of-season tour with an upset victory in the historic Hong Kong
Bledisloe Test.
Hooker Stephen Moore said a first-up win over the All Blacks on November 1 would not
only ensure a drawn Bledisloe Cup series but put Australians on the right track for
their Tests in Europe.
The understrength Wallabies face a difficult task in turning around their mediocre
away record with clashes against Italy, England, France, Wales and the Barbarians
after their Hong Kong assignment.
But coach Robbie Deans has upped the ante in the lead-up to the tour opener against
the All Blacks with four high-scale training camps in Sydney, working on fitness and
structure.
"The fact it's our first game on the tour is important," Moore said in Canberra.
"We've got six matches on tour and the first Test will really set the tone for it.
"We've done a lot of hard work over the last month in Sydney and this is our first
chance to get out there and race the car we've been building."
The Wallabies go into the first-ever Hong Kong Test without forward pillars Rocky
Elsom (Ireland), Dan Vickerman (England) and James Horwill (foot) as well as Hugh
McMeniman, who was ruled out last week.
The All Blacks will be near full strength but have fullback Mils Muliaina in doubt
with his wife expecting their first child next week.
Australia have a terrible recent record in France and England, winning just once
over either country since 2001.
Skipper Stirling Mortlock labelled the six-match tour a "massive challenge" as the
Wallabies attempt to improve their consistency under Deans.
They won six of their nine Tests this season but finished with losses to South
Africa (53-8) and New Zealand (28-24) which denied them the Tri-Nations crown.
"We've lacked a bit of consistency in our results but underlying that is a lot of
growth," Mortlock said.
"Six top-class matches in five weeks gives us the chance to do that."
While Australia's 34-man squad have trained hard as a group, the All Blacks have yet
to select their touring party.
But New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith is backing the Kiwis' match fitness as
all but two - Dan Carter and Ali Williams - have played in the NPC since the
September 13 win over Australia.
"Yes, Australia will be better prepared in that they have had four camps and they
have had time to hone their plays which we haven't," Smith said.
"But hopefully we will be match-hardened. That's a selection issue for us though,
too. We can pick guys who have played more footy if that's the way we want to go."