Wallabies to be ruthless with Italy

The Wallabies plan on introducing their newfound ruthless streak to the rugby world
in Saturday night's season-opening Test against Italy in Canberra.
After an off-season smarting over his side's second-half collapses in the final two
Bledisloe Cup clashes with the All Blacks last year, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is
demanding 80-minute performances from his charges in every single Test in 2009.
Such intensity extends to the training paddock, where Deans has instilled a
meticulous work ethic where second best is unacceptable.
Five-eighth Matt Giteau says "closing out games" must be the Wallabies' priority if
they are to finally win back the Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations trophies this year.
"You're given the opportunity and being more ruthless as a side is something we need
to focus on; putting teams away," Giteau said on Thursday.
"It's good to get to a lead but then we've got to continue to build on that lead.
"We'd play some good football to get to that lead but then, for some reason, last
year we'd slacken off because we were in front.
"This year we've got that focus where, if we've got that lead, we need to be more
ruthless and put sides away and continue to build that pressure and play good
football."
Even the Wallabies' 55-7 rout of the star-studded Barbarians in Sydney last Saturday
night was less than satisfactory.
"We've got to learn to be more patient," Giteau said.
"Because we could see a lot of holes and were creating a lot of opportunities, we
were probably throwing too many 50-50 balls.
"We did treat it like a Test match but we didn't play in certain patches like a Test
match.
"We didn't build that pressure. We didn't keep that pressure on sides.
"We'd throw those 50-50 balls or go for that easy grubber kick just because it might
have been on.
"So coming into this match, that's something we've worked on - building that
pressure, building momentum and not giving away possession.
"Once we get inside the opposition 22, if we are able to hold onto it and come away
with any points - whether it's a penalty or a try - that's probably more our focus."
Giteau admitted the Wallabies had one eye on the June Tests and the other on the Tri
Nations.
"For the moment we're just focused on Italy," he said.
"Then next week we're focusing on Italy again and then France the week after that.
"But each week we want to continue to develop as a side and continue to improve so
by the time we do get to the Tri Nations, then we can look at the All Blacks and
look at the Springboks and hopefully we're in that good form where we can play that
full 80 minutes.
"But it's not just in the games, but also in training. We're making sure our
trainings have been a lot sharper.
"They haven't gone as long but we're making sure we do train as consistently well
for that full training session, not just in certain patches where we need to switch
on."