Wallabies to turn up heat on Gower

Forget the big chill in Canberra, Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock was more
intent on turning up the heat up on Craig Gower ahead of his eagerly-awaited Test
rugby debut on Saturday night.

As the mercury plummeted to minus three degrees on Friday - the coldest June day in
the national capital in 43 years - Mortlock warned Italy's supposed five-eighth
saviour to be cool under pressure or suffer the consequences.
Mortlock famously taunted Sonny Bill Williams with "that's the way the big boys do
it" after smashing the Barbarians' former NRL star at the Sydney Football Stadium
last Saturday night and said fellow league convert Gower may also struggle to keep
up to the pace and intensity of international rugby.
"The major difference at Test-match level is the lack of time that you have,"
Mortlock said.
"Also the increased physicality in general. But certainly time is a factor that
you're very aware of and in particular as a ball-player and a decision-maker."
Mortlock, though, wasn't completely doubting Gower's ability to threaten the
Wallabies' defence.
"He's played a lot of top-line rugby league and we're going into the game prepared
that he'll play a pretty solid part in their attack," he said.
"From some of the footage we've seen, he has the ability to carry the ball to the
line and he can play quite laterally as well.
"So we're aware of that. We'll be ready."
Nor is Mortlock underestimating the Italians - who have never beaten the Wallabies -
as a whole, despite bookmakers offering the visitors a staggering 31 points start.
"That doesn't reflect our mindset going into this game at all. We're very aware of
the Italians," he said.
"In particular, we're very wary of them at the set piece, what they bring to the
breakdown, to the tackle area and also, I guess, there's a bit more of the unknown
with Gower at 10."
Italy's South African coach Nick Mallett has gone public with the Azzurri's plan to
pepper Australia's debutant fullback James O'Connor with high balls.
But Wallabies winger Lachie Turner, himself starting in only his third Test, has
vowed to help O'Connor combat any aerial assault.
"Definitely Italy will look to target James and myself. The two of us are pretty
inexperienced - only half a dozen Tests between us, or less," Turner said.
"Definitely they'll come at us, but we're pretty ready for that. We're looking
forward to that challenge.
"James and I have been working well together all week and we're pretty excited about
the added responsibility that will come with that.
"When anyone looks to target you throughout a game, you can either shy away or you
can step up. And definitely I always enjoy it; it means that I'm going to have a
role to play and that's why I play footy.
"If I didn't want that, I wouldn't be here. I'm excited about the prospect of
getting my hands on the ball and having a fair bit of work to do and I know James is
feeling the same."
The Wallabies completed their captain's run on Friday under lights at Canberra
Stadium, due to the foggy, antarctic weather, and the forecast is for sub-zero
temperatures for the match.
"It's pretty dam cold," Mortlock said. "But hopefully we can warm ourselves up by
playing some good rugby."