"Whether it's Capuozzo and Ioane on those wings with Tommaso Allan or Lynagh with Capuozzo, none of that sounds very attractive to me as a Wallaby defender. So we know we're going to have our hands full."

"They put a lot of pressure on the ball with guys like Lamaro, Cannone, Zuliani. Guys like Menoncello and Brex, they get through and get onto the ball or blast you off it. You've got Garbisi who can control the game really well."

.continues.

On Italy: "I'm not convinced Italy is the easier fixture of our lot. I've seen enough of these players: I was coaching with the All Blacks before we played them in the RWC. On that day nothing went right for them and it was a big score but we saw lots of threats in their team."

.continues.

"All in all, I felt gameline wise if it wasn't that rapid ball that the English got, I I felt that we got the gain line pretty well."

"That's one of the things that England got: 37% quick ball, but when they got it, it was very quick ball and it made it very hard to defend. Some of the time they slowed themselves down, set their caterpillar ruck up and went with the high kick, but there's no point in firing up if they're kicking"

On the Wallabies having little linespeed in defence: "We obviously want to get linespeed because every time you don't it's very hard to win the collision. If you concede the gain line, you're going to be worked backwards. But off very quick ball, it's very hard to get any linespeed."

.continues.

On O'Connor: "James could even be involved next week. Again, he's a little bit like Lenny: he played all the way through to the finals being in the Crusaders and then linked up with us. So just letting him get his family priorities right, giving him a bit of breathing space. Next week we'll see"

On the reason why Gordon is in at 10: "I think a big part of that is his confidence. He's worked really hard behind the scenes 'cause it's obviously a pivotal position. And so for us Carter has just gathered momentum through the last 2 weeks. I think it's important we build depth in that position"

On Ikitau: "It was something that was in play since he chose to do this sabbatical. He was going to come straight out of the Lions, straight out of TRC, straight into Exeter, playing. [Not selecting him is] to just give him some breathing space. It was something that was pre-aggreed with Rob Baxter"