Robbie Deans' direction is right: Wallabies

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/The Press

BACKING: Wallabies stars have backed coach Robbie Deans and the direction the team is headed.

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Wallabies stars have backed coach Robbie Deans and the direction the team is headed, despite intensifying criticism of Australia's coaching set-up.

Deans and assistants Jim Williams and Richard Graham came under renewed fire this week from commentators, including World Cup winning former mentor Bob Dwyer.

The way Deans used his bench during Saturday's 44-31 loss to South Africa came in for particular treatment, with Dwyer accusing Deans of "pig-headedness" for failing to inject the likes of Stephen Moore.

Hooker Moore was not called on late in the heartbreaking Loftus Versfeld Tri-Nations clash despite starting No.2 Saia Faingaa struggling with his throwing and Australia losing some crucial attacking lineouts.

"There is a good belief amongst the squad because we know we're heading in the right direction," said centre Adam Ashley-Cooper.

"We feel that we are improving in areas each game.

"We played the two best teams in the world over the last couple of weeks and obviously have come up just that part short, but it's not like we're losing to poor opposition.

"These guys are the best in the world and we're competing with these guys and just falling short so there's certainly a lot to take out of it and a lot to look forward to."

The Wallabies' lineout meltdown, not helped by an ankle injury to experienced lock Nathan Sharpe suffered in the second half in Pretoria, will mean Moore will come into consideration to start Saturday's (0100 Sunday AEST) match against the Springboks in Bloemfontein.

Young prop James Slipper and lock possibilities Rob Simmons and Ben McCalman could also be considered.

Sharpe did not train with the Wallabies at soccer World Cup venue Moses Mabhida Stadium on Monday but is not considered doubtful for this weekend.

Slipper, 21, impressed in his 25 minute stint against the Boks, coming within a whisker of scoring a barnstorming try in his first match on South African soil.

He was playing for Queensland club side Gold Coast when the Reds made their Super 14 trip to the Republic earlier this year.

"It's the first time I've really ended up in space in a Test match so a lot of things were going through my mind, but the one thing I really insisted on doing was not going out, that's all I really cared about," he said.

"I can't really remember how far away I got from the tryline, it was just a big blur for me."

The Wallabies will again play at altitude this weekend and Slipper said he had felt the difference.

"It's a different type of hurting," he said.

"I found that my mouth and throat dried up but I only played 25 minutes so it didn't really bother me too much.

"After 10 minutes it started kicking in, I found it hard to suck it in.

"I'm sure if I had to play a full game I'd be in all sorts but I managed."

- AAP