Rugby World Cup 2011
Wallabies set to target Cruden
ESPNscrum Staff
October 11, 2011
Australia's Will Genia talks to the media, Byron hotel, Auckland, New Zealand, October 11, 2011
Will Genia is set to take on the All Blacks © Getty Images
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Wallabies scrum-half Will Genia says his team will target incoming All Blacks fly-half Aaron Cruden when the Trans-Tasman rivals clash in the World Cup semi-finals.

Genia compared the style of Cruden to that of injured star Dan Carter, but also suggested the late New Zealand call-up will receive plenty of traffic during the Eden Park encounter.

"I don't think he'll affect their performance at all, he's a very attacking player, he likes to take the line on and he's not dissimilar to Dan Carter in that sense," said Genia. "He'll be very good, I think we'll maybe look to run a bit of traffic at him because of him being a smaller bloke."

Standing at a mere 175cm himself, Genia said the Wallabies will be out to improve on their scrappy performance against South Africa last weekend when they take on the All Blacks. However, the Australians have not won at Eden Park since 1986, a statistic Genia and his team-mates are keen to ignore.

"We want to play to our strengths which is obviously that attacking style of rugby, running rugby," he said.

"We didn't give ourselves that opportunity (on Sunday) because we weren't good enough I think, predominately with our set-piece, we had a few lineouts and scrums in their half and we didn't execute so we lost the ball.

"I think we pretty much won the game on sheer guts and character and if you look at that game, if we play like (that) against the All Blacks they'll put us away.

"I'm a man who believes we can win this weekend. I feel we have the group and the capability to do well ... It's not arrogant and it's not cocky, it's just belief in our own ability. I'm looking forward to the challenge."

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