Australia v South Africa, Tri-Nations, Brisbane, July 24
Ashley-Cooper following Muliaina's blueprint
Scrum.com
July 22, 2010

Australia fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper has promised to take the attack to South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday after taking a leaf out of All Black Mils Muliaina's book.

Muliaina was at the heart of New Zealand's recent Tri-Nations victories over the Springboks in Auckland and Wellington, responding to their usual barrage of high kicks by sparking numerous counters with ball in hand, and Ashley-Cooper is keen to follow suit at Suncorp Stadium.

The Brumbies utility has been restored to the No.15 jersey, with James O'Connor shifted to the wing, and he will refuse to be drawn into a kicking duel with South Africa's new-look halfback combo of Ruan Pienaar and Morne Steyn.

"Instead of getting into that kicking duel what Mils did was change it up and obviously just attacked and he attacked from everywhere on the park," Ashley-Cooper told AAP. "The Springboks weren't expecting that so it's something I've definitely noticed and recognised and something I'll be doing on Saturday night.

"Just be decisive as Mils was. He made a decision early and went through with it. He's who I regard as the best fullback in the world at the moment."

The Springboks are out to overcome their Brisbane hoodoo, having not won in the city since 1971, and Ashley-Cooper will be keen to extend that run after scoring a try in last season's 21-6 Suncorp Stadium win, the only time during their Tri-Nations triumph that the Boks were derailed.

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