New Zealand 27 - 16 Australia, Rugby Championship
Ewen McKenzie seeks fresh bench impact
ESPN Staff
August 26, 2013
 
"Twenty-five per cent of our missed tackles came from the bench, so that was disappointing, and they were only on for the last 15, 20 minutes." Ewen McKanzie
 

Ewen McKenzie has put his Wallabies bench on notice after his replacements failed to make a positive impact in the final quarter against New Zealand in the second Bledisloe Cup Test at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.

New Zealand won 27-16 to retain the Bledisloe Cup for the 11th year in succession, and McKenzie was particularly unimpressed by the form of his replacements, saying ""we didn't get a great impact out of our bench".

"I expected the last 20 to be stronger," McKenzie said of the collective efforts of Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Saia Fainga'a, Kane Douglas, Liam Gill, Nic White, Quade Cooper and Tevita Kuridrani.

"You know I talk about finishes, guys who actually come on and improve the performance; it's no good if they're coming on and knocking on and missing tackles, and that's effectively what happened.

"Twenty-five per cent of our missed tackles came from the bench, so that was disappointing, and they were only on for the last 15, 20 minutes.

"I expect more. We'll talk about that.

"I know we've got young players and new players and whatever, but I expect them to make a difference, otherwise I don't put him on the field."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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