Wallabies centre Len Ikitau is eager to get fellow midfielder Jospeh-Aukuso Suaalii involved early in the second Test as they hunt to level the series against the British & Irish Lions.
Suaalii was contained to just three carries in the first half as the Lions’ rush defence helped stifle the Australian attack.
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Whilst the superstar was heavily involved in the second-half comeback, it wasn’t enough for the Wallabies as they went down 27-19.
“I felt like I didn't really get [Suaalii] into the game as early as I wanted, but that's a lot of learnings that I can take moving forward,” Ikitau said.
“We've only played a handful of games together but it's just trying to understand in what places you'd like to get the ball and kind of just feeding off each other.
“…We knew there were opportunities with their line speed and how they want to attack us in defence but I think just being able to pull the trigger when the opportunity comes and just being able to back our ability to pull the trigger. There were a few times I think we were just conservative and held the ball where there's opportunities out wide.”
Ikitau concedes the pair need to search for the ball more at the MCG even with wet conditions expected for Saturday’s second Test.
“We need to go looking for the ball. We can't sit on the edge and expect the ball to come because sometimes the way the game is played, it doesn't really get to an edge,” he explained.
“So just being able to roam around [is key]. It's not rugby league; he doesn't have to stay on the left side. He can roam around and get into the ruck or close to the ruck if he has to, to get a touch and be in the game.
“We've got a few things up our sleeve that we have for the game and if the weather is like that then I guess we're going to have to chuck it out but we’ve got some stuff.”
Ikitau finds himself back in the inside centre position like in last year’s Spring Tour, having made his name as an outside centre for the Brumbies.
“I think it's just a number on the back where I'm in tighter, but I kind of try to play the same as if I was playing 13,” he added.
“Obviously, I'm defending a bit, but nothing changes in terms of how I want to play and the way I want to go about playing footy.”
