Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen has said that Australia had no excuses for their demoralising 29-13 loss against the Lions on Saturday. "I think (the players are) obviously licking their wounds a bit at the moment," Macqueen told reporters at the team's training session at Melbourne's Wesley College.
The World Cup-winning coach said that he was not surprised by the Lions' good form in the first test. "The way we played certainly was (a surprise)," said Macqueen. "It would be nice to think we can go out and play to the best of our ability and then we'll see who is the best team.
"Sometimes you just can't put your finger on it. Our performance was nowhere near what we're capable of doing so we've got to try to turn that around.
"They're definitely the best team we've ever played. We've been training and preparing for that."
He added: "You certainly wouldn't have thought that the way we played, we acknowledge that, but luckily we've got another chance so let's see how we go."
Macqueen laughed off a call by former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons for 31-year-old centre Tim Horan to be recalled. Horan retired from the Wallabies last year and has been playing for English club Saracens. "Timmy's always been a great inspiration to the side but I think we can do without him this time," said Macqueen.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
