Wallabies yet to decide on kicker

A decision on whether Bernard Foley or Matt Giteau will be the Wallabies’ front-line goalkicker against the All Blacks on Saturday is yet to be made.

Coach Michael Cheika will discuss the matter with kicking coach Chris Malone before making a call on Friday, ahead of the Rugby Championship decider at ANZ Stadium which doubles as the first of two Bledisloe Cup Tests.

Two games into the Rugby Championship and goalkicking is a glaring concern for the Wallabies ahead of the World Cup.

The Wallabies’ goalkickers have sprayed the ball all over the place this season with overall percentages from the tee at 56 per cent.

“We’ll decide tomorrow. Both (Foley and Giteau) have been practising … a lot this week,” Cheika said on Thursday.

“They’ve both had a hit-out this afternoon and we’ll talk with the kicking coach and make a decision on that tomorrow.”

The disappointing numbers for Wallabies goalkickers continues an alarming trend with Australian teams among the worst in Super Rugby this season with all featuring a below 70 per cent success rate.

Foley started his Rugby Championship campaign by kicking five of his nine attempts in the win over Argentina in Mendoza a couple of weeks ago.

He slotted just one of his four conversions, while his penalty kicking was much sharper with the Wallabies five-eighth landing four from five.

In the Wallabies’ championship-opening win over South Africa, the Australians kicked just one of their four penalty goals.

Giteau slotted his only conversion attempt and missed a penalty goal, while Quade Cooper, who has been dropped for the All Blacks clash, kicked both his shots after tries but only one of three penalty goals.

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