Australia 'reveal' World Cup final gameplan

Australia appeared to reveal their tactics for Saturday's World Cup final against New Zealand when notes carried by coach Michael Cheika and assistant Mario Ledesma were photographed at Twickenham on Friday.

Australian players were told in the notes to "expose" the All Blacks wing duo of Nehe Milner-Skudder and Julian Savea under the high ball and to "rattle" No 8 Kieran Read at re-starts.

Neither the Wallaby nor All Black managements commented on the photographs taken after training at Twickenham on Friday. "Australia appeared to have unknowingly revealed their tactics," said the Guardian newspaper.

The notes also tell Australia to counter New Zealand's excellent kicking game with the words "own the air space, catch everything, chase everything, escort wingers!!!".

Cheika oversaw Australia's southern hemisphere Rugby Championship title triumph this year -- a campaign that included a win over New Zealand.

The rivalry between the two teams is such that some observers said the papers could have been a deliberate ploy with Cheika playing "mind games" with his opponents.

New Zealand have been extra careful about their own plans ever since a British journalist accessed their London team room before a Test against England at Twickenham two years ago and reported on the motivational messages on a whiteboard.

One of the messages read: "We are the most dominant team in the history of the world."

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said at the time the team had learnt that "we've got to be a bit smarter and make sure the security's right."

The New Zealand team made no immediate comment about the latest tactics leak.

Source: AFP