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The Wallabies are making no secret of their desperation to end 30 years of Eden Park misery with a hoodoo-busting victory over the All Blacks on Saturday night.
Vice-captain Michael Hooper has won a Super Rugby title with the NSW Waratahs, a Rugby Championship with the Wallabies and played in a World Cup final.
But the star flanker admits notching a maiden win at New Zealand rugby’s spiritual home, which has proven a burial ground for any international opposition team since 1994, would rank as a career highlight.
“It’ll only ever go down as a win but, as far as an individual goal, it would be very nice to win one,” Hooper said .
“I mean, I haven’t one there for the Tahs either. So it’s a tough place to win. But it’s exciting challenge on the other side of the coin.
“Like myself, all the other guys are keen to getting that breakthrough.”
Only four members of the Wallabies starting side – skipper Stephen Moore, prop Scott Sio (both with the Brumbies in 2013), lock Dean Mumm and front-rower Sekope Kepu (Waratahs, 2009) – have ever tasted success at Eden Park.
Even still, toppling the all-conquering All Blacks on their most fearsome home turf is a completely different story to beating the Blues in Super Rugby.
Moore admits the Wallabies must be precise in every area to have any chance of stopping an All Blacks juggernaut from inflicting more pain and also racking up a world-record 18th straight Test win in a triumphant, undefeated 2016 season.
Above all, the Wallabies can’t afford to cross the line and gift the world champions free points from needless penalties as they did in their last-up 29-9 loss in Wellington, which clinched New Zealand the Bledisloe Cup for a 14th straight year.
Moore says striking a balance between controlled aggression and ill-discipline is paramount.
“Really important,” he said.
“We’ve spoken about that. We want to go out there and play the game our way and our style, so the physical part of the game is always so important over here in these games.
“But you need to be smart about how you play.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.