Wallabies halfback Will Genia says Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test is the perfect time to end their inconsistent ways, and coach Robbie Deans couldn’t agree more.
Fresh from a 41-39 win over the Springboks that ended a 47-year wait for a win in South Africa’s highveld last weekend, the Wallabies go into this weekend’s Bledisloe Cup clash at ANZ Stadium aiming to end another unwanted record.
The All Blacks have now won nine straight trans-Tasman clashes over the Wallabies, with Australia’s last win coming in Sydney in 2008 – long before Genia’s international debut.
But recent history is littered with the Wallabies failing to back up a good performance with another the following week, regardless of the opposition.
And it’s a trend coach Deans wants to see end, hopefully thanks to a new found self-belief from that last-gasp win in Bloemfontein.
“We’ve shown that promise previously and when you get up in games that are tenuous it does add to your core,” Deans said on Thursday.
“The key now is to turn it into a habit.”
Genia believes the way the Wallabies responded to a Springboks comeback to score 10 points in the final 10 minutes last Saturday and secure the win hints at a new steel within the team.
“I think that was the biggest thing that we’ve been missing, that we responded to adversity,” the Queensland Red told reporters.
“We started well in both games in South Africa and the first one we didn’t respond, I guess, to them coming at us and coming back into the game.
“To be able to have that response from the guys and show that we can do it and really close out a game at the end … it instils a lot of belief within the group and holds us in good stead this week.”
Genia feels the team is ready to end their wait for a Test victory over the All Blacks, although it will take all of their new-found belief to achieve that aim.
“We obviously haven’t beaten them in a long time,” he said.
“We created history with the last game that we played and I think there’s a very good chance we can do it (again) this weekend.
“It (the losing streak) just adds more to how big the challenge is.”
Genia is also confident his long-time halves partner Quade Cooper will rise to the occasion in what will be the five-eighth’s first Test against the land of his birth.
“He’s like he always is, the most relaxed bloke I’ve ever met,” Genia said.
“He’ll be fine.”
Muzza
Guest
Here, here. Daytime rugby is great... But it is up to mr. Murdoch. Attended that game and it was a great day out with the lead changing constantly.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
I was there, AJ, watching Sean Fitzpatrick play the ref off a break throughout the match - as Farr-Jones said, on Sean's retirement "The finest referee I ever played against!" Every time he wanted to slow it up Fitzpatrick would stick the ball under his arm and go across for a chat about the philosophy underlying rugby rules - he was pretty to watch. A packed Lang Park, excellent viewing ground, great atmosphere - I think the All Blacks won.
JohnB
Guest
AJ - it still is Lang Park to many of us! And there have been any number of Kiwis in and around Brisbane for a lot longer than that - I remember being surprised going to Ballymore in the early to mid 70's when Qld started regularly playing NZ provinces how much booing there was of the local goalkickers, all from Kiwis who as a school kid I didn't realise were in Australia in big numbers even then.
AJ
Guest
I can remember watching a daytime Bledisloe game at Lang Park (pre Suncorp) on the day that Keiren Perkins won olympic gold from lane eight-they replayed it to the stadium.Burke kicked them from everywhere,Frank Bunce and Michael Brial had a "scuffle",great game with blacks running down a big wallaby lead.I think it was the first time we realisedthat nz actually had a home crowd in Brisbane....1996? Anyhow bring it back I say,even just for one game.
Tommy G
Roar Rookie
An afternoon test wouldn't be welcomed by the NZ rights holder, given the time difference, would it?
Moaman
Guest
Couldn't agree more! Bring back those saturday afternoon matches played in the sun.......:-)
Joh4Canberra
Roar Rookie
Agreed. Afternoon games make for better rugby, are more convenient for the majority of people who would like to attend the match and on this particular occasion an afternoon game wouldn't clash with the NRL and AFL finals being played on the same night. But one thing I'd be curious to know is how much control the ARU actually has over kick-off times for tests on Australian soil. Generally speaking night games are more TV-friendly for broadcasters (more potential viewers so more advertising revenue). And from a time zone point of view the later the kick-off in Australia the more convenient it is for viewers in Europe, Asia and Africa. And the more potential viewers you have in overseas markets the more money the broadcast rights are worth. So what's got me wondering is whether the broadcasters insist on night time games to maximise their investment in the TV rights and whether the ARU is beholden to the broadcasters' wishes in this regard (eg by way of binding contractual terms on match times) or whether the ARU still has full control of kick-off times.
soapit
Guest
its got nothing to do with aus audiences i reckon. its all scheduled so it comes on at a good time live in the uk where there are many many more pay tv subscriptions. they can watch while they eat their full english's on a sunday morning. too much of a consiracy theory maybe?
Brett McKay
Guest
be that as it may Lester, when was the last time we had a daytime Test in Australia?? They're hardly going to change back now...
Lester Freamon
Guest
Ridiculous scheduling. Rugby has the opportunity to have all Saturday afternoon to itself in the traditional timeslot of 2pm with coast to coast tv. But no, it is on in primetime against AFL and NRL finals. In the AFL states, rugby won't even be mentioned. In the north only the Kiwi expats will bother. Rugby needs to go back to basics, afternoon kickoffs, night games produce more errors, everyone knows this.