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Australian rugby union coach Robbie Deans (centre) talks to his players. AAP Image/Paul Miller
Saddling up for his 46th international as Wallabies coach, Robbie Deans faces the defining moment of his career next Saturday night at Eden Park.
A morale-boosting Rugby World Cup bonus tick awaits the Wallabies if they beat the All Blacks at a ground where the men-in-gold haven’t won since 1986.
And the Cup final will be at Eden Park on October 23, when potentially both teams will fight out the decider.
So it’s time for some good old-fashioned house cleaning to end the hoodoo and the drought in one hit.
Make no mistake, beating the All Blacks anytime, anywhere is a huge bonus. But beating them at Eden Park is the ultimate.
And it’s not drawing a long bow to suggest a Wallabies win next Saturday will severely dent All Black confidence towards the World Cup they so desperately want to win on home soil.
No country has won at the Auckland “fortress” for 22 internationals – July 1994 was the last when the French had an unthinkable 2-0 series win. An amazing stat..
But the uppercut would be a second successive loss to the Wallabies after Hong Kong when the Wallabies came from behind to win 26-24 on the bell last October.
Next Saturday will be Robbie Deans’ defining moment alright.
Now would also be a good time to recall exactly what the first foreign Wallaby coach achieved in June and July 2008.
In his first five internationals, the Wallabies:
* Beat Ireland 18-12, at Colonial.
* Beat France 34-13 at Stadium Australia.
* Beat France 40-10 at Suncorp.
* Beat the Boks 16-9 at Subiaco.
* And beat the All Blacks 34-19 at Stadium Australia.
What a cracking start, downing four of the best rugby teams on the planet, first up.
Beating the All Blacks is rugby’s biggest ask. The Deans win came early, then reality struck with 10 successive losses.
It’s easy to say 10 successive losses by the Wallabies, but to feel the proper impact, you have to see the results in print:
* Lost 39-19 at Eden Park..
* Lost 28-24, at Suncorp.
* Lost 19-14 at Hong Kong.
* Lost 22-16 at Suncorp.
* Lost 19-18 at Stadium Australia.
* Lost 33-6 at Wellington.
* Lost 32-19 at Tokyo.
* Lost 49-28 at Colonial.
* Lost 20-10 at Jade.
* And lost 23-22 at Stadium Australia.
Those are depressing stats, especially as the Wallabies led into the second half in five of those games, but couldn’t close them out.
But for once, since the fifth international of his Wallaby career, Deans has form on his side for next Saturday, with the Wallabies beating the men-in-black for the first time in 11 meetings 26-24, in Hong Kong last October.
The exciting James O’Connor set the field alight with his try in the corner in injury time, converting from touch for the well-deserved two-point victory.
O’Connor, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Digby Ioane and Kurtley Beale are far better internationals now. So too the new centre combination of newcomer Pat McCabe, and the vastly-experienced Adam Ashley-Cooper, world-class flanker David Pocock, with skipper Rocky Elsom’s running into form, so too locks James Horwill, and Rob Simmons – with a very competitive and mobile front row.
It’s there for the taking Robbie Deans.
The big question is reserved for the coach: have your troops enough bottle?