Without a single player in their squad who has beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand, the Wallabies finalised preparations for Saturday night’s date with destiny by sourcing inspiration from a rare moment in history when Australia did climb off the canvas to win in Auckland.
The injury-depleted Wallabies are $7.00 outsiders to break a 26-year drought against the home side at Eden Park and keep the Bledisloe Cup battle alive.
But if their 1978 predecessors are anything to go by, rugby doesn’t always follow a script.
Australia’s ’78 tourists headed to a third Test at Eden Park 2-0 down in the series, missing six of their stars through injury and without their coach, Daryl Haberecht, who had suffered a pre-match heart attack.
But despite effectively coaching themselves in the days leading up to the match and being written off by the locals, the Wallabies left Eden Park with a record 30-16 win, highlighted by Greg Cornelsen’s four-try haul.
Australia’s captain during that series, Tony Shaw, presented the Wallabies with their jerseys on Friday and gave a clear message of why getting on the front foot in the forward battle is the key to victory.
“The adversity, two skippers down and out (James Horwill and David Pocock), lots of injuries and being written off. It’s very similar,” Shaw said.
“We just knew what we had to do (in ’78) … and I think they know what they need to do, they just haven’t done it on the paddock.”
The pressure from a partisan All Black crowd won’t be felt more by anyone on Saturday than under-fire Wallabies star Quade Cooper.
However, Shaw believes his fellow Queenslander can produce Saturday’s ‘Cornelsen’ performance.
“It’s a wonderful, wonderful opportunity for (Quade) to shine. Get the demons off his brain. And he will,” Shaw said.
Cooper’s disastrous last visits to Eden Park during the World Cup have been well documented, but stand-in skipper Will Genia says the five-eighth will bring a settling feel.
“I think the greatest strength Quade brings to our game is just his communication and his organisation,” said Genia.
“He gives the guys a lot of confidence inside and outside him because they know where they’re going and they have clarity on direction and play.
“We just have to enter the game with the right frame of mind and that means blocking out external pressures and worrying about what’s important.”
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans insists Kurtley Beale is ready to produce a backs-to-the-wall performance despite dumping him to the reserves bench after a shocker in Sydney last week.
It remains to be seen whether taking responsibility away from a star player for one bad performance will help or hinder Beale’s confidence, but Deans said the dynamic attacking weapon would play a vital impact role if the game is tight.
“He’s a great option off the bench, obviously he was a little bit out of sorts last week and hasn’t been brimming full of confidence but players like Kurtley are only ever a moment away from that. He can produce something others can’t,” said Deans.
Tatafu Polota-Nau (corked backside) was ruled out of the squad entirely after failing to complete the captain’s run, with Saia Faingaa taking his place on a 4-3 bench that also features uncapped openside flanker Liam Gill.
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.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan says it’s “purely coincidental” that Semipeni Finau has put on a massive, late hit on a fourth fly-half in nine…
He was born 1905, 1904 or 1908 according to various reports, in Wairoa, Hawkes Bay, and is remembered as one of the great Māori players.
I don’t really get the comparisons between Joey Manu and Sonny Bill Williams. I realise they have the Roosters in common, along with a…
All Blacks star Jordie Barrett has announced a sabbatical to play with Irish club Leinster at year's end, while committing his future to New…
There are those who will forever play the man - and not the ball - where TJ Perenara is concerned. The All Blacks and…
I well remember the day a New Zealand Rugby staffer put their hands on me. It seems I’d made them angry.The Wellington Sevens was…
