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The first Bledisloe match should be played as if it was the decider. If the Wallabies lose, they create a massive hurdle in front of them.
They then move to a place called Eden Park, a killing ground for all who oppose the All Blacks.
The Wallabies best chance is to win at all costs in Sydney. The All Blacks will most likely claim a win at Eden Park leaving the decider at Brisbane. The last Test in Brisbane gave the Wallabies a draw, time before that was a Wallaby win in 2011.
Hansen and the All Blacks will throw it all into the Sydney Test and there is no doubt Ewen Mackenzie will emphasise the importance of the first Test for his Wallaby team.
The June build up Tests are great at getting the teams warmed up and trying different combinations and bleeding new players. However the Rugby Championship is when it all becomes very real with every weakness exposed for all to see.
The All Blacks discovered this with England, who pushed them to the brink. England pushed every button and did everything the All Blacks didn’t want them to do.
Getting the All Blacks to become desperate at the breakdowns and forcing errors with massive pressure on their defensive line is the name of the game. The All Blacks were still able to absorb the battering and start applying their own pressure with a more physical contest at the rucks.
France on the other hand were not as competitive but they were still able to give MacKenzie an opportunity to see what his team can create and deliver, for the three Tests, two were very convincing.
They created a positive belief and confidence that’s required for the upcoming Rugby Championship.
MacKenzie knows team attitude and spirit is a major element to success. One can only come to this conclusion by watching how he stays close to the action with his voice right in the mix and keeping his team on the field at the break, by not allowing his team to lose focus and maintaining energy level’s with a job only half done type of vibe.
This team of Wallabies does look the part from the flashy Israel Folau out the back and Mike Hooper cranking the engine in the forwards. With the inclusion of Will Skelton, things could really heat up. All this leads to a new era and a clean slate against the All Blacks.
The Bledisloe has only briefly visited Australian shores over the past decade or so, hardly having time to sit down before being filled to the brim once again with more New Zealand beer. The Australians would love nothing more than to rip it away and fill it multiple times with beer of their own.
For this team, history doesn’t count for squat. For the All Blacks, history counts for everything!
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.