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Wallabies benchman Scott Higginbotham was born on the same day the Wallabies last beat the All Blacks at Eden Park – September 6, 1986.
He is one of only six Wallabies who were even born at the time – period.
Sekope Kepu was seven-months-old, Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Scott Fardy were two, and Wycliff Palu was nearly four.
That was a magic day 28 years ago with the series locked at 1-1. The Wallabies won 22-9 at Eden Park with Alan Jones as coach, and Andy Slack as skipper, in a side that included Nick Farr-Jones, David Campese, Michael Lynagh, Simon Poidevin, Topo Rodrigues and full-back Andrew Leeds celebrating his debut for the injured Roger Gould with a try.
This was basically the side that had captured the Wallabies only Grand Slam in 1984. Mark Ella had retired after that tour. It was a great side, playing great rugby.
And that’s what Ewen McKenzie’s side must do on Saturady night. There’s much more at stake than ending a 28-year hoodoo.
The Wallabies haven’t won in New Zealand since 2001 with a 23-15 scoreline at Carisbrook. That win was a hoodoo breaker, the Wallabies hadn’t won there in 13 starts.
It was Eddie Jones’ second Test as Wallabies coach, and to win at the renowned “House of Pain” was even more uplifting, having lost his debut Test against the Boks 20-15 at Loftus.
Matt Burke, with 18 points, George Smith and Joe Roff were the heroes on that historic Carisbrook day. And it’s time the Eden Park hoodoo was put to the sword.
The forecast for Saturday night is nine degrees Celsius, with an 18-kilometre per hour wind and cloudy with zero chance of rain.
If the forecast is right on the money, expect both sides to welcome better conditions than last Saturday night at ANZ, and we’ll see a lot of ball in the hand rather than the boot.
McKenzie has stuck to the same squad as last week, but it must surely be the last chance for half Nic White and centre Matt Toomua to stay in the starting line-up.
Especially as the All Blacks have made three changes, and look a tougher proposition.
Liam Messam replaces the injured Jerome Kaino as blindside flanker, Ryan Crotty takes over at inside centre for the injured Ma’a Nonu and outside centre Conrad Smith resumes his spot after missing the first Test for the birth of his first child – a son.
Hopefully, Saturday night’s French referee Romain Poite has seen the rank amateur display of South African Jaco Peyper at ANZ, and makes the necessary adjustments.
International rugby needs referees who are number 31 on the paddock, and not self-appointed number one.