Eden Park. There’s nothing in the name to suggest an intimidating fortress. Nothing in the ground itself, or its surrounds, either.
The dressing rooms are quite normal, of a similar size to those at our main stadia in Australia.
You run out on halfway in Auckland, the same as in Australia too.
Even though renovations for the Rugby World Cup enclosed the playing arena while boosting capacity to around 60k, the crowd is not even ‘on top of you’ as it can feel like at some other international grounds.
Yet the statistics on Eden Park suggest that to leave the visitor’s dressing room is akin to being led down death row: 33 All Black wins on the bounce through 20-years, and 34 unbeaten in all.
It was interesting to hear Steve Hansen complimenting the Wallabies after last weekend’s draw in the muck, the All Black coach acknowledging that games against Australia, through his decade of involvement, had usually been close.
We could take it as a back-handed compliment that Australia has contributed 14 defeats to the All Blacks’ winning run. The Wallabies get landed with Eden Park so much (10 since the Tri-Nations/Rugby Championship began) because the locals want the historical advantage the ground gives them.
The All Black record is intimidating, and its already been spoken about a lot.
Yet for the Wallaby players, it provides a fantastic opportunity.
Imagine being in the first team to beat the All Blacks at Eden Park for 20 years?
And the first Wallaby team to win there in 28?
It’s enough to set the pulse racing even thinking it!
Of course, that’s all easy to say – and has been said before. The key will be to get out and play like it’s possible – belief as opposed to bravado!
It was clear last weekend that the Wallabies set out to make a statement physically. They were not going to be intimidated and met the All Black challenge head on.
Michael Hooper led the charge (when have we ever seen a Wallaby forward so dominant against the All Blacks in the carry?), but he was ably supported.
The work-rate of James Slipper in such conditions was phenomenal.
After weathering the early All Black storm, if you will pardon the pun, the Wallabies got the upper hand physically.
That will have dented the Kiwis’ psyche a bit, especially among their tight forwards, but the Wallabies need to assert themselves from the start this week, because the All Blacks will come out hard with vengeance on their minds.
Standing up to the inevitable assault, and giving it straight back, will be critical – not only for confidence – but also for the perception of the referee. Frenchman Romain Poite is in charge.
Thankfully he’s more experienced than the likeable but insecure Jaco Peyper, whose apology to the All Blacks (as revealed by Hansen) for his performance reinforced the widely-held perception that he is a decent guy, albeit while underlining that he probably wasn’t ready for a match if that magnitude.
Poite will have no such worries. He’s also a friendly guy to speak to, for a former copper, and he has a good command of English, but – perhaps reflecting his police background, he is assertive and does like to set the tone early in his games.
Which means that the team that first creates the perception of being on top in both set piece and contact generally gets the benefit of his decisions for the whole game. The lesson: do the work on the field, rather than making noise off it!
Too often the Wallabies – externally, but perhaps even more importantly, internally – have turned on the bravado prior to crossing the Tasman.
At times, it’s felt hollow due to the suspicion that the speaker hasn’t really believed what he is saying. In Hooper, the Wallabies have a leader who clearly does believe.
His reaction at fulltime on Saturday night, where he spoke of it feeling like a loss, showcased his attitude.
He’s unfulfilled, and not scared of what lies ahead.
Hopefully his teammates, particularly among the ‘piggies’ up front, share the strength of his attitude.
True leadership is about providing a rallying point for your mates. The confidence leaders show by their deeds is infectious. It’s like making a big hit in a tackle – the action lifts everyone.
History and a key personnel change will make the All Blacks better on Saturday night.
Conrad Smith, who returns, is a great player, his role in the machine often underestimated.
Smith is a general of the Dan Carter-ilk, a guy who you see Richie McCaw talking to a lot out on the field. The All Blacks really lacked backline leadership in his absence, especially when the prospect of missing the record began to weigh heavily.
With Smith back, expect the home team to play a lot smarter.
But there will be a huge pressure on, maybe even some doubt, which will only have been added to by the absence of Ma’a Nonu and especially Jerome Kaino.
And while the All Blacks traditionally excel in such positions, it is a situation they haven’t had to deal with in a while, probably as far back as the Rugby World Cup.
So there is a genuine opening for the Wallabies with nothing really to lose.
The Bledisloe can’t be won on Saturday night, whatever the outcome, so don’t even think (or talk!) about it.
Eden Park doesn’t have to be intimidating. Enjoy the experience.
Tinfoil Hat
Guest
Whatever you are trying to achieve, you have managed to come across as a hysterical juvenile.
Tinfoil Hat
Guest
Why did the ref apologise to the AB's after the game then? It amazes me the number of Wallaby supporter who have become 'emotional' about the lopsided penalty count and are unable to undertake an objective assessment of the ref's performance.
stillmatic1
Guest
or maybe like history has shown, they wouldn't add much at all!! surely dumping in a host of different players will change the dynamic of the team, and how effective said team is.
Tinfoil Hat
Guest
So where do that put all the Roarers who attacked anyone saying anything about the ref last week, claiming it was merely sour grapes and the reffing was perfect? Pirates is one is can think of off the top of my head. In the 'unable to make an objective assessment of the ref' basket. Which is exactly what they were accusing others of. Irony.
AJ
Guest
James O'Connor?
Ken Stewart
Guest
you are a Richard Cranium
Rouaan
Guest
Dear atlas...YES, very strong feelings, same strong feelings from Hansen and all the AB supporters not wanting to deal with reality. I wanted to make this point, that's why I pasted it on 4 threads. I have that right, don't I ?
atlas
Guest
obviously strong feelings about this rouaan, since you've cut and pasted it onto just about every thread running on this forum today. I suppose you can read it, and convince yourself "it must be true, I read it on the internet so many times!" Only a "penalty try AND a yellow card for Savea" - that was restrained, I think at least evelenty penalty tries and seven reds for that naughty Savea. "immature and emotional" indeed! Have a good day, sounds as if you need on.
Rouaan
Guest
All the conjecture about the referee during the week is just immature and emotional from the AB camp. The ABs and Hansen have to apply the same standard to everybody at all times. 17 wins in a row, going for the record, nr 1 team in the world, twice as experienced as their opponents on the night, IRB player of 2013 and the list goes on…they were suppose to wallop the WBs. This selective pickings of referee decisions is just immature and emotional. What about Savea holding onto the ball when AAC was clearly on the ball and appealing to Peyper to go for a TMO decision. That was a penalty try AND a yellow card for Savea. The WBs should feel aggrieved. The ABs are getting desperate if the odd scrum free kick calls don’t go their way and they go public about their interaction with Peyper after the game. This is damage control and a very weak PR job from Hansen.
Daz
Guest
I can just hear that loud sonorous voice, booming through the overhead speakers. "Roman, into the confession room. Now".
Magic Sponge
Guest
Yep Gill is a converted 7s player
ben
Guest
Actually peter jones was number 8
atlas
Guest
would it make good reality tv? McKenzie, Hansen and the ref, one room, one camera . . .
atlas
Guest
"of the 4 grounds, Eden Park is considered the AB’s main home ground" EP gets more games, with 1/3rd of NZ's population in Auckland region that's logical. The All Blacks rotate matches through seven 'home' grounds 2013 ABs had seven home games in six venues (Eden Park got 2) This year we've seen them play England in Hamilton; next month AB v Argentina in Napier. New Plymouth gets a test each second season (France last year). Christchurch had no test for 2014, consolation prize was mid-week match Crusaders v England.
Firstxv
Guest
well i read my post again and thought it made sense...sorry you don't think so.
Firstxv
Guest
Yes I wasnt born till the 60's but caught up with through 'Rugby Greats' the boys must have book of the day. Ron hemi I think it was kicked it through and Jones scooped it up just as the Bok fullback was coming in for it before taking off. Having known the big northlander was quite sizeable for a flanker when I caught up later with the actual video geez he was quick. I'd always imagined a lumbering run to the line but he was a real sprinter for his size. No way was he going to be caught.
Firstxv
Guest
Before the Cornelson match a few of our first xv were allowed to help out with the final training at Williams park- home of the Manukau rovers club- kicking the balls back and bits and pieces. Fantastic day, we must have been out there 2-3 hours amongst it all. I recall the booming boot of the new fullback Geoff Richards particularly. he didnt have too long a career though. I too was in the no. 4 stand and found myself supporting the W's after getting so star struck from the training a couple of days earlier- our new heroes so to speak- (what would a 15 year old know anyway). Still recall Keith Quins commentary from the game...Ooooh Nicky Wright! what a sidestep! when Wright caused half the AB backline to go the other way, leading to another Cornelson try. Saw someone mention here it was as wet as last weeks match. It was overcast and rained a little but generally it was ok- nothing like last week though. Great memories.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Without Genia and Squeaky and Skelton, and with Beale at 10, we dont have the talent to beat the abs, but the Boks should do this easily. Abs by 15
rl
Guest
Hi Ricc, I hope that one fine day we get presented with this quandry!! Apologies in advance for the following ramblings, but as a former loosie I feel like I have a stake in this very interesting question. Agree with most of what Yogi says below/above in that these two guys don't necessarily fit into the "classic" mold of a 7. Not sure I agree with him about converting Poey into a hooker - he started out as a schoolboy 12, and while in theory he may have the build and strength, in practice he'd be packing down against blokes who have been learning the dark arts of front row play since they came off the teat! Yikes! I think it probably comes down the balance of your backrow, and indeed your entire pack. For example, I don't think anyone would nominate Messam (a crackingly good player) as a classic No.6, but the combination of he, McCaw and Read seems to work well, and perhaps thats attributable to the balance of the whole pack. Yogi also alluded to the lineout - if we have Hooper, Pocock and Palu as starting loosies, we're probably a bit weak in the lineout. Given our fragility in the other setpieces (scrums, restarts), to then go and weaken what is generally a pretty reliable part of our game seems fraught with danger. If, for example, Higgers could stamp himself as a reliable and consistent international standard 8, then that might be able to work (but I still have major worried about Higgers fundamentals - did you notice his scrum technique on the weekend? Absolutely terrible. Body height completely out of whack with his locks on engagement, "meerkatting" instead of keeping his shoulder to the wheel) So what's the answer? Well, my issue with our options at 6 (and a lot of our pack in general) is we have blokes who drift in and out of the game, or go missing altogether. So would I prefer to have an undersized but wholehearted performer at 6, or a 50%-er? I think you can guess my answer. I think they could work well as a tandem, with Hooper's couterattacking running game capitlising on any turnovers created by Pocock. But the rest of the pack would need to stand up to be counted. As an endnote to a long post, I reckon Poey would probably reclaim the captain's armband - Hooper has been excellent, but could probably benefit from a couple more years as understudy.
Daz
Guest
Spot on james. You can see it in the depths of their eyes. You can tell from the get go when they face the haka. It's surprise and nearly fear. For the darkness it's like "Why isn't this working like it normally does?" That's happened maybe two or three times in the last ten years. It's like that magical shot in golf that only happens in ten games but it's what keeps us coming back.