Lock Adam Coleman insists the Wallabies believe more than ever they can beat the All Blacks.
The Wallabies last held the trans-Tasman symbol of supremacy 15 years ago, well before any of the current squad entered Test rugby.
Australia’s perennial Bledisloe failures since then have caused plenty of angst among local rugby fans.
After the on-field struggles and the off-field turmoil in Super Rugby, Australian rugby followers have rarely been in greater need of a morale-boosting series win over New Zealand.
It will require a big turnaround from last year when the All Blacks prevailed 42-8 in Sydney, 29-9 in Wellington and 42-10 in Auckland.
Asked if the Wallabies deep down believed they could beat the All Blacks, starting on Saturday night in Sydney, or if the mental side was a problem, Coleman was adamant their mindset is absolutely positive.
“I think the boys believe now more than ever that coming this weekend, we can beat the All Blacks,” he said on Monday.
“The growth the team has experienced over the last four weeks, not only physically but mentally.
“That mental resilience, that hard training that we’ve been doing, especially the younger guys experiencing that for their first time, I think it’s paid dividends.”
Coleman has yet to taste a Bledisloe win, having finished on the losing side in his only two matches last year.
“This time last year it was the first time a lot of us had played the All Blacks and they are the best team in the world and they are the benchmark,” Coleman said.
“We definitely felt like last year with each performance we improved and we’re looking to improve again on those performances and the lessons learnt.”
Captain Michael Hooper is keen to discover just where his team stands after an intense preparation.
“You need to put an opposition in front of you to see how we’re really tracking, so Saturday couldn’t come quick enough,” openside flanker Hooper said.
“I’m excited. You just want to test where the team is at and test to see where the attitude is.”
Hooper extracted a positive from Australia’s failure to get a team through to the Super Rugby semi-finals.
“One of the positives of not being in the finals I guess was being able to get together so early and bond away from footy and do the hard work so far out from the games,” Hooper said.
Winger Dane Haylett-Petty said his torn bicep was getting better every day and he hoped to be fit for Saturday.
Beelzebub
Guest
Fake news
Frank
Guest
I'd take RHP over Hannigan (or anyone really - at least until he's proven himself at top level - not there yet)
Winston
Guest
Should have kept the tape on the mouths for the press conference. It would have sent a better message
tomas
Guest
Coleman alcohol is not good to take before speaking ..
Armchair Sportsfan
Guest
seriously wallabies. Just Shut the F up. I know you have to do press, but this is just embarrassing to constantly hear these sorts of statements. And to all those saying he just answered a question. These guys get media training, there's a million ways you can turn the answer into something humble.
Zulu
Roar Rookie
Once upon a time ago there was a saying "Walk very quietly and carry a big stick", Qld SOO team knows this very well and so do the AB's. Positive "expressing yourself waffle" does sfa for players and supporters - Foley's etc who give free sound bites need gaffa tape applied and Hooper as our Captain needs to be understated and more subtle/humble. The game will show how much hard work has actually been done! Hope they can do it.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Chekko has had them playing with each other and with themselves if you read drivel like this ; we have mediocracy playing mediocracy . If they want opposition they should play the Force and with Wessels , Coleman and DHP the Force would win . If I were the Brumbies I would be talking to the people behind the Force .
cuw
Guest
" But then he’s about the only Wallaby who’d get a look in for an All Blacks spot. " seriously ??? ahead of who after we forget the 4 in the squad ; considering Patrick Tuipolatu , Tom Franklin and Dom Bird are not even in the squad !! there have been many players who never played for NZ test team or played a handful of games , but had they been elsewhere would be fixed assets of those teams .
cuw
Guest
@ Fionn am willing to bet imaginary money that Coleman will be the first guy wound - up by NZ and will have 95% probability of a stint on the naughty chair. i cant remember who the ref or which match it was , but in one super rugger match just after 10 minutes he got into his usual pushing contest and the ref said " carry on like that and you will be out for ten minutes". my point is , he is quickly gaining a "reputation" , which is not good going forward. i remember he got yellow last year in one match , from a ref who hates to give cards no less ( i think frenchie ref). it is difficult to hide in today's tv and smart media world - good or bad.
DavSA
Guest
The British and Irish Lions showed the way but big big question . Do the wallabies have the right kind of personnel to play that type of low error game ..Given the way Aus played Scotland that would definitely suit NZ . I feel strongly that The Springbok team at the moment have a better chance if properly selected . Same time at this level of rugby if you go onto the field not believing in yourself you probably do not belong.
Scrumma
Guest
He blew his speech after the first two words, "I think".
MitchO
Guest
Yes Frank I mean keeping them in Aussie rugby. I am not sure which roster they'd be put onto. Both are good young players who are good in second phase. They have the physicality that Cheika says he likes. They have the size and height that everyone needs in a lock. They'd be good pickups by any European team let alone a Japanese one. They'd also be welcome in the NZ super rugby system too because the kiwis don't really have enough tall guys. Cheika doesn't favour RHP. He's looking for a 6 but won't even draft him into a squad. If you need a big tough 6 then you want RHP more than Hanigan. If you want a fast Dean Mumm style 6 then you are looking more at Hanigan. RHP will give more grunt against the Boks and the English. The Force's Arnold is another guy who may just miss the cut.
Frank
Guest
Mitch what do you mean problem? U mean keeping them here?
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Well he could say something smart or something realistic. But I guess if "positive" is what you're after instead then you got it.
MitchO
Guest
Coleman will stay in Australia at least until the 2019 world cup. For mine the problem is with Matt Philip and RHP.
piru
Roar Rookie
I don't think he will, no. He is from Tassie so Perth isn't home for him the way it is for the Haylett Petty's and co. That said, he's a young man, he'd command some good coin up north. Might not be the worst thing for his game to spend some time in a European system
MitchO
Guest
I like the idea of Tupou converting to LH on the basis that our best two scrummagers need to play Tight Head. Don't forget Ainsley gentlemen. He is 23 ish now but has size and talent. He is not consistent enough yet but he can get there in the future. I reckon forget Robertson for now. He can and should keep playing super rugby and developing. Meantime put in Cowan or someone at Loosehead. Basically anyone who scrums better than Robertson.
Fionn
Guest
Piru, you think there's any chance that he heads overseas??? Goodness I hope not. Along with, but even more than, Kerevi and Alan Ala'alatoa I think that Coleman is the only indispensable Wallaby (I also think that Kerevi would be in with a good chance of making the ABs with a year of better coaching – either at a NZ side or even with Wessels at the Force).
piru
Roar Rookie
I reckon Coleman does believe that. But then he's about the only Wallaby who'd get a look in for an All Blacks spot. he was Wessels project player, I wonder how he'll go if he moves
Jumbo
Guest
Take him back to the warratahs, we'll watch him grow in to a star like skelton.