It was perhaps the best time in four whole years to be a Wallabies fan last weekend, with Australia’s stunning 47-26 Bledisloe Cup Game 1 win washing away – albeit temporarily – years of misery.
The ‘invincible’ All Blacks looked very fallible, the previous dysfunctional Wallabies looked like a well-oiled green and gold machine and, for 80 minutes, all was well with rugby.
But, the harsh reality is that we haven’t won the Bledisloe Cup since 2002 and, as great as that win was, only a win at fortress Eden Park will do if we’re to lift the trophy for the first time in 17 years.
Can the Wallabies get the job done?
We got Roar rugby expert Nicholas Bishop on the Game of Codes podcast for the very first time to preview Bledisloe 2 from both angles and make a call on whether Australia can score a rare series win.
Listen to the discussion:
Auckland’s Eden Park has been nothing short of a house of horrors for the Wallabies over the journey. In 28 encounters at the venue, Australia have walked away victorious on just four occasions, with the last win coming back in 1986.
New Zealand haven’t lost at Eden Park at all since 1994, although they did draw with the Lions in 2017.
Visit our Game of Codes hub to catch the full episode and be sure to subscribe and review on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever else you’re listening.
Offside
Roar Rookie
Haven't been happier to lose $10 all my life :stoked: . Shag has put my mind at rest :happy: .
Bobby
Roar Rookie
What's your predictions again
Homer
Guest
36 - 0 And..... I got double bragging rights.
ChrisG
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the comment. Kudos. This week was certainly easier to watch than the last.
Offside
Roar Rookie
I put my hand up. I got it wrong and I have never been happier at being so. My $5 insurance with the TAB was happily parted with. Regarding your previous comment, the 1st 5 is responsible for running the back line. If the back line fails to function, it normally comes down to the 1st 5. Our 1st 5 on Saturday performed brilliantly and our back line finally fired. Kudos to Mounga and the rest of the team. Best performance I have seen since 2015 and even earlier.
ChrisG
Roar Rookie
How about metres run, or was he just running away from all those bullies trying to crush him :laughing:
ChrisG
Roar Rookie
"A bit like Mounga's effort" 12 tackles made none missed. You must have been a marvelous player :laughing:
ChrisG
Roar Rookie
I'm looking forward to your apology when he proves once again what a quality player he is, though I'm not sure that you will be able to take the blinkers off. Those who cannot see etc...
Paulo
Roar Rookie
So... we are blaming the ref before the kick off? Getting set early for the excuses? I hope the Wallabies haven’t been as fixated on the ref as some roarers have been.
Gary
Guest
I am glad someone mention the ref as I fear a Ref backlash against us more than a Black -lash ! It would not surprise me to see Jaco P try and ingratiate himself to the Kiwi crowd , other than that it’s Go -You-Bloody - WAALABBBIESSSSS !!!!!
Ulrich
Roar Rookie
To be fair it's not only Australia that can't win at Eden Park. The last team to do it in my lifetime was France. I was 5 years old.
Offside
Roar Rookie
Obviously you want the All Blacks to lose. I always put an "insurance" bet on the opposition when I think the All Blacks will struggle. It's only $5 because if I stand to win too much, I might not cheer on the All Blacks enough. I've put $10 on this week as soon as our team was announced (not because I want Oz to win, but because I believe they will). Nothing in the past 2 years tells me we will turn around for this week. The team announcement with Mounga/SBW and Mounga/BB experiment screams at me that the All Blacks haven't been keeping their powder dry and that the decline is in fact real. Wallabies by 15 points and that's only because of the weather forecast.
Offside
Roar Rookie
Despite being the smallest bloke on the field, I was a brilliant tackler in my day. How? The opposition saw the tiny bloke on the wing, thought they could run over the top of me and would get dropped. Not much was required from me. A bit like Mounga's effort. Fact is, he's played two quality opponents with a draw and a loss to show for it. Both times he has looked completely out of his depth. But for some reason, the same people who probably thought Luke McAllister was a quality 2nd 5, think he was brilliant. Alot of people with no idea of the attributes of a rugby player it would seem. And save me with the "the selectors seem to think he's good" rubbish. The "wise men" throughout history have also thought any number of useless players were good. From Shane Philpott to Stephen Bachop to Luke McAllister......to Mounga.
Wal
Roar Guru
More importantly no Retallick.
Wal
Roar Guru
You won’t miss a single tackle if you never make one. He made 12 tackles, alot for a 10, Bloody clumsy Wallabies to trip over 12 times whilst scoring 6 tries. The 6 defenders beaten is also irrelevant if they swamp the player, he jinxs left and beats 1, he jinxs right and beats another, then he throws a hospital pass because he’s about to be crushed by the 3rd defender. Which pretty much summed up his game. Also pretty neatly sums up the situation of a 10 getting back foot ball and no room to move. The AB forwards were comprehensively outplayed even Dan Carter would have had a nightmare behind that effort.
mtiger
Roar Rookie
Mounga 'appeared' not to be playing well. The problem was in the forwards. That is all. with 19% possession, Allblacks were threatening. That is the Allblacks. Perhaps the Allblacks forget how to pummel the opposition using 8 men in close. That is what is needed to take Wallabies down this weekend (if Wallabies were as smooth as they were last weekend) Mounga at 10 and Barrett at 15 are correct positioning. Barrett should stay at 15 more and let 11, 12, 13, and 14 get into more touches with the 10.
AndyS
Guest
The odds are only a reflection of the betting. So the only question is whether the betting masses can it wrong 2 weeks in a row.
BLACKTOWN
Roar Rookie
The jolly green giant N.S.W T.A.B has the Wallabies at 5$ in a two horse race.They dont get it wrong 2 weeks in a row.
Homer
Guest
You know what - you're right! But... if the prediction comes true then I get double the bragging rights. So that's something.
Vo
Guest
There is one giant albatross hanging around the Wallabies neck.....JACO PEYPER