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Eddie Jones’ number one priority might be the looming World Cup, but several All Blacks greats believe the “pressure” of securing the Bledisloe Cup will mean his New Zealand counterpart Ian Foster will be “conservative” with his selection for their opening Test against the Wallabies on Saturday at the MCG.
Having taken on the Wallabies at their strongest at the turn of the century, New Zealand greats of the past like Justin Marshall and Andrew Mehrtens have often spoken about the “fear” of not wanting to become the first All Blacks side to let slip of the Bledisloe Cup.
Indeed, the Wallabies haven’t had the Bledisloe Cup since John Mitchell’s All Blacks smashed Jones’ side in 2003.
It’s why World Cup-winner Mils Muliaina believes Foster will go all out to try and move to an unassailable one-nil lead before giving some of his fringe squad members a chance in Dunedin a week later to push for World Cup selection.
“The All Blacks will be wanting to put that Bledisloe away firmly in one game rather than going to Dunedin and thinking ‘OK, we’ve got to win this back’ because there’s a number of players that haven’t seen any Test match footy this year so far,” Muliaina told Sky’s The Breakdown.
Ian Foster won’t want to become the first All Blacks coach to lose hold of the Bledisloe Cup after two decades. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
The former fullback added that the events of the past three years, where Foster’s position has continually been the subject of speculation before New Zealand Rugby moved to silence it by appointing Scott Robertson as his successor post the World Cup, was another reason for the All Blacks hierarchy to roll out their best side.
“I think they’ll continue on and try and continue that momentum and the confidence within the team,” Muliaina said.
“We spoke about the Wallabies, but this is a totally different environment [from] what the All Blacks have had to face considering what’s gone on last year.
“I think you continue that momentum and hence the reason why Eddie saying what he did is massive because the All Blacks will want to win this first game to get guys game time that haven’t seen it, and they need it.”
Mils Muliaina (C) believes Ian Foster will be conservative with his selections for Bledisloe I. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan agreed.
“You’ve got to realise the pressure on Ian Foster and the All Blacks to win all tournaments, right. Don’t forget that. As a rugby public, we’re very demanding,” he said.
“Like Mills said, we’ve got all the pressure. So, you’re conservative this week and we win the Bledisloe Cup and then you might see him [Leicester Fainga’anuku] the following week, and then you start picking for the World Cup, but you can’t take any risks.”
Jeff Wilson said the All Blacks couldn’t take the Wallabies for granted in Melbourne and added that even if they do prevail in the opening Bledisloe Test, cautioned about putting too much weight on starring roles in Dunedin.
“Does a dead rubber in Dunedin prove anything?” he said.
“If it’s a dead rubber, I’m not writing Australia off, I refuse to do that because then if it’s not, say Australia win this Test match, Dunedin changes completely, significantly for the group, right? Because you’re going I’m not taking any risks here, there’s a trophy on the line.”
Ever since the Wallabies’ loss to Argentina in Sydney, Jones has taken a front-foot approach to his side’s next clash against the All Blacks.
Despite consecutive defeats to start his second tenure in charge, Jones has said it’s “not all doom and gloom” before adding that the All Blacks should “look out”.
Kirwan said Jones had been masterful in his response since the Wallabies’ loss to Argentina, comparing the veteran coach to football manager Jose Mourinho.
“Eddie, I love you, mate. I just love you for that,” Kirwan said.
“Jose Mourinho, who was Chelsea coach, Man U, he’s now in Rome, and that’s what he used to do. When the team wasn’t going like he wanted, he would deflect and that’s a great skill.
“After South Africa, Eddie has a go at the journalist. ‘What are you talking about, man? Who are you to say I said that was the ‘B’ side?’ I think that’s the beauty of the man. He will deflect pressure off the team, and he’s probably pretty genuine. In behind the scenes, he’s probably going, ‘we’re heading in the right direction.’”
Sir Jhn Kirwan has compared Wallabies coach Eddie Jones to football manager Jose Mourinho. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, after Kirwan speculated that Jones had made it clear that he would only accept the Wallabies job if he got carte blanche to select from overseas, Wilson questioned some of the Wallabies coach’s selections, pointing to the large number of Rebels players in the recent team despite their lack of success in Super Rugby.
“The fact that they have ditched their eligibility rules and said these are the guys I want. But I’m thinking the impact of them coming in playing, in a different competition, playing a different style of rugby, and the fact that guys that tasted success against New Zealand sides in Super Rugby, a lot of them aren’t there and they’re guys in key positions,” Wilson said.
“Two locks, plenty of size, and this is the balance of their 23.
“The Brumbies had six [in the Wallabies 23], now they were the best performed Super Rugby team. The Rebels were terrible, they didn’t even make the playoffs but they’ve got six Wallabies.
“You start going, well, they’ve got individual talent? Well, hold on. Winning’s a habit. For a lot of these guys, I don’t think they’ve tasted it. And now he’s trying to work out, one, how they want to play, and I’m not sure they’ve got that quite right.”
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.