Bledisloe Cup: Low-key Wallabies prepare to tackle Eden Park hoodoo
The Wallabies have adopted a deliberate low-key approach to ending their Bledisloe Cup heartache, ignoring the wall of history in front of them if theyâre to topple the All Blacks for a second time.
Tunnel vision has been a recurring theme for Michael Cheikaâs team as they eye whatâs needed to end 17 years without the prized trans-Tasman trophy.
While pressure has mounted daily on the All Blacks following the record 47-26 boilover in Perth, the Wallabies have laid low in Melbourne, quietly plotting how they can repeat the dose at their Eden Park graveyard on Saturday.
Their arrival to Auckland was deliberately late on Friday and they surprised journalists by putting quietly-spoken assistant coach Simon Raiwalui up for media duties on match eve.
Raiwalui insisted Australiaâs players hadnât spoken about the Cup drought, even those who had long tired at their lack of success.
Itâs 22 Tests since the Wallabies have beaten the hosts on New Zealand soil and 33 years since theyâve done so in Auckland.
âObviously thereâs a history but weâve been solely focused on whatâs in front of us. Itâs all in the present,â Raiwalui said.
Weâre under no illusions about what we face. Itâs a great All Black team full of quality players and theyâre going to come out and theyâre going to be fizzing.â
Despite the emphatic nature of the Perth performance â New Zealand had never conceded 47 points in a Test â bookmakers have installed Australia as five-to-one outsiders this week.
Those odds might even creep further out if forecast rain arrives before kick-off, with Australia having based last weekâs win on a ball-in-hand approach that frustrated the world champions.
They forced the All Blacks to attempt 198 tackles, of which an unusually high 38 were missed.
Wet weather would turn the Test into a kicking contest and, more to the point, a forward arm wrestle.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has demanded a â200 per centâ improvement from his pack but forwards coach Raiwalui was confident the Wallabies eight could match their committed and accurate performance of a week earlier.
Rory Arnold, a towering presence in Perth, has been ruled out with injury but Raiwalui said promoted starting Adam Coleman was a proven performer and Rob Simmonsâ return bolstered the bench.
âItâs a position of strength for us. Itâs unfortunate because Rory was playing well but itâs great to have those guys come in.
âWe had a good weekend last weekend but itâs a job half done. Weâve been really concentrating on ourselves, getting better and getting better at the things we can control.â
Colemanâs return means six members of Australiaâs starting pack also ran out at Eden Park last year, when they were outclassed 40-12 and four of New Zealandâs six tries were scored by Beauden Barrett.
-AAP
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