Cup trial for Wallabies

LESS than a year from the Rugby World Cup and at one of its prime venues, the Wallabies and New Zealand’s All Blacks today meet in a Bledisloe Cup Test which holds more importance than its so-called “dead rubber” status implies.

New Zealand locked away the trophy for the 16th straight year when it won the first two Tests against Australia, making today’s Test in Yokohama irrelevant to the series.

But other imperatives have come into play, not least the function of the match in measuring the teams’ respective states of readiness 11 months from the start of the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The All Blacks are clearly in a strong position as reigning champions and as the world’s top-ranked team, having won all but one of their nine Tests this season. The All Blacks haven’t been in vintage form but have had to contend with serious injuries which have allowed them to exhibit and increase the depth that underpins their top ranking.

Conversely, the Wallabies are approaching the World Cup in a weakened state, having won only two of nine Tests this season and having dropped to No. 7, their lowest ever world ranking. Their lack of depth at times has been cruelly exposed and they have had to cope with a chorus of criticism over the performance of abrasive head coach Michael Cheika.

The All Blacks won the previous Tests between the teams this season 38-13 and 40-12 but were less impressive in more recent Tests against South Africa, losing the first by two points and winning the second by the same margin against the Springboks.

They had to come from behind to do so, just as the Wallabies had to come from behind in their most recent Test to avoid back-to-back losses to Argentina. The All Blacks are expected to win in Yokohama as preparation for challenges next month when they play England and Ireland. However, head coach Steve Hansen has counselled caution, arguing the Wallabies will likely be energised by their remarkable win over the Pumas.

“As a group of people Aussies have a lot of self-confidence and I would rather have that than a weakness which allows you to self-doubt,” Hansen said. “They can lose five, six, seven games in a row and come out and beat the best team in the world because they believe they can.

“We love beating them and they love beating us. It is a oneoff game and winner takes all.”