Wallabies up for the challenge
ISLAND time has served its purpose. Now the pent-up Wallabies have hit the Auckland mainland and can throw everything at a second Bledisloe Cup Test in which they concede nobody gives them a chance.
Captain Michael Hooper said the team’s four days on Waiheke Island was among the most intense periods he had spent focusing on a single game of rugby.
The All Blacks sense blood at their Eden Park fortress tonight, and a 15th successful defence of the silverware. But Hooper said his team would not give ground as easily as they did in the second half of last week’s 38-13 loss in Sydney.
Not long after their ferry docked on Thursday, Hooper spoke of the value of stepping out of the rat race this week and addressing, in detail, how the world champions could be toppled.
First came the recriminations over the loss – the 41 missed tackles, shambolic set-piece work and conceding five tries in the second half.
Then came the game plan – how to end a 32-year drought at Eden Park and send this year’s series to a decider in Japan in late October.
“It has been on my mind all week,” Hooper said. “Being a nice place, it’s just been rugby. It’s been good to actually push the other stuff away. I’ve really enjoyed the week, really enjoyed just being focused.”
The team couldn’t avoid the news filtering through that coach Michael Cheika’s job was coming under serious question.
Hooper said there was no sign the passionate coach was feeling the pressure.
“The guy just wants to win,” he said. “That’s what he’s shown this week, an absolute thirst to get this team to reach its potential.”