Wallaby win against the odds: Cheika

THEY have never been bigger outsiders in a Bledisloe Cup on home soil and, according to Michael Cheika, it doesn’t take a “rocket scientist” to understand why.

Despite acknowledging the widespread belief that the All Blacks will pile on more trans-Tasman pain tomorrow night, Cheika says the Wallabies are quietly energised by the role of unloved underdogs.

“When you believe in yourself, you relish that idea,” Cheika said. “If you don’t believe in yourself, you won’t.

“We are feeling connected so we can go against the odds.

“Because it would be against the odds, obviously. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work that out with what’s happened this year.

“Certainly the expectation is they will win. But it’s up to us to get up there and put a few obstacles in their way.”

Paying $ 6.25 to beat the All Blacks with the TAB, the Wallabies have been bigger outsiders before. They were $ 9 no- hopers in Bledisloe II in Auckland last year.

Australian teams have not beaten a Kiwi team in 26 attempts in Super Rugby this year, and memories are still fresh from the Wallabies’ 42- 8 loss in the opening Bledisloe Cup game at ANZ Stadium last year.

A record low crowd in the 50- 55,000 range is forecast for ANZ Stadium.

Cheika rolled out a changed but still reasonably settled team yesterday.

The backline has electric potential with Kurtley Beale and Samu Kerevi combining in the midfield and Curtis Rona an NRL- hardened new winger.