It’s all in the mind for All Blacks Hostilities on hold for a beer
Last week in Sydney was a test of the All Blacks’ physical prowess. This week, at Fortress Eden Park, it is surely all about the mindset.
If the All Blacks turn up with the attitude, the focus and the killer instinct, then surely the Bledisloe Cup gets locked away for a 16th straight year. And Australia’s curious introspection about their inability to measure up to their Kiwi rivals can begin all over again.
It will be the Wallabies lining up opposite the All Blacks on the green sward of their Auckland stronghold around 7.35pm tonight, but in so many ways Steve Hansen’s world champions are battling themselves, as much as anyone in a gold jumper.
They are the better team. What we saw last week lit that up like a Times Square neon sign. The record book further underlines the All Blacks’ superiority. The Wallabies have won just four of their last 33 tests against their trans-tasman rivals, and none in New Zealand since 2001 (that’s 21 on the bounce). The world champions haven’t lost at Eden Park since 1994. The Aussies haven’t won there since 1986.
Let’s face it, the All Blacks have beaten the Wallabies every which way but loose over the last decade and a half, and you know that as soon as that squeeze goes on tonight, a familiar feeling of dread will wash over those visiting players.
Last week in Sydney both sides went hammer and tongs for a highly competitive 40 minutes which featured opportunities and errors aplenty, and a Wallabies side leading 6-5 at the end of it. Then the All Blacks simply went to another level that left their opponents gasping. The second stanza finished 33-7, five tries to one.
The All Blacks have that sort of firepower when they line up the other aspects of their game. The Wallabies simply don’t, more so with Israel Folau absent.
But if the All Blacks turn up expecting to win, short of that ‘‘edge’’ they talk about finding each week in the black jersey, then we might just see momentum change. You give a sucker an even break, and pay the consequences.
Hansen talked about that challenge of backing up against a side you had toweled up the week before, and retaining the mindset required.
‘‘In sport it’s the hardest thing to do, because the fear factor that’s there before we played each other last week has been removed,’’ he said. ‘‘Whether we like it or not, subconsciously the scoreboard has an effect on us. We’ve got to manage the ability to mentally put ourselves
back in that nervous state we were in before we played them the first time.
‘‘It’s difficult because the mind is probably your greatest weapon, and you only have to be 5 percent off in preparation, and if they’re 5 percent better, it’s a 10 percent change, and there’s not a lot between these teams.’’
Skipper Kieran Read, after yesterday’s captain’s run, also acknowledged the mental battle of backing up against the same team. Of expecting it to just happen again.
‘‘We know the challenge and we’ve focused on that quite heavily. It’s important we get our performance
as right as we can. Steve nuts it down to your mental application. You get a win, you potentially psychologically relax.
‘‘As leaders we need to keep the guys on as much edge as we can.’’
Both teams have had key injuries. But Ngani Laumape and Jordie Barrett coming in for Ryan Crotty and Rieko Ioane feels more substantial than Jack Maddocks on the wing and Dane Haylett-petty moving to fullback for Israel Folau. Michael Cheika has also switched around his props in what feels like a roll of the dice.
All Blacks openside Sam Cane was inactive yesterday, but Read
said it was precautionary and his No 7 would be right when it mattered.
Laumape and the youngest Barrett both have a lot to play for. So does Owen Franks in his 100th test. The Wallabies will be better. Last week they coughed up seven lineouts and fell off 40 tackles. They have a lot to improve.
But the point the All Blacks have made all week to anyone who would listen is they weren’t that flash themselves for long stretches in Sydney. They are chasing a more complete performance. Their heads appear to be just where they need to be. The Wallabies will join the All Blacks for a beer in their dressing room after the second Bledisloe Cup test in a sign the teams are willing to put sportsmanship ahead of a sometimes-bitter rivalry.
After the two coaches traded barbs on the subject of Sam Whitelock’s 100th cap celebration this week, Australian captain Michael Hooper yesterday revealed the Wallabies had accepted an invitation from the home side to join them for a post-match beer and wind-down.
It is understood All Blacks team manager Darren Shand contacted Wallabies manager Pat Molihan with the proposal. Hooper said the team would also take the opportunity to congratulate All Blacks prop Owen Franks on reaching 100 tests.
‘‘I don’t know how they’re doing it [celebrating Franks], but we’re going into the change room after the match and I’m sure everyone will pay their respects to an amazing career that he’s had so far,’’ Hooper said.
‘‘I’m sure he’s got more in the tank.’’
The Wallabies will no doubt also stick around to watch the onstage presentation for Franks, which will occur straight after the match.
The news is a welcome demonstration of goodwill between the teams after a week of increasing tension. While the All Blacks consider their post-match dressing room perennially open to visiting teams and Australian and New Zealand players regularly float in and out to swap jerseys or catch up with mates, it is significant that yesterday’s invitation was issued formally by All Blacks management.
The Wallabies have been criticised in sections of New Zealand media – and by Steve Hansen himself on Thursday – for failing to join en masse Whitelock’s unofficial 100th test celebration on the pitch in Sydney last week.
Hooper and four other Australians – Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Pete Samu and skills coach Mick Byrne – joined in, but other players were already in the dressing rooms or with their families in the stands.