Dominant All Blacks ‘as hungry as ever’

The Wallabies may be tying themselves in knots over their 15-year Bledisloe Cup dry spell, but the All Blacks have no such angst over the big trophy they simply hit the reset button on every year.

The magnificent piece of silverware at stake in this trans-Tasman rivalry has not left New Zealand shores since the All Blacks last won it back in 2003.

Since 2003 the All Blacks have won 35 of the 45 Bledisloe tests, including all 20 on New Zealand soil. Australia have prevailed in just eight, with two drawn.

In more recent times, the Australian record has been even more dire, with just two victories in the last 19 tests, in Brisbane last year in the ‘‘dead-rubber’’ third Bledisloe and in 2015 when the All Blacks had their customary pre-World Cup flat patch.

That dominance suggests the All Blacks are neither blase about their success nor over-confident in their ability to continue to dominate the Wallabies, which experienced campaigners Ben Smith and Sam Cane were happy to confirm in Sydney yesterday with an enlightening insight into their special Bledisloe mindset.

In between a morning gym session and a late afternoon run in warm and sunny Sydney conditions, Smith and Cane reminded us all of the special focus they retain when it comes to a trans-Tasman rivalry that may be one-sided in the results column, but remains as fiercely fought for as ever from their perspective.

Cane’s most telling response came when he was asked his thoughts on the theory that the All Blacks dominance was killing the Bledisloe, with the annual matchup no longer the hot ticket in Australia it once was.

‘‘I can’t really speak from their point of view because I don’t understand it,’’ the

55-test 26-year-old flanker said. ‘‘Certainly in our camp we’re as hungry as ever and it means as much as it ever has. I’m sure the players wouldn’t feel that way.’’

Then Cane was asked about this Bledisloe ‘‘run’’ the All Blacks were on, and immediately opened a window to the souls of the No 1 rugby team on the planet.

‘‘It’s not really a run, because each year it resets and starts again. It’s a three-match series, with the first two within two weeks and it’s up for grabs. We’ve got equal chances of taking it.

‘‘Years ago it used to be if you had it you only had to win one of two. But there are three tests now, and we’ve got equal chances. It’s there on the table and whoever steps up this Saturday gets the chance to put first hand on it.’’

These, of course, are more than token words from All Blacks who possess some of the most steely mindsets in international sport. Winning never gets old for a group who pride themselves on running at an over 90 percent hit-rate in recent times.

‘‘We’ve identified the fact they’re a very good team,’’ said Smith, who is likely to be reunited in an aerially-focused back three alongside Rieko Ioane and Jordie Barrett on Saturday.

‘‘They beat us in Brisbane [last year] and we were probably lucky to get away with the one down in Dunedin in the second test [won

35-29]. That could easily have gone either way.

‘‘We know the threats they’ve got across the park, we’re aware we’re up against a good Aussie team and we’re looking forward to that challenge.’’