Wallabies intent on finding balance
History against visiting Aussies in Wellington
RUGBY: The Wallabies last beat the All Blacks in Wellington in 2000 when John Eales kicked an 80th-minute penalty goal to secure a 24-23 win and retain the Bledisloe Cup for Australia.
With the All Blacks’ stranglehold on the trophy starting two years later, the Kiwis are out to secure an 11th straight Cup triumph this year – and a win in Wellington tonight will secure it.
The Wallabies’ 47-29 loss in Sydney last week means they must win tonight to keep the three-match series alive. History is against them. The Wallabies have not beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand in their past 14 games, including two in Wellington.
Despite that lack of success and the disappointment of the result in Sydney, captain James Horwill says his players will not be running scared.
“I don’t like losing – no one likes losing – and we’ve got to do everything we can to turn that (the losing steak against NZ) around,” the Queenslander said.
“Teams have got to be able to win away from home, no matter where it was – a ground is a ground no mat- ter where it is.”
Horwill is no stranger to winning in NZ this season, leading the Reds to victory in Hamilton over eventual Super Rugby champion the Chiefs, and the Highlanders in Dunedin.
With the new-look Wallabies desperate to follow suit, he said the squad had worked hard to correct what went wrong in Sydney and was adamant his players would learn from that loss.
“We still want guys to back themselves if they feel there is something on,” Horwill said.
“We don’t want to temper that in any way.
“But it’s all about getting the balance right between running and kicking, and putting the ball behind them and playing a bit more field position, than running everything. That’s something we have spoken about this week.”
Horwill also played down talk his side would have an advantage as the All Blacks would have their fourthchoice five-eighth, Tom Taylor, making his debut.
“One of the strengths of New Zealand rugby is their depth,” Horwill said.
“The last World Cup was a perfect example. They were down to their fourth or fifth five-eighth and won it (the World Cup).
“A guy on debut in a playmaking position, you always have to make sure you test out what’s going on, but he would not be there if he wasn’t good enough.
“I am sure their coaching staff wouldn’t have put him there if they didn’t have belief in him.”