‘Kamo’ calls for ABs to smack up Wallabies

Ian “Kamo” Jones has warned the All Blacks can’t rely on the “Eden Park factor” against the Wallabies on Saturday night and must urgently address their mindset if they wish to retain the Bledisloe Cup.

The All Blacks fell to a shock 47-26 loss to Australia last weekend at Perth’s Optus Stadium in a match where the New Zealand side were outclassed physically and mentally.

It was far from what is expected from an All Blacks side a little more than a month ahead of the first pool game of the Rugby World Cup and with Scott Barrett copping a threeweek ban for a red-carded shoulder charge on Michael Hooper, the side have plenty to prove to fans and themselves this weekend.

With so much on the line, former All Blacks lock Jones said it was essential the team tackled the clash with a dominant physical approach.

“They’ve got to physically go straight and knock these guys around and get into that zone,” Jones, who played 79 tests for the All Blacks, told the Radio Sport Breakfast. “It’s about ‘this is the fortress, this is All Black rugby, this is how we’re going to beat these Wallabies up’, and just smack them around in that regard.

“They can’t just rely on this wonderful Eden Park factor, they’ll have to front up to themselves. Do I expect the Wallabies to be able to perform at the level again? Yes, I do . . . we have to dampen that, we have to physically get into them, knock them around and show them who’s boss.”

Jones picked George Bridge to make the starting line-up in a match which he said was make or break for many World Cup hopefuls.

“George Bridge is a guy I quite like . . . you know what performance you’re going to get out of him,” Jones said.

“The work rate that he does, he goes looking for the ball, means he’s involved in the game a little bit more.’’

They’ve got to physically go straight and knock these guys around and get into that zone.

Ian Jones