Get mad, get even
ABs will use loss to Wallabies as fuel for cup test
Tonight Richie McCaw rewrites the record books, but the only thing on his mind is the result.
BOTTLING hurt and frustration appears to be the mantra at Eden Park.
There is a sense the All Blacks are ready to unleash the fury.
They won’t admit it publicly but individual attitude as much as anything else failed them last week in Sydney. For one reason or another sometimes there is not the same mental edge; the same hunger to get off the ground; get off the line on defence; or urgency to smash bodies at the breakdown. This All Blacks side has lost three times in the past four years and there is no substitute for a swift grounding.
Rugby is, and probably always will be, built on a relatively simple premise: without front-foot ball even the most classy backs are hobbled.
Aussie great Phil Kearns said this week the All Blacks pack would resemble ‘‘mongrel dogs’’. While the former Wallabies hooker
often prone to foot-in-mouth
is moments, that statement was bang on.
‘‘There’s some people hurting, definitely,’’ All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said.
‘‘There’s no doubt Monday morning there was a little bit of extra edge in the air and the boys were sitting on the front of their seats. The key is to let it fuel you, the fact you came off a poor performance, but that in itself isn’t going to make it work.’’
Seeing the All Blacks’ scrum shunted epitomised their out-of-sorts performance last week.
Dramatic improvements in that area alone have been demanded.
With showers forecast in Auckland, don’t be surprised to see them go up the guts and earn the right to go wide.
The All Blacks have been told – behind closed doors – to atone.
Expect them to embrace that wounded pride and the fear factor of relinquishing the Bledisloe Cup, held since 2003. The tactical battle also looks intriguing. Michael Cheika already appears a much more savvy operator than Robbie Deans and Ewen McKenzie proved in the test arena.
He is certainly on the right path from a culture perspective.
Under Cheika, the Wallabies are now a genuine team – not a group of cocky individuals.
Despite raising eyebrows with six changes, Cheika is no fool, stacking his bench with forwards and preparing to fight fire with fire in the form of Will Skelton and Wycliff Palu.
But without David Pocock’s starting presence, the same threat at the ruck, where they had such success, does not appear imminent.
‘‘I know that everyone is probably expecting a New Zealand backlash,’’ Cheika said. ‘‘There’s the memories for a lot of people of last year’s match [51-20 loss] here. I think they’re going to try and smash us. They’ve made it clear – they’ve mentioned the word physicality a lot.’’
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will be equally keen to quash Australian confidence and ease frayed nerves.
No doubt many of his players are fretting over their fate.
Lose this test, the 21-year unbeaten record at Eden Park, and there will be a sense of public panic before the All Blacks depart for the World Cup.
Quade Cooper, shielded from the media yesterday, is a clear target.
McCaw made no secret the All Blacks will turn up the heat on the flighty Kiwi-born playmaker.
The 52,000-strong crowd will also give him some stick.
Cooper’s selection overshadows the need for Dan Carter to stamp his authority and counter the Wallabies’ rush defence. Chips in behind the line and cut-out balls to expose them on the outside could be utilised.
The final element, downplayed internally, is the importance of honouring six senior players in their final test at home. McCaw, in his record-breaking test, Carter, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu all deserve a fitting send-off.
I think they’re going to try and smash us. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika on the All Blacks