All Blacks to toe line in Bledisloe battle
The All Blacks warned on Tuesday that Australia will face an intense physical battle in the Bledisloe Cup decider, but vowed to stay on the right side of the law.
The world champions were keen to place the emphasis on discipline for Saturday’s match in Auckland after lock Scott Barrett was handed a threematch suspension for a shoulder charge in last week’s shock 47-26 loss to the Wallabies.
“We lost the physical battle and we’ve got to be better at that [but] that doesn’t mean you go out there and just be physical at all costs,” assistant coach Ian Foster said.
“The most physical players are the smart ones who know how to accelerate into contact, they’re accurate with cleanouts and they do it within the bounds of the law – if you don’t, then you’re going to expose yourself to judgment.”
The All Blacks have form for going in hard after a defeat, dishing out a brutal beating to Ireland in Dublin in November 2016 to avenge the hosts’ firstever victory over New Zealand in Chicago two weeks earlier.
Lock Sam Whitelock said his side could not afford to let intensity become ill-discipline.
“We want to play hard, but we’ve also got to play fair.
“There are a thousand different cameras and different angles, things you probably got away with in the past is something that’s not going to happen now.”
Wallabies backrower Isi Naisarani said the Australians knew their opponents would be hurting and were prepared for the onslaught.
He was undaunted at the prospect of facing the All Blacks at Eden Park, where Australia have not won since 1986.
The Fijian-born 24-year-old is hoping to help Australia lift the Bledisloe for the first time in 17 years.