The fear of being the first team in almost a quarter of a century to relinquish the Bledisloe Cup is driving the All Blacks ahead of today’s trans-Tasman blockbuster with the Wallabies in Sydney.
The Wallabies sense a “massive opportunity” to finally bring the coveted silverware back to Australia for the first time since 2002 as they tackle an All Blacks outfit fresh off rare back-to-back Test defeats.
But New Zealand captain Scott Barrett says his class of 2024 are desperate to avoid being that team in All Blacks history to lose the beloved Bledisloe.
Barrett says this group certainly doesn’t want to go through that and they want to do everything this afternoon to get one hand on the trophy.
He says that while his side hadn’t spoken specifically to any former players, including coach Scott Robertson, who were among those to endure five years between 1998 and 2003 without the trophy, the dark chapter in All Blacks history was well known and felt.
The All Blacks captain says they’ve seen footage, and have heard from coaches within the group and they remember where they were exactly when the likes of John Eales hit the winning penalty in Wellington in 2000.
He says that certainly means a lot to them, so they certainly want to turn up today.
With the All Blacks losing at home to Argentina, then turning the tables on the Pumas before falling twice to the Springboks in South Africa, the 20-time Rugby Championship champions have made their worst start ever to the tournament.
The Wallabies are also one from four, having too lost twice to South Africa and beating Argentina before suffering a record 67-27 last-start defeat to the Pumas.
Wallabies captain Harry Wilson insists his charges aren’t scarred by the second-half collapse in Santa Fe.
Wilson says they’ve taken the loss and learnt from it.
The Wallabies must beat the All Blacks in Sydney for a first time since 2015 to keep the Bledisloe dream alive heading to Wellington for the return bout next Saturday.
Joe Schmidt’s team must win the two-match series to win back the Bledisloe.
The Wallabies play the All Blacks in this hour at 5.45pm
Meanwhile, the Pumas host the Springboks at 9am tomorrow.
[Source: rugbypass]
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