Wallabies Channelling Ellis Park Confidence for Eden Park Bledisloe Test
- Sixty-two years of history hang over the Wallabies as they prepare to face the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday.
- The All Blacks have not lost a Test at Eden Park since 1994, building an unbeaten run of 53 Tests at the famous Auckland ground.
- From 1998 to 2002, the Wallabies claimed eight of 11 matches, a period vividly recalled by current All Blacks defence coach Tana Umaga.
Sixty-two years of history hang over the Wallabies as they prepare to face the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday. Armed with confidence from their breakthrough win at Ellis Park last year, Wallabies captain Harry Wilson asks a simple question: why not Eden Park? The visitors enter the Bledisloe Cup opener seeking their first win at the Auckland venue since 1986 and their first victory anywhere in New Zealand since 2001.
The 40-Year Eden Park Hoodoo and 23-Year Bledisloe Drought
The All Blacks have not lost a Test at Eden Park since 1994, building an unbeaten run of 53 Tests at the famous Auckland ground. The hosts have held the Bledisloe Cup for 23 years, leaving most current players with no memory of the trophy residing across the Tasman. When the All Blacks last lost the silverware in 2003, current captain Codie Taylor was still in intermediate school and iPhones did not exist.
Australia last won the Bledisloe Cup in 2002. From 1998 to 2002, the Wallabies claimed eight of 11 matches, a period vividly recalled by current All Blacks defence coach Tana Umaga. Umaga shared emotional memories with the current squad this week about the pain of losing the trophy during that five-year drought, urging players not to take the legacy for granted.
Injury Blows and Squad Adjustments for Les Kiss and Dave Rennie
Both coaching staffs have been forced into significant personnel shifts due to injuries and club commitments. The All Blacks lost flyhalf Richie Mo’unga to a calf injury this week, adding him to an injury list that already includes Ruben Love, Ardie Savea, Caleb Clarke, and Luke Jacobson.
The Wallabies arrive under coach Les Kiss carrying their own roster pressures. Centre Isaac Henry replaces the suspended Hunter Paisami in the only starting XV change from the side that defeated South Africa in Perth. However, Kiss had to shuffle his bench after losing prop Taniela Tupou and loose forward Tom Hooper to their European clubs, opening the door for forwards Massimo De Lutiis and Nick Champion de Crespigny.
It’s two big outs. But the beauty of what Les has done, especially for, say Massimo, to give him a few Tests … there’s a lot of confidence in him. Now, on the big stage, we’ll see how it’s worked out.Harry Wilson
Bledisloe Cup Opener Kickoff in Auckland
The Wallabies enter the match on a six-Test unbeaten streak, their first such run in nine years, though they carry an 11-Test losing skid against their trans-Tasman rivals. Meanwhile, the All Blacks enter the fixture eager to rebound after dropping the final three matches of their four-Test series against the Springboks. The All Blacks pack faces intense scrutiny to prove they can match physical dominance after being tested heavily by South Africa.
Kickoff is set for Saturday night at Eden Park, with the return fixture scheduled for Sydney the following week. Australia must win both matches to reclaim the Bledisloe Cup.