'I think that can be a weapon for us': How Wallabies can expose 'vulnerable' All Blacks
Updated . First published at
The fact that the Wallabies are $7.50 longshots to topple the All Blacks on Saturday says more about them than it does their mates across the ditch.
A record 67-27 humiliation in Argentina unsurprisingly has the bookmakers writing off Australia's chances of Bledisloe Cup success in Sydney.
But the All Blacks also have more chinks in their armour than they have for the majority of their 22-year stranglehold on the trans-Tasman trophy.
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"If I'm looking at the All Blacks, I'm seeing a bit of vulnerability around the ruck," Kiwi great Sonny Bill Williams said on Stan Sport's Between Two Posts.
New Zealand's disappointment after losing last year's Rugby World Cup final by a point with 14 men has extended into 2024.
New coach Scott Robertson was supposed to be a breath of fresh air after the staid Ian Foster era but the mediocre results have continued.
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The 1-3 All Blacks have already relinquished their Rugby Championship crown for the first time since 2019 with Argentina beating them in Wellington before twin losses in South Africa.
"The other area (of vulnerability), I think, is probably the aerial contest," former Wallabies five-eighth Bernard Foley said on Between Two Posts.
"Contestable kicks, if we can challenge the All Blacks in that area, on Sevu Reece, maybe if Beauden's (Barrett) at the back there, too.
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"If we can put the kicks on them and take them, sort of nullify their running game and win the ball back - I think that can be a weapon for us."
Both teams name their line-ups on Thursday.
Morgan Turinui felt Wallabies halfback Tate McDermott shaped as a potential trump card from the bench, challenging the All Blacks with his running game.
Tate McDermott of the Wallabies makes a break at Eden Park. Getty
"And I'd love to see a roving Marika Koroibete trying to get in between maybe Rieko Ioane and his back row in that seam," the former Wallabies back said.
"I think Wallabies teams have been in trouble in the past - and especially against this All Blacks team - to be seduced, maybe, by the space.
"Then they'll (New Zealand) go hard at that breakdown and then they'll tee off after it."
Hunter Paisami is a strong chance to return from injury and replace Hamish Stewart as the Wallabies inside centre.
"He really enjoys getting into that first receiver role, using his skill," Foley said.
"I reckon get him one channel wider. If you can get him doing that, that skill and using his short passing, his out the back ball to a back or the receiver going around the back - I think that's where he'll be most dangerous."
Noah Lolesio of the Wallabies reacts at Suncorp Stadium. Getty
Turinui said that Noah Lolesio - who missed the Santa Fe shellacking with a tight back - was the "logical" choice to start at No.10 at Accor Stadium.
"We need a guy who is going to stand up and go 'this is my team, I'm going to direct the team around'," Foley added.
"Whoever demands that control in that 10 position is going to be there for a long time now."
Complacency is unlikely from the All Blacks given their own struggles this season and the fact that Joe Schmidt is now in the enemy camp.
Schmidt helped New Zealand to last year's World Cup final.
"He's an incredible coach and I think he's the right man for the job, at the helm for the Wallabies," All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown said.
"I remember he can pretty much name every rugby player in the world by first and last name, that was the first thing I was most impressed by him about.
"He's much more than that. It's just his relentless drive to coach the little things that really matter in the game, like making sure you win the cleanout race and win the air and things like that - the grey areas of the game.
"And in Test footy that can be the difference. There's such small margins, and he understands that."
Anton Lienert-Brown of the New Zealand All Blacks celebrates on fulltime. Getty
As for that 67-27 loss?
"To be fair, it's probably not a reflection of where their rugby's at," Lienert-Brown said.
"We definitely won't be buying into that second half that they played, because they're much better than that. And knowing Joe, he won't have a problem getting them up... and it's also the Bledisloe, so there's plenty of motivation."
