Wallabies unfazed by Auckland jinx
Wallabies coaching co-ordinator David Nucifora doesn't expect Australia's blossoming crop of brilliant youngsters to be encumbered by the baggage of history heading into Saturday's Tri-Nations tussle with New Zealand at Eden Park.
The Wallabies have lost their past 11 Tests in New Zealand and haven't won in Auckland since 1986.
Selector Nucifora, who has joined the Wallabies coaching group through to the end of the upcoming Rugby World Cup, said Australia were excited not daunted by the task of beating the All Blacks in Auckland.
"I think it's exciting for our group. It's a young team and our guys aren't really fazed by things that have happened in the past," Nucifora told AAP on Sunday.
"That's the beauty of youth, I suppose, that they go over there with a clear mind and a purpose.
"I think that's an advantage for us, having that attitude."
With the World Cup less than six weeks away, Nucifora acknowledged the importance of scoring a drought-breaking win over the tournament hosts on New Zealand soil.
"It's a big game for us on a number of fronts," Nucifora said.
"Our ability to take a Test match off them over there next weekend is really important to us."
New Zealand did nothing to harm their status as World Cup favourites, inflicting a 40-7 drubbing on an understrength South Africa in Wellington on Saturday.
Stepping up after a season-opening win over Fiji, the All Blacks scored six tries to one, five of them going to the backs, while dominating the forward exchanges.
"I don't think there were too many surprises in that. The All Blacks were very efficient and they played with a fair degree of intensity," Nucifora said.
"Their set piece was good and their use of counter attack and turnover ball was good."
The powerful New Zealand scrum was impressive, but Nucifora was adamant the much scrutinised Australian eight would be up to handling the anticipated onslaught from their All Blacks counterparts.
"They see their scrum as a strength, I'm sure, and we know they will be coming at us, but we'll be ready for that," Nucifora said.
"We fully expect to have to play to the best of our ability and if we do that then we're confident we can really pick up from where we let off last year against them.
"You've certainly got to be conscious of having a game that wins the gain line against them. I think that's important.
"If you don't win the gain line against them, then you can be forced into kicking at times and if you kick without a purpose against them, you saw what happened last night.
"You've got to be good at your set piece and you've got to be efficient at the tackle point."
Several Wallabies squad members had a run in Sydney club rugby on Saturday, with lock Dean Mumm (ribs) the only casualty.
Centre Rob Horne came through his first game following a long break caused by an elbow injury, while inside back Berrick Barnes and lock Dan Vickerman both played well for Sydney University.
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.