Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
How the wounded Wallabies can defy the odds against the All Blacks in Sydney
SENZ • September 20th, 2024 1:31 pm
Only a brave punter would be picking the Wallabies in Saturday's Bledisloe Cup encounter against the All Blacks in Sydney.
Both teams enter the contest stinging from recent results, although they were far more encouraging for the All Blacks in their two closely fought losses in South Africa than in Australia's 67-27 massacre at the hands of the Pumas.
Providing some optimism for the Wallabies will be the run of a handful of key players, including first-five Noah Lolesio.
If the hosts are to have any success, Australia great Drew Mitchell believes the Brumbies star's kicking game will be a hugely important component of that.
"Test footy is different to Super Rugby in that its a lot more based around territory, and whether you can play at the right end of the field and put pressure on the highball contestable areas," the 71-cap international told* SENZ Mornings*.
"Even if the opposition receives it, you can put some breakdown pressure and that's what we need to do. We've just got to make sure we're putting the All Blacks under sustained amounts of pressure.
"That's easier said than done of course, coming from a guy who played them 14 times and only had two wins.
"But that's got to be their intention. If that pressure is off the back of a kicking game it has to be strategic."
Mitchell noted how critical it would be that the team acknowledge the events of Santa Fe and learn from them, while also being able to flush the result ahead of an ideal opportunity to create a much more positive chapter in their own history.
New head coach Joe Schmidt, according to Mitchell, has ensured his players haven't shied away from the harsh lessons of that infamous 50-minute stretch a fortnight ago.
"You've got to learn from it. We've all been part of it on our day where you have a pretty poor performance but you get an opportunity in the next week or two to go out there and right some wrongs. But you've got to have those honest conversations.
"I didn't know if Joe Schmidt had it in him to have a genuine spray at the players because he's just such a nice guy.
"But I've been assured that he definitely has a good spray in him and he's held the guys accountable throughout the last couple of weeks.
"It's a great occasion - afternoon footy in good conditions. There's no excuses, they just have to go out there and put on a performance they can be proud of."
Listen to the full interview below:
