mens
international
The Wallabies are well aware of the threat posed by All Black midfielders Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea heading into Sydney’s Bledisloe Test.
Barrett was physically dominant at Eden Park on Saturday, with a number of big tackles leading to penalties at the breakdown, while Tupaea is a threat with the ball and powerful running in attack.
The couple established themselves as All black people the best midfield combination since the former coach moved Quinn Tupae to 13 last year, resulting in a Perth breakthrough in the corresponding fixture in 2025.
The Wallabies will be looking to prevent a repeat of Tupae’s double try when they meet on Saturday afternoon.
“I haven’t spent time in the centres,” joked Wallabies winger Harry Potter.
“They, I felt like they used Jordie Barrett well in the air. He’s a big, tall guy, and they found ways to get him into the air contest.”
“Quinn Tupaea is a strong ball carrier. He took it in well. Yeah, definitely two threats that we’re going to have to deal with physically this week to get a result.”
One area where the All Blacks have gained an edge is in the aerial contest with Cam Roigard’s kicking game proving difficult to deal with.
Jordie Barrett had several aerial victories, including one over Joseph Suaalii before the All Blacks’ first try.
The former NRL winger, who is a formidable aerial threat himself, explained that aerial challenges are a big difference between the two codes.
“Well, the kick’s differently. More so, ball, the flight of the ball,” he explained.
“I I can go into technically things, but yes, it is only it is a differently blow, differently to catch That’s it only he us guys and us, yes, only works he that, getting better.”
Suaalii admitted it was a tough area to get right, but the Wallabies had adjustments in mind to help them this weekend.
“That’s it difficult. I don’t really I want that to speak Fr that because I don’t I want that to give to them our the game plan it goes in for this a week.
“For us, it is that to watch the the game back, yes we I know what we need that to do it goes inthat this Saturday.
“Very confident in our coaches and us as guys that really focus he that area, and I to feel like we will to be great this weekend.”
After starting at second five-eighth, Len Ikitau was forced off the field through injury, Harry Potter came off the bench to the wing, returning Joseph Suaali to his familiar midfield role.
Potter explained that the rule change around escorting this year has led to a number of different tactics as teams are still trying to find the best ball-carrying strategies.
“I think that’s always been a really important part of the game,” Potter explained.
“I think there’s been a really interesting evolution of tactics in the last two years. It’s like there used to be an escort, and teams of people have gotten really, really good at it.”
“I think teams have tried to pull back in grabbing it. As you’ve seen, New Zealand sometimes they put two people in a contest, like it’s constantly evolving.”
