mens
international
The Wallabies have had no better opportunity to end their Bledisloe Cup drought than here and now in 2026.
The strong opposition that have visited Eden Park in recent years have often been met with increasing anxiety and tension with concerns that the record could slip.
That was certainly the case in 2025 with the Springboks and earlier in 2026 with Ireland. Two teams with a history of winning New Zealand at home he brought with him the possibility of breaking the streak. Both broke down and undone in the first 20 minutes of the game, conceding early tries.
There was none of that with the Wallabies this week. They have completely flown under the radar, despite going on a six game unbeaten run.
This suits the Wallabies perfectly. The streak breaking story proved to be fuel for All black peopleand not the opposite side. The All Blacks played better under pressure. They may be lulled to sleep this week by lack of conversation.
This week’s Bledisloe failed to attract much attention, but that ignores what is a strong Wallabies outfit.
The Springboks team they played in Perth wasn’t full of bums. They were outscored 42-17 when it was 15-on-15.
In Argentina, a place the All Blacks have failed to cope with in recent years, the Wallabies got a win and a draw for their first winning streak over Los Cougars at home.
While the Wallabies are without some big names, Will Skelton, Tom Hooper and Taniel Tupou, the All Blacks are also absent.
An All Black side missing Ardie Save makes a big difference, as does the absence of Ruben Love.
Love, who played injured in South Africa, still gave the All Blacks a mature No. 10 who doesn’t play sloppy. Love doesn’t implode and doesn’t put its side under pressure. He is surprisingly calm and composed and does not reach for performances that are not there.
What you get recently from Beauden Barrett is often the opposite, who has been named at fullback. The 35-year-old’s greatest strength has never been game management, it’s always been ready-made rabbit tricks and riverboat gambler games.
In his prime it was magic, but he doesn’t have the game to produce them anymore, so you just get too much of everything else; selfish kicking for cheap turnovers, contact shy running.
This absolutely gives the Wallabies more than half a chance at Eden Park. A few bad mistakes from Barrett can swing the stakes in a possession a few too many times.
The Wallabies boast a better back row in this series, with Ardie Savea missing. Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight and Rob Valitini would all start in the combined loose forward trio of the ANZAC XV.
And in the second row, you’d probably pick Fabian Holland and Josh Canham. But even Jeremy Williams was instrumental in breaking down Bok’s line-up in Perth, something the All Blacks couldn’t do.
Angus Bell would really take the loosehead spot, and in form you’d take Billy Pollard over Codie Taylor. Allan Alaalaatoa is a Test legend who can handle the scrum better than Tyrel Lomax right now.
The All Blacks select players on work rate and the Wallabies select strength and set. Guess what won Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry?
The Australians have much better ball carriers than the All Blacks. Angus Bell, Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Lotto, Wilson, Valetini. These are the big guys who can break down the front door. They did it South Africa and i can do it again. The All Blacks should thank their lucky stars that Skelton and Tupou are unavailable.
The missing ingredient for the Wallabies since 2020 has always been the halves to give them the control they need to run the pack. They found it in Ryan Lonergan.
The new Wallabies halfback was outstanding in Perth and they finally have a driver to control the game. This led to Australia won the aerial game with Joseph Suaali and Max Jorgensen dominating the catch zone.
The Springboks exposed the All Blacks’ weakness in the aerial game. The Wallabies have the better of South Africa.
If the Wallabies don’t implode and throw this game away in the first 20 minutes, they can take it. They have everything they need and a game plan to play on their terms.
They just need to play patiently, play for territory and get the All Blacks into the same parts of the game as South Africa.
Everything is set up perfectly for the Wallabies to shock the world and end the streak at Eden Park.
