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Coach Les Kiss has named a 34-man Wallabies squad preparing for a “terrible challenge” across the ditch as All black people Avoid a few unwanted exploits at their long-standing Eden Park fortress in Auckland.
France they were the last team to taste victory New Zealand at the venue, taking three points on 3 July 1994. The All Blacks returned to the Garden a month later, starting their unbeaten run with an 18-all draw with the Springboks.
The All Blacks beat the Springboks, Wallabies and Ireland in the last three matches at Eden Park. But their remarkable unbeaten run will be put to the test for the final time this year, with the All Blacks facing the Wallabies on October 10.
It will be the first time the All Blacks have taken the field since Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, with the Springboks taking the silverware three to one. New Zealand have not lost four Tests in a row since the late 1990s, while the Aussies are chasing some history of their own.
The Wallabies haven’t gone seven matches unbeaten in nearly 10 years, with Michael Cheika’s side achieving the feat in 2017. But the Australians are potentially one match away from that piece of history as they continue to build towards the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027
“It’s going to be tough. They’re unbeaten there in (53) Tests at Eden Park, so it’s going to be a big challenge,” Kiss told reporters in Sydney.
“The Springboks, they have raised the bar, we have to try and live up to it. This is another challenge and an opportunity for us to see where we can go with it.”
“We have a huge amount of respect for that New Zealand team, so it will be interesting.”
Joe Schmidt’s final game was one to remember, with the Wallabies claiming a 57-10 defeat Italy in Perth. Kiss then took over and the side have won four times and drawn once in the last two months.
The Wallabies beat the Springboks 42-38 in Perth last weekend but are now focusing on the Bledisloe Cup series. Taniela Tupou and Tom Hooper are unavailable but that has opened the door for Wallaby number 1000 to return.
Massimo De Lutiis became 1000th representative in Wallabies history, and the first rower made his debut against him Japan Townsville. De Lutiis is back in the mix, and the two uncapped players could potentially enter the Test arena for the first time.
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips was selected in the Springboks Test squad but was not selected for the 23rd match. Another Brisbane Boys’ College product, Toby Macpherson, named ACT captain for the first time Brumbies in Super Rugby AUS.
“This is another opportunity to build some depth. That’s why we brought Toby in,” Kiss said.
“It gives us an opportunity to bring in Massimo after the little problem he had, he’ll be back with the team and we’ll work on that. It helps deepen that solid prop position.”
“We’re going to Eden Park. They’re unbeaten in 50 or so Tests. Have they lost four games in a row before? I don’t know. It’s going to be tough for sure.”
