Australia are bracing for a New Zealand backlash in the Bledisloe Cup showdown at Auckland on Saturday, when they confront each other in their final Test before naming their Rugby World Cup squads.
“They’re going to try and smash us,” Australia coach Michael Cheika said as the Australians wrapped up training on Friday.
“They’ve made that pretty clear. They’ve mentioned the word physicality a lot.”
New Zealand, the world champions, were stung by their 27-19 loss to the Australians in the Rugby Championship decider last week and want revenge.
“There’s got to be a response because if we don’t respond to it then we’re going to run second and we don’t like doing that,” New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said.
Captain Richie McCaw, preparing for a world record 142nd Test, rated the New Zealand training this week – when the matchday side shaped up against the rest of the squad – as among the most physically intense he has experienced.
“It was right up there. We asked the boys who were against us to put a bit of pressure on because that’s what we’re going to get (from Australia),” he said.
“Hopefully it’s what was required.”
The Bledisloe Cup is contested annually between the trans-Tasman rivals with New Zealand desperate to make amends with a comprehensive win to retain the trophy they have held since 2003.
Particular focus has been put on Cheika’s decision to recall Quade Cooper at fly-half.
The Australian pivot rates among the top playmakers in the world but he was not at his best in his Super Rugby appearances this year and has been rattled in previous Tests in New Zealand.
Auckland-born Cooper is also considered “public enemy No 1” in New Zealand, following past off-the-ball shots at McCaw, and can expect a hostile reception from both the crowd and the New Zealand side.
“We’ve got to put as much pressure on him as we can,” McCaw said. “He’s the fly-half for their team and we want to make it as tough a night for him as possible.
“That’s what I’m worried about and if the crowd help out with that, I don’t know, that would be good.”
Cheika has also taken a risk at scrum-half where Nic White will start as the only specialist in the squad with inside back Matt Giteau providing cover off the bench.
This has allowed him to carry six forward reserves so the Wallabies can replace most of their pack with fresh replacements in the crucial closing stages.
Hansen has opted for five forwards and three backs to come off the bench with no lock replacement, leaving that role to regular loose-forward hard man Jerome Kaino who has been replaced in the starting line-up by Victor Vito.
Hansen said it would give the New Zealanders “more mobility late in the piece”, with Vito’s inclusion as McCaw’s partner in the loose coming after New Zealand were soundly beaten at the contact area in their past two Tests.
“You’ve got to go out and play what’s in front of you and deal and adapt and learn and adjust as you go, and we didn’t do that well last week,” he said.
If the plan works, it will improve the New Zealanders’ frame of mind before they head to England next month to defend the World Cup, although Hansen said he would not be deciding on that squad for another two weeks.
Cheika, though, said the bulk of the Australia World Cup squad was evident in the 23 named to play New Zealand and he dismissed suggestions of problems if they lose today.
“I don’t fear failure,” he said. “I’m not worried about that. I just want to do my best, the team do its best and let the cards fall where they may.”
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