series win against the British and Irish Lions.
WHEN DID THAT HAPEN.
You need to get your facts straight.
series win against the British and Irish Lions.
WHEN DID THAT HAPEN.
You need to get your facts straight.
2,193 posts
The All Blacks are staring down the barrel of a potential upset against the Wallabies in the upcoming Bledisloe Cup clashes in Auckland and Perth. With the All Blacks experiencing a rough patch, including a record defeat to the Springboks, the Wallabies under Joe Schmidt’s leadership have surged, marked by a dramatic victory over South Africa and a series win against the British and Irish Lions.
The stark contrast in recent performances, especially in the latter halves of games, has raised concerns. Jeff Wilson highlighted an alarming statistic: “The Wallabies have scored 85 points after the break compared to the All Blacks’ meager 30, with just three of those coming in the critical third quarter of the game.” The resilience of the Wallabies in the second half could spell trouble for New Zealand, who have shown vulnerability during the same period.
“This is astounding. We’ve scored three points in four Test matches just after half-time between 40 to 60 minutes. What’s troubling if you’re an All Blacks fan is the Wallabies come home strong,”
Wilson noted on The Breakdown.The Wallabies' late-game heroics have not gone unnoticed, and with the All Blacks’ recent struggles to close out games, the psychological edge might tilt towards the Australians. Despite missing key players like Will Skelton and Rob Valetini for the crucial match at Eden Park, Wilson remains optimistic about the All Blacks' chances. “There’s no Will Skelton and Rob Valetini’s been ruled out for this game, and I thought they were two massive bodies that gave them some real punch, some real solidity up front,” he commented.
However, the fly-half position for Australia is also a concern. Stephen Donald pointed out,
“The point around Valetini and Skelton, when they’re not there the physicality has been missing. The other question mark is who’s at 10 for them,”
adding that the lack of clarity at fly-half could be a decisive factor for the Wallabies.As the teams prepare, the All Blacks are under pressure to perform at Eden Park, a venue where history favors them but recent form does not. The outcome of these matches could redefine the rivalry and either continue or disrupt the long-standing dominance of the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup.