As the Wallabies gear up to challenge the All Blacks' formidable record at Eden Park—where no defeat has befallen the home team since '94—prop Allan Alaalatoa shrugs off the mystic aura of the venue. It's "just another footy field" to him, even as they aim to shatter a winning streak that spans nearly three decades.
Despite the historical heft this clash carries, Alaalatoa, fresh off a shoulder injury and a stint with North Harbour last year, remains unfazed. His familiarity with the rigors of New Zealand rugby only solidifies his resolve.
"They’ve got a great record at Eden Park but at the same time it’s just another footy field,"
he remarked during a press meet in Auckland, highlighting the Wallabies' plan to focus squarely on their own game.The Wallabies, currently topping the Rugby Championship leaderboard, are not just riding a wave of confidence; they are also a point ahead of South Africa and New Zealand. With two Bledisloe Cup matches on the horizon, including a return game in Perth on October 4, the stakes couldn't be higher.
Alaalatoa anticipates a fierce comeback from the All Blacks following their recent 43-10 thrashing by the Springboks.
"You definitely have an eye on the All Blacks and know that they want to make an improvement around their set piece,"
he said, underlining a focus inward on team performance rather than external pressures.Meanwhile, the All Blacks are not short on reinforcements, with coach Scott Robertson confirming the return of Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima, Codie Taylor, and Patrick Tuipulotu to the squad. This bolstering of ranks is timely as they prepare to defend their long-standing bastion at Eden Park.
As Saturday's clash inches closer, the rugby world watches with bated breath, wondering if the Wallabies will indeed turn the "just another footy field" into the ground where they broke the spell of the mighty All Blacks.