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Slipper believes 'little piggy' can lead Wallabies to Eden Park triumph
By AAP
For the Wallabies, an Eden Park triumph this year - as unlikely as it may be - would be a bittersweet success.
Dave Rennie's side know well the statistics and the history, if only because they are reminded on every visit.
Not in 36 years have the Wallabies side saluted, a run of 22 straight losses.
The last triumph came courtesy of a 22-9 win in 1986 under Alan Jones, meaning there is not a single squad member who was alive when Australia last beat the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Captain James Slipper comes closest - as the squad's oldest member, and the only current player to have won at the ground as a Wallaby.
Australia's years of pain in Auckland includes the 2011 World Cup, when Robbie Deans' side lost the semi-final to the hosts.
The next week, a 22-year-old Slipper suited up at Eden Park for a 21-18 defeat of Wales in the third place playoff, giving him a rare taste of success at the venue.
"Most of the boys have won here at Super Rugby," the 34-year-old said at the ground on Friday, as if to say it could be done.
"Historically it has been tough for us. But we haven't touched on it too much.
"At some point, one team will win here and we want to be that team."
The bittersweet nature of the 2022 contest is that, should the Wallabies finally beat the All Blacks, victory would not bring with it the Bledisloe Cup.
New Zealand's 39-37 victory in Melbourne a week ago ensured the trophy stays in Kiwi hands for a 20th straight year.
"It's something that kind of hurts me," Slipper admitted. "I'd throw in most of my games to win the Bledisloe.
"There's plenty riding on this. We haven't won here since the 80s.
"It's going to be a big effort from us to get the result but we're pretty hell-bent on getting the performance in ... History's against us but we're coming in confident that we can perform."
Much of Australia's faith is built on Bernard Foley's superb showing in Melbourne, three years since his last Test.
Rennie said the 33-year-old put on a "hell of a performance", backing him ahead of fit-again Noah Lolesio for Auckland.
"It's great," Slipper said of his fellow veteran, "The little piggy played really well on Thursday.
"It's vital for us as a squad, especially going into the World Cup having lost a couple of experienced players ... We've lost Quadey (Cooper), we've lost Samu (Kerevi).
"(Foley's) been a massive addition to our squad, just that experience, having that voice within the group."
There remains the mathematical chance the Wallabies could emerge with a trophy this weekend.
In a tight Rugby Championship, a big Australian win would put them into the equation for the Southern Hemisphere title, though they would also need a comfortable Argentina win in Durban.
Slipper said the Wallabies had not given up hope.
"There's always a belief. If there's a chance of winning it, we're always going to strive," he said.
- Ben McKay
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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