History against them but belief is back for Wallabies

Greg Growden

July 25, 2011

THE Wallabies believe they have their best chance in years to defeat the All Blacks in Auckland, but are not beating their chests just yet as they are well aware of their dreadful Test record at Eden Park.

While Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said yesterday that his team was better placed to counter the All Blacks than in previous years, he was - naturally - not keen to elaborate, knowing how hope can turn into helplessness when confronting the world's best.

Apart from the Wallabies' run of 10 straight losses to the All Blacks before defeating them in Hong Kong late last year, their record at Eden Park - the venue for this year's World Cup final - is diabolical.

The Wallabies haven't won in Auckland since their 1986 Bledisloe Cup triumph. That was followed by 11 successive losses at the venue. Of the 22 New Zealand-Australian Tests in Auckland, only four have been won by the visitors - in 1949, 1955, 1978 and 1986. And New Zealand's home wins over Australia sit at an extraordinary 75 per cent, from 48 victories and a draw out of 64 Tests.

At least Deans is confident they will have ample time to prepare for the Bledisloe Cup fixture.

''It's great we have a week to regroup, so that we can really focus on this match,'' Deans said. ''It's a key game for us now. We haven't had a lot of success at Eden Park, but now [we] have a great opportunity to really target that game, and make the most of it.''