Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Even the Wallabies are unable to disguise the pain as they chase a hoodoo-busting first Bledisloe Cup win over the All Blacks in Sydney in more than a decade.
Skipper Harry Wilson bristled when asked on the eve of Saturday’s return bout at Accor Stadium why the Wallabies had endured such a horror 12-match losing streak to their relentless trans-Tasman rivals.
Wilson has experienced the intoxicating high of toppling England at Twickenham and felt the giddiness of beating the world champion Springboks at the altitude of Ellis Park for the first time in 62 years.
But the powerhouse No.8 couldn’t contain his frustrations describing the torment of suffering 12 consecutive losses to the All Blacks.
The Wallabies last conquered their fierce rivals in 2020, ironically under the coaching of now All Blacks mentor Dave Rennie.
“Obviously you’re frustrated any Test match you lose, but the thing about this group, we’ve found ways to win against some really tough nations and obviously we don’t have the rub of the green against the All Blacks,” Wilson said after Friday’s captain’s run.
“They’ve been dominating us over the last few years and it’s on this group to fix that up.”
The silverware safe in New Zealand hands for another year, the Wallabies are nevertheless intent on atoning from last Saturday’s 50-19 drubbing in Auckland.
“Really excited,” Wilson said after a week of soul-searching.
“Obviously to lose to the All Blacks always hurts, so we got an opportunity to go out here in front of the home crowd and really put in a strong performance.
“It’s been a big week of reflecting for us as a squad and seeing where we can improve and how we’ve got to go out there and do it.”
Adding to the challenge over trying to bring down the All Blacks in Sydney for the first time since 2015 is having four-Test rookie Declan Meredith starting at flyhalf after the side’s No.10 injury curse continued this week.
Ben Donaldson has been ruled out after straining an adductor muscle during goalkicking practice on Tuesday.
But Wilson is backing his greenhorn playmaker to the hilt.
“I’d say ‘Decky’ started three games this year – we’ve won two of them,” Wilson said.
“So it definitely gives you a bit of confidence, and the way he’s trained this week, the way he’s been training over the past few months, has given us a lot of confidence.
“I’m really excited for ‘Decky’ and I really hope he grabs it with both hands and really puts his imprint on the game.”
