Wallabies aim up for epic Eden Park Test

Sun, Oct 9, 2016, 9:00 PM
AAP
by AAP
The Qantas Wallabies held out a fast finishing Los Pumas side to secure second spot in the Rugby Championship.

In the hours before the Wallabies' hard-fought victory over Argentina at Twickenham, TVs around the stadium broadcast the All Blacks mauling of South Africa.

Michael Cheika and his players would've done well to avoid the vision, such was the brutal nature of the flogging - and its reminder of the enormous challenge next facing Australia.

For a while, the 33-21 win on Saturday brought some relief for a Wallabies team that had tasted victory just twice since last year's World Cup, they know a far more intimidating prospect awaits in a fortnight at Eden Park - where they've not won since 1986.


In addition to ending a 30-year drought in Auckland, the Wallabies will be attempting to stop a slice of history being created by New Zealand as they close in on a record 18th consecutive Test win.

It seems an impossible task, and the Wallabies won't find many outsiders who will believe in them, but outside centre Samu Kerevi refuses to be intimidated.

"I don't think any team is unbeatable on their day," Kerevi said after his two-try effort against Argentina.

"They're playing exceptional but I don't think any team is unbeatable.

"I think we just have to focus on ourselves and our structures in defence and attack, just focus on that and (the win) will come."


Highlighting how tough the task will be is New Zealand's astonishing record at Eden Park, where they've not lost in 36 starts since a shock defeat to France in 1994.

The following Test, also in 1994, resulted in an 18-all draw with South Africa and the next 35? All wins in favour of the All Blacks.

Cheika was reluctant to speak in depth about the All Blacks, preferring to let his players bask in a rare Test victory in 2016.

But he knows special performances will be needed to topple the world champions - like Kerevi's barnstorming two-try effort on Saturday night.

"You could see the intent he had always. He did not want to be stopped," Cheika said.

"He'd drive his legs, keep going and get up again.

"It's a strength of his. He wants to use and that's I want him to do as well."

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