The Wallabies are under no illusions that last week’s draw against the All Blacks is an indicator that all is fine and dandy and they can expect just to roll up to Eden Park and expect things to happen in Bledisloe II, says Allan Alaalatoa.
Twice the Wallabies have had big wins in Australia in the past five years, before quickly being brought back to Earth with embarrassing defeats in Auckland.
Last year, that very reality check occurred as the Wallabies were hammered 36-0 a mere week after recording their own record-breaking 47-26 win over the then-world champions in Perth.
And even though the Australian public has been given a massive shot in the arm by their tenacious 16-16 effort in Wellington, Alaalatoa said the frustration of letting the match slip from their fingers had meant the Wallabies were hungrier than ever to challenge the All Blacks again on their home soil.
“The initial emotion when we came into the change room was disappointment,” Alaalatoa told reporters on Wednesday.
“A lot off boys are disappointed we didn’t come away with the win. We gave ourselves a lot of opportunity to win, we just didn’t execute.
“I think that attitude has definitely carried into this week and understanding where we can be better - how we can be better every day this week, getting our process and preparation right and keeping our focus on us and how we’re going to bring intent.”
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Alaalatoa knows all about the task ahead of the Wallabies.
He started at tight-head prop during last year’s shocker in Auckland, where the All Blacks extended their 26-year unbeaten streak at Eden Park.
It’s often said too that the All Blacks are at their most menacing a week after a loss and given Ian Foster is under pressure already after failing to win his first match in charge, the Wallabies expect their trans-Tasman neighbours to come out breathing fire on Sunday afternoon.
“That’s definitely something we expect from them, especially going off the last couple of years,” the Brumbies captain said.
“That’s something we have addressed already, so the best thing about last week has been we get to look at our learnings, understand where we could be better and how we can be better and make sure we apply that throughout this week and understand that we (must) go out there with more intent than we did last weekend. The huge focus for us is just about us.”
While the Wallabies have been praised for their togetherness and “character” for coming from 13-3 down in Bledisloe I, Alaalatoa said there was plenty of improvement left in the squad.
“Probably a six,” he responded, after being asked to rate the Wallabies’ performance out of 10.
“Little things, as we’ve already noted, hurt us, especially our breakdown. Some areas in our set-piece where we can continue to be better and more clinical at. That’s definitely areas we’ve addressed yesterday in our review and working hard at towards this week.”
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The Wallabies are expected to have everyone available for selection for Sunday’s second Bledisloe, the All Blacks have a couple of injury headaches.
118-Test lock Sam Whitelock is in doubt after copping a headknock late in the match.
The veteran lock suffered some headaches following the epic first encounter and could be replaced by Tupou Vaa’i, who made his debut off the bench.
If, indeed, Whitelock is ruled out the All Blacks are hopeful they’ll have Scott Barrett back on deck, with the forward fit after missing Super Rugby Aotearoa due to injury.
Playmakers Richie Mo’unga (shoulder stinger) and Beauden Barrett (Achilles tendon) are both under slight injury clouds too, with the latter the most at risk of missing the second Test of the year.
Both the All Blacks and Wallabies will name their teams for Bledisloe II on Friday morning.
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