Forget about the past and concentrate on creating your own history in 2020. That’s Morgan Turinui’s advice to the current crop of Wallabies, after being part of the generation that let slip the Bledisloe Cup back in 2003.
Turinui didn’t play in that 2003 Bledisloe series, but he was a part of Eddie Jones’ wider squad having made his debut for the Wallabies earlier in that World Cup year against Ireland.
But after their golden generation either side of the 21st century, few could have imagined that the Wallabies would not have got their mitts back on the Bledisloe Cup since.
“We lost it in ‘03 and then we won the semi in the World Cup, obviously not a Bledisloe, but we thought ‘Oh well, we’ll win it back at some stage’,” Turinui quipped on Wednesday morning, ahead of Saturday’s do-or-die clash at ANZ Stadium against the All Blacks.
“We thought we’d get it back at some eventually and then it’s grown and grown and grown, and I suppose the current crop can blame us for losing it back then and putting the pressure on them to win it back for us unfortunately.”
But Turinui’s advice is simple: forget the past.
“There’s a good quote about tradition being peer pressure from dead people,” Turinui said.
“Forget about the past, forget about the 17 years, we’ve got two games (and if we win those) we win the Bledisloe.
“The history doesn’t influence the result, the history doesn’t play the way our guys play the game, just go out there and play the two matches to the best of your ability and you create a history that is about 2020.
“None of the games that have been played over the last 17 years have an influence on the result this weekend, so forget about that number and think about the two wins you need to win the Bledisloe.”
While the All Blacks are heavy favourites to build on their three-match unbeaten run in Sydney, Turinui and his former Test teammate, Matt Dunning, were optimistic that the Wallabies had shown enough to suggest they were right in the contest.
Dunning, in particular, had been excited by what he has seen during Dave Rennie’s opening two matches in charge and said the Wallabies’ ability to hold the ball was key to beating the All Blacks.
“They can hold the ball,” Dunning said, of the aspect that gave him the most amount of confidence heading into Bledisloe III.
“They can hold the ball long periods of time. Against New Zealand, to beat them, you’ve got to hold the ball. They’ve got so much attacking power, they can score from anywhere, you’ve just got to deny them possession and keep recycling the ball and earn every point you get.
“Equally in defence, you’ve got to aim up and that was the difference between the first and second Test - missed tackles and we made more errors. I don’t think the Kiwis bashed us up or beat us in the second Test, I think we just made errors.”
Rennie is expected to make a couple of changes from the side that went down 27-7 at Eden Park less than a fortnight ago.
As well as a forced change in the midfield following Matt To’omua’s injury, Rennie is thought to be considering recalling fullback Dane Haylett-Petty, outside centre Jordan Petaia and rotating Allan Alaalatoa in the front-row.
Dunning, the former ball-carrying prop, was also excited by the cattle the Wallabies had up front and said that it was now a point of difference while also supporting the idea of rotating world class props Alaalatoa and Taniela Tupou.
“The luxury of having Taniela and Allan Alaalatoa, they’re two world class tight-head props and I think you’ve got to share the love between both of them,” he said.
“You’re not going to win a Bledisloe series with the same guy. The way Test rugby is, you’ve got to share that love. Whoever starts, whoever finishes, it doesn’t manner. In some ways, to have Taniela coming on at half-time fresh and running the ball, I wouldn’t want to tackle him. He’s an awesome player and Allan’s a quality and proven performer, and I think that’s a real strength.”
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