OPINION: What’s in a record? Well, to answer that, it depends what side you fall on.
For the team that holds, it’s a symbol of excellence that can define what the team means. A marker of sorts passed down between generations to keep alive and understand the true meaning of playing for that side.
Watch the Wallabies tackle the All Blacks live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
On the other side, it can feel like a Sisyphus reality, pushing to achieve what greats and legends have dreamed of, but never achieved.
Saturday’s opening Bledisloe Cup is built around records.
Defending records, breaking records or even coming back from records.
For the All Blacks, the 51-game unbeaten run at Eden Park is something that probably won’t ever be touched again by a tier-one side, given how close international Rugby has become.
It has underpinned their 23 year stranglehold over the Bledisloe Cup, becoming the well they go back to for a spiritual lift after a surprise or thumping defeat.
They go back to it again with bowl in hand after a 43-10 defeat to South Africa in Wellington, a record defeat for the black jersey.
For the Wallabies, breaking droughts and record runs have almost defined this run under Joe Schmidt.
The form revival started almost 12 months ago in Twickenham, ending England’s longest home winning run against their Australian counterparts with a famous Max Jorgensen last-minute winner.
But it’s the Ellis Park result that properly told the world the Wallabies were a threat, 62 years' worth of history dusted away as the men in gold ran in try after try.
It’s given them the belief that no game is ever out of reach, whether in the first or 81st minute.
They’ll take all that belief in Eden Park, hoping to continue their streak of ending record runs or long winning droughts.
Within this Eden Park record and its mythology, there are a few quirks that can be comforting for Wallabies fans.
Despite popular belief, it is a ground that has been home to some Australian success.
In the 2011 World Cup, the Wallabies fought hard with Berrick Barnes inspiring a 21-18 win over Wales to secure the bronze medal.
However, the most recent success came just this year, with incoming Test debutant Ryan Lonergan kicking a last-gasp penalty to end the Brumbies 12-year drought at Eden park
James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Corey Toole and Len Ikitau were all involved in that win and know what it's like to taste victory at the ground.
As well as this, it’s important to clarify it’s a 51-game unbeaten streak, not winning.
Teams have pushed the All Blacks well past 80 minutes, from the British & Irish Lions in 2015 to South Africa in 1994.
A draw would be enough to make next week’s Perth match a winner takes all - but this Wallabies team will be pushing for more than that.
They’ll head into Saturday confident they can write their names into the record books once again, with Wallabies captain Harry Wilson summing it up best.
“History's all against us, but that's something which really excites this group.”
