Even though the Wallabies are still 'hurt' by last year's controversial Bledisloe defeat, co-captain James Slipper believes they are in a better place heading into Saturday's MCG clash.
Slipper was captain when the Wallabies went down to the All Blacks 39-37 last September at Marvel Stadium, wrapping up the Bledisloe for another year.
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The game will live in infamy after referee Mathieu Raynal's last-minute decision to penalise Bernard Foley for wasting time, with the Wallabies up by three.
“I remember it, it hurts,” Slipper admits.
“Whenever you don’t get the result it’s always going to hurt you. In the fashion how we blew that game makes it hurt a little bit more.
“Hopefully we can play a game that is on our terms and we don’t have a referee come in and decide it right at the end. It was a great game to be a part of, the crowd was unbelievable and we’re expecting the same tomorrow…we won’t shy away from the fact last year was tough but we’re a new group now.”
Slipper conceded they need to be better at managing the referee, stating "I think it’s just about a bit of game smarts."
However, he doesn't think it'll be used as motivation, rather pointing to their disappointing start as enough fuel.
"We're coming off two pretty disappointing results so we're looking back to those games to try to get better," Slipper said.
"We know what's in front of us and what we have to do and we're going to have to put in one hell of a shift to get a result but the boys have prepared well."
The prop will likely find himself on the field as captain at the end of this Test after being named in the reserves.
With fellow co-captain Michael Hooper (calf) out, Allan Alaalatoa steps in as 'stand-in' captain.
It's the first time Slipper has not started since taking over the captaincy from Hooper in last year's TRC, with Angus Bell favoured to start after his impressive cameo from the bench.
“Just a little bit of experience to close out a game,” Slipper said when asked what he believes he can add off the bench
“Eddie’s mentioned at the start of the year that he’s probably going to use five captains throughout the year and that’s probably something that is not going to change with HIA and injuries coming into the game in recent history
“Not much is going to change for me. My job around the team hasn’t changed. It’s just about now supporting the guys that start (in) Allan (Alaalatoa), Tate (McDermott) those boys who will lead us out initially. You then have the likes of myself, (Nic) Whitey, Quade on the bench.
“There’s a bit of age and experience as well there. Nothing really changes, just where I play."
