'Why not': Wilson's Wallabies plot 40-year first

Fri, Oct 9, 2026, 12:50 AM
Murray Wenzel - AAP
by Murray Wenzel - AAP
Harry Wilson and the Wallabies have their eyes on history. Photo: Getty Images
Harry Wilson and the Wallabies have their eyes on history. Photo: Getty Images

If they could do it at Ellis Park, "why not" Eden Park, Wallabies captain Harry Wilson argues ahead of the side's greatest depth test under new coach Les Kiss.

The visitors, faced with the task of ending one of world sport's most remarkable streaks on Saturday in Auckland, are channelling last year's upset defeat of South Africa in Johannesburg. 

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"Ellis Park, that gives this group confidence," Wilson said of the win last August that snapped a 62-year drought at the venue. 

"Sixty-two years ... no one really gave us a shot but we went out, played a good game and got the result.

"That's showed the group what we can do on our day, and now (at Eden Park), why not?"

Australia have been at pains to recognise the might of the All Blacks, even without a host of injured stars, ahead of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup opener.

It's a venue the hosts haven't lost a Test at since 1994, while Australia's last win there came in 1986.

Australia haven't won anywhere in New Zealand since 2001, have lost the past 11 Tests against their trans-Tasman rivals and haven't held the Bledisloe Cup since 2002.

"When you've been undefeated here for that long it's always going to be talked about and there's only one way to change that," Wilson said.

Australia are, for the first time in nine years, unbeaten in their past six Tests while the All Blacks lost the last three games in their four-Test series to the Springboks.

Flyhalf Richie Mo'unga (calf) was this week added to an injury list that includes Ruben Love and Ardie Savea. 

But coach Dave Rennie has shifted Damian McKenzie into the No.10 and selected Beauden Barrett at fullback in a sign of the options at the former Wallabies mentor's disposal.

"I'm not giving them any more ammo," Wilson said when asked if the All Blacks were vulnerable. 

"We just want to go out and play some good footy. 

"We are a team that can have a really good 30 minutes against the All Blacks, but we need a really good 80 minutes."

Centre Isaac Henry is the only change to the starting side that beat South Africa in Perth, replacing the suspended Hunter Paisami.

But Kiss has been forced to shuffle his bench after losing Taniela Tupou and Tom Hooper to their overseas clubs.

Much will be asked of forwards Massimo De Lutiis, Nick Champion de Crespigny and backs Declan Meredith and Tate McDermott if the game's in the balance.

"It's two big outs," Wilson said of Hooper and Tupou.

"But the beauty of what Les has done, especially for, say Massimo, to give him a few Tests ... there's a lot of confidence in him.

"Now, on the big stage, we'll see how it's worked out."

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