Jeremy Paul has described commentary that the All Blacks are under more pressure than the Wallabies in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney as “absolute garbage”.
Off the back of their record loss in Argentina, the Wallabies have ballooned out to $7 outsiders to keep the Bledisloe Cup alive for next week’s return match in Wellington.
But after keeping the prized piece of silverware on New Zealand soil since John Mitchell’s side seized it away from Eddie Jones’ Wallabies in 2003, the pressure to keep the legacy running has grown stronger with each passing year.
After Scott Robertson admitted on Thursday that the Test is the one he mustn’t lose, his skipper Scott Barrett understandably said they didn’t want to be the ones who let it go.
“Certainly not,” Barrett told reporters outside the Sydney Opera House on Friday.
“We draw upon, I guess, our history and at times when the Bledisloe Cup was over here and past players have said there was certainly some dark times when they were in the team.
“So this group certainly doesn’t want to go through that and we want to do everything tomorrow afternoon to get one hand on the trophy.”
All Blacks captain Scott Barrett and Wallabies captain Harry Wilson pose alongside the Bledisloe Cup at Sydney Opera House on September 20, 2024. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Having lost three of his past four Tests, including a record loss to Argentina at home before consecutive defeats to the Springboks in South Africa, the All Blacks find themselves in the unusual position of being second last on the Rugby Championship standings.
Unsurprisingly Robertson isn’t taking any chances and has gone in heavy on experience, naming Japanese-bound Sam Cane at openside flanker, Rieko Ioane at outside centre and recalled Beauden Barrett at fullback.
The selections haven’t pleased everyone, with Robertson accused of picking players on reputation rather than form.
For instance, many thought it appropriate to reward Billy Proctor’s form for the Hurricanes and after he didn’t put a step wrong against Fiji on his debut.
Others, too, have pointed to Wallace Sititi’s sprightly start to his international career as another reason why Robertson should have picked on form.
“The All Blacks, I thought they would be slightly more brave with a couple of selections given what happened in South Africa because the opportunity was there to take some risks and gambles but they’ve gone with consistency over flamboyancy,” former All Blacks skipper Justin Marshall said on Stan’s Rugby Heaven.
Marshall’s old halves partner Andrew Mehrtens agreed, saying Robertson had opted for “stability” against a Wallabies side that looked the strongest it has on paper all season.
But the former playmaker admitted he wasn’t surprised his old teammate had opted to be conservative given what’s at stake.
“I think all the pressure is on the All Blacks, to be honest,” Mehrtens said.
“It’s one thing going over and performing well in South Africa, which they did, against the world champions and coming away with a loss. But playing in a game where they are expected to win, they’re expected to maintain this improvement and vibrance that they’re getting back in the team, I think the pressure is on the All Blacks.
“I know people are saying after that Argentina loss, which was pretty awful that second half, it’s going to be one-way traffic, I don’t think it will be. There’s always the possibility but I think there’s a lot of pressure on the All Blacks this weekend.”
Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt speaks with Nic White during their captain’s run at Accor Stadium on September 20, 2024 in Sydney. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
But Paul, who regularly got the better of the All Blacks duo during his decorated career in the Wallabies’ golden years either side of the 21st century, turned the focus back on his old side saying they needed to respond after their 67-27 capitulation against Los Pumas and give their fans some hope after 22 years without the Bledisloe Cup.
“If I take their words, it’s absolute garbage,” Paul responded.
“We’ve been hearing this for two decades now that the All Blacks are under pressure.
“Of course the Wallabies are under pressure the most because it’s our home crowd and we need to be able to play a style of game that will bring our fans back and that our fans will be proud of.
“There’s huge amounts of pressure, particularly coming off the back of that loss. But I don’t think we should judge a side on 51 minutes of footy, I think there’s been some really good things this year.”
All three famous players agreed Schmidt had picked a better balanced side.
Paul said he hoped the inclusion of Nic White would see the Wallabies’ attack not just go from side to side.
‘It’s not just the selection, I do like Nic White being there because all I’ve wanted to see for seven games is forwards getting around the corner,” the former hooker said.
“This pattern of getting once around and going back and back, mate, work around the corner.
“What Nic White does really well is he commands his forwards and instructs them where to be. I think for someone like Noah [Lolesio], he needs someone like Nic White and that leadership. That’s all I want to see is those forwards getting around the corner and making that defence fold.”