Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson says his team is excited rather than daunted by the challenge of getting one hand on the Bledisloe Cup trophy with a history-making win at Eden Park.<\/p>\n
The prized trans-Tasman Cup has been in New Zealand’s keeping for 23 years with Australia requiring a win in Auckland on Saturday and at least a draw in Perth in a fortnight to wrest it back<\/p>\n
The match doubles as a Rugby Championship fixture, the Wallabies narrowly leading the four-nations tournament with two rounds to play.<\/p>\n
Coach Joe Schmidt said the Wallabies would take the Bledisloe over the Rugby Championship trophy, which Australia last claimed 10 years ago.<\/p>\n
“I think if you gave them a choice, (the Wallabies) would take the Bledisloe over the Rugby Championship,” Schmidt said at the team naming.<\/p>\n
“Just the tradition of it; it’s older and more ingrained than the more modern Rugby Championship, as much as they certainly want to go after that and they’re in good position to do it.”<\/p>\n
Eden Park has proved a graveyard for visiting Wallabies teams who have gone without a win there since 1986, while the All Blacks also hold a 51-Test unbeaten record there against everyone else.<\/p>\n
But after breaking an even longer drought with their Rugby Championship victory at Ellis Park in Johannesburg this year, the Australians believe it could finally be the time.<\/p>\n
New Zealand, meanwhile, enter the Test on the back of a record 43-10 loss to South Africa in Wellington earlier this month, heaping pressure on coach Scott Robertson.<\/p>\n
“I think if we can get the job done, it will be massive for us,” Wallabies skipper Wilson said from their Auckland hotel.<\/p>\n
“It’s something which really excites us \u2013 history against us.<\/p>\n
“There’s a lot of belief that we can do it and it’s going to be an almighty challenge, which is something we can’t wait for.”<\/p>\n
Wilson said their belief was built on their consistently strong performances against the touring British and Irish Lions, Springboks and most recently, Argentina.<\/p>\n
“We’ve played a lot of big matches this year, which is something which gives the group a lot of confidence … we’ve been in the pressure cooker quite a lot this year,” Wilson said.<\/p>\n
“So it is definitely something we’ll lean on this weekend, knowing that we’ve been here before and we’ve found ways out of it too. <\/p>\n
“It’s another heck of a challenge when you’re versing a team like New Zealand. We haven’t won over here in quite a long time.<\/p>\n
“History’s all against us, but that’s something which really excites this group.”<\/p>\n