The All Blacks’ Bledisloe Cup no show continues to irk Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, who hopes his players take out their own frustrations when the trans-Tasman foes finally square off in Perth on September 5.
Kiwi Rennie was “bloody angry” after his former employers New Zealand Rugby announced they would not travel for the original Test scheduled at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
The All Blacks are now in Perth for a rescheduled round two of the Rugby Championship but while Rennie had cooled off a little when he spoke to reporters today the snub clearly still stings.
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“The disappointment for us is what we knew is the Rugby Championship was going to be played somewhere in the world on the 12th of September,” Rennie said.
“The All Blacks committed to play us originally on the 21st and then on the 28th.
“And had they come over here, what we knew is that on the 29th we’re all jumping on a plane and heading somewhere in the world. Whether that was Brisbane, whether that was South Africa or the UK. And so from that perspective we felt they should have got on the plane and come over and fulfilled that commitment.
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https://twitter.com/AllBlacks/status/1430916908904161284?s=20
“But anyway, they’re here now, I know there’s a lot of people in Perth really excited about the opportunity. It should still be a really good occasion.”
Rennie said he wasn’t sure whether the trans-Tasman spat would provide an extra edge and that “we’re not necessarily using it as motivation.”
Translation? They’ll definitely use it as motivation.
Rennie let slip as much when asked a follow up question about whether there was an extra hunger to “give it to” the All Blacks following the no show.
“I hope so, there is from me as you might have found out last week,” Rennie said.
“In the end it is what it is. Our motivation is more around our last performance and it’s got to be better.”
Indeed, that last start was a 57-22 bludgeoning at Eden Park which emphatically ended Australia’s hopes of reclaiming the Bledisloe Cup.
“There’s plenty of motivating factors and the biggest one is the scoreline last time we played,” Rennie said.
“We really respect the All Blacks and we’re excited by the opportunity to get another crack at them. Obviously home crowds help and we’re hoping there’s still going to be 60,000 in the crowd.”
Both sides will be understrength as star players stay home on baby watch.
All Blacks captain Sam Whitelock and halves Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga are out while Reds duo Hunter Paisami and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto miss for the Wallabies.
Rennie confirmed there would be changes at the selection table after a “brutal” review and Olympian Samu Kerevi is a strong option to come straight into the midfield for Paisami.
“He’s been excellent,” Rennie said.
“There’s a fair bit to get your head around. He’s worked on his kicking game, his distribution. As we know he can be direct and has an ability to offload beyond the tackle.
“And I know he’s worked really hard on the defensive side of his game.”
Rennie said recalled five-eighth Quade Cooper was applying pressure for selection after impressing, as was lock Izack Rodda and hooker Feleti Kaitu’u.
And there was no danger of thinking too far ahead to clashes with the world champion Springboks.
“We’ll focus on the enemy in front of us.”