Matt Giteau has called on his Australia team-mates to show more of a ruthless streak as they look to end their Eden Park hoodoo against New Zealand this Saturday.
It is 23 years since the Wallabies last tasted victory at the Auckland venue and six years since they last held the Bledisloe Cup after New Zealand, co-coached by current Australia boss Robbie Deans, lifted it off them in 2003.
In their two most recent trans-Tasman clashes - in Brisbane and Hong Kong - the Australians have led up to around the 60 minute mark only for the tide to turn in New Zealand's favour - and Giteau wants to stop that rot.
‘As a side we've got to be more ruthless. If we get a lead we've got to maintain the pressure rather than just try to hold on to it,’ the 26-year-old pivot said.
‘That's probably where we got caught in a hole a few times last year when we got to a lead and we tried to defend that lead rather than build on it.
‘The All Blacks when they get to a lead they continue to try and put pressure on.’
In the corresponding fixture 12 months ago the Australians were taught a lesson by a New Zealand side determined to reverse the 34-19 thrashing of the previous weekend in Sydney.
Giteau, who was just finding his feet again at fly-half after being returned there permanently by Deans following time in the Wallabies scrum-half role, admitted it had been a big learning curve for him.
‘Each game, especially when you lose, you learn probably more from than the games when you win.
‘A big learning curve for me as a fly-half was that game - positionally, tactically and kicking-wise.
‘There were times when I don't think we showed a whole lot of patience. We were looking for the easy cross-kick and trying to score off that rather than building pressure.
‘As a game, you need to build and put pressure on the All Blacks for the full 80 minutes. At times (last year) we did it for 60 minutes or 70 minutes but not that full 80 minutes.’
That is something the 67-Test veteran hopes can be put right this weekend, especially as 12 of the starting XV played in Auckland last year.
‘We're certainly confident in our own ability but not over confident,’ he said.
‘The All Blacks are number one in the world for a reason. Last year we felt there were areas we could have played better - that full 80 minutes being one of them.
‘As a side we're confident that we can beat any side if we play well enough and execute for that full 80 minutes.’
Veteran lock Nathan Sharpe, who will play his 77th Test this weekend, has certainly noticed a lift in intensity for the Bledisloe clash, that also doubles as the Tri-Nations series opener, compared to the recent victories against the Barbarians, Italy (twice) and France.
‘We've played some good football against lesser oppositions and we've played some tough football as well. We've had a good break and the guys are fresh and looking forward to this game.
‘Since we came into camp last Tuesday you could notice the intensity that was building already.
‘For most Test matches it starts to build on a Thursday/Friday but this has been building and bubbling away for a while.’
