New Zealand players vow World Cup squad will be motivation enough to crush Australia in Bledisloe Cup final – despite All Blacks dropping 12 players
New Zealand players vow World Cup squad will be motivation enough to crush Australia in Bledisloe Cup final – despite All Blacks dropping 12 players
- All blacks were determined to beat Wallabies again
- Coach Ian Foster will announce the World Cup selection on Monday
- Skipper Sam Cane wants high intensity in Dunedin
- Kick-off is Saturday afternoon at 12:35pm AEST
They have already won the Bledisloe Cup, but New Zealand have vowed to embarrass Australia again in Dunedin on Saturday.
Ian Foster’s All Blacks have made 12 changes from the XV that outclassed the Wallabies 38-7 in the final start at the MCG, but with their World Cup squad on Monday, captain Sam Cane is expecting an impressive 80-minute performance .
“Many of the guys who are playing are chewing on the bit and have been training extremely well over the last month,” he said.
“Australia is desperate, and we know it, but we are also desperate to put in another really good performance.”
Cane, who missed out on victory in Melbourne due to a neck ailment, acknowledged his team must be ruthless on home soil.
They’ve already won the Bledisloe Cup, but the All Blacks have vowed to embarrass Australia again in Dunedin on Saturday (pictured, detrimental striker Ardie Savea)
The All Blacks will put together their World Cup squad on Monday, making Saturday’s game against the Wallabies the last chance to impress coach Ian Foster (pictured, holding the Bledisloe Cup)
They take on hosts France in a blockbuster World Cup opener on September 9 at the Stade de France.
“We know where we are now won’t be good enough later in the year,” Cane added.
“Every time you get a chance to get on the field as a team, you get a chance to get better.”
Meanwhile, Eddie Jones needs to get his team back on track – and fast.
During his second spell in charge, Australia lost all three tests to South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand.
They also conceded 16 tries.
Ominously, the Wallabies last beat the All Blacks across the ditch in 2001, in Dunedin. But in 28 Tests since then, the All Blacks have sung their team anthem full-time.
Kick-off on Saturday at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium is 12:35pm AEST.
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