Ex-All Blacks on whether the Wallabies could snap the Eden Park record

You’d be forgiven as an All Black fan for feeling slightly skeptical about this Saturday’s mouth watering clash against the Wallabies at Eden Park, after what occurred two weeks ago against the Springboks.

Back on September 6, the All Blacks extended their unbeaten streak to 51-games at Eden Park, after beating the Springboks 24-17, but if that record wants to stay in-tact for another season, the All Blacks will need to be at their best on Saturday.

Three former All Blacks have discussed their feelings ahead of the first Bledisloe Cup Test this Saturday, after witnessing the first four rounds of this year’s Rugby Championship.

When asked about whether he’s worried that the Eden Park record could be under pressure this weekend, former World Cup winning first-five Stephen Donald was straight up with his response.

“No, no. Jeff Wilson mentioned the response, there’s gonna be a massive response and I’m still convinced that the Australian team come over and are trying to get it through their head that they can come here and win,” Donald said on The Breakdown.

“There’s a mental edge there still, and I genuinely believe that’s a factor and I genuinely believe the response, they’re not oblivious to the 40 point thing at the cake tin.

“So I’d imagine they come out roaring, as it was two games ago when they bet the world champions.”

Wilson agrees with Donald, but says his confidence is almost coming from the fact there will be no Will Skelton or Rob Valetini for the Wallabies at Eden Park.

“I’m a little bit like Beaver in regards to the fact I’m almost looking at these two Test matches together, because if we can’t put two performances together, we’re no better off if we perform at Eden Park and then we go to Perth and then not perform,” Wilson said.

“Does it tell us we’re learning? Does it tell us we’re getting better? Does it tell us we’re adapting what we need to do? So I think, I think I’m confident, I’ll say I’m confident because there’s no more Will Skelton, and Rob Valetini has been ruled out for this game.

“I think they were two massive bodies that gave them some real punch, some real solidity up front. Skeleton hasn’t been there for a couple of games, but I still think they needed that size against us, and you’re right.

“They’ve got to win both games. So for me, I’m confident in the response, I just want to see two really good weeks of preparation and performance.”

Former centurion Mils Mulaina explains that there’s still a mental edge there when the All Blacks take on the Wallabies.

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“I’m not, I’m similar to these guys. I don’t look at it as a two games, they’ve got to get this right, and they’ve had a lot of time to brew over the fact that they lost in Wellington.

“There is a mental edge going into Eden Park thinking that, hey, they haven’t won here for a long time. They have not had the better side for a long time and if you look before that game in Wellington, we’re looking pretty good.

“We’ve just got to try and emulate that and then back up with the second half.”