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'It would be awesome': The iconic Bledisloe Cup moment a Wallabies debutant is hoping to emulate as series goes on the line

By AAP
The Wallabies celebrate their successful defence of the Bledisloe Cup in 2000. (Photo: Nick Wilson/ALLSPORT)

Noah Lolesio dreams of conjuring his own John Eales moment after being thrust into the Bledisloe Cup cauldron for his Wallabies debut on Saturday night.

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As well as being in the five-eighth hot seat, the 20-year-old will handle goalkicking duties for Australia at ANZ Stadium following Matt Toomua’s year-ending groin injury injured suffered in the Wallabies’ 27-7 loss in Auckland two weeks ago.

Far from overawed about assuming such responsibilities, Lolesio says he’d relish the chance to boot Australia to victory, just like Eales did in the 85th minute of the Wallabies’ unforgettable 24-23 win over the All Blacks in Wellington 20 years ago.

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Wallabies captain Michael Hooper speaks to media.

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Wallabies captain Michael Hooper speaks to media.

“Oh yeah, it would be awesome,” Lolesio told AAP.

“I’ve seen it. I don’t know if I was alive when it happened but I’ve definitely seen the footage.”

Eales’ trusty right boot, after taking the shot because regular kicker Stirling Mortlock was off the field, remains etched in Bledisloe Cup folklore.

“They’re the moments you train for,” Eales said.

“They’re the moments in the backyard as a kid … I kicked a hundred of those in the backyard trying to win a test for Australia.

“And I’m very glad it went over because people’s memories of me as a rugby player would have been very different if I had have missed that kick.”

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While Eales’ successful penalty secured Australia the 2020 Bledisloe Cup series, New Zealand has held the trophy for the past 17 years.

Lolesio, though, is one of several fresh faces in coach Dave Rennie’s Wallabies line-up not carrying any psychological scarring from more than a decade and a half of trans-Tasman beatings.

“It’s something that definitely drives me. I really want that Cup back here and I know everyone in this squad wants that cup as well,” he said.

“It’s definitely a driving factor.

“It’s very exciting long term to be part of this squad but, at the end of the day, we want to win now.

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“Dave’s made it very clear that we want to win this Bledisloe and there’s no better way to do it than on home soil.

“That’s in the forefront of our minds and we can worry about the future after that.”

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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