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Bledisloe Cup: Ryan Crotty on 'fear of the unknown' in facing Wallabies
It’s Bledisloe Cup week which means the All Blacks and Wallabies are as motivated and hungry as ever to win. Former players for each nation have made no secret of the importance placed on the rivalry and desire to claim the Cup.
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Former All Black midfielder Ryan Crotty says the Bledisloe Cup sits second only to the Rugby World Cup on the New Zealand team’s most desired trophy list.
That significance comes with additional pressure, which is only furthered by the 21 consecutive years the All Blacks have claimed the trophy.
Crotty was a special guest on the Gits and Genia podcast and offered his insights into the All Blacks’ attitude towards the rivalry, having played in ten of the contests throughout his All Blacks career.
When asked whether preparing for a Bledisloe Cup Test is different to other games, Crotty replied: “Yes, one hundred percent.
“I remember (Wayne) Smithy used to talk about it, it’s the kind of real fear of the unknown when you come up against Aussie for that first Bledisloe. It’s just, the stakes are so high.
“For the All Blacks, the only trophy that sits ahead of the Bledisloe is the World Cup and that’s only once every four years. Besides that, the Bledisloe is like the pinnacle of rugby in New Zealand.
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“The history as well, in that first Test you can feel the tension in the group. The real nerves, it’s something. There’s something special about it as well isn’t there?”
The history of the Bledisloe goes back to 1932 when the All Blacks won the first edition of the Cup. New Zealand’s 51 wins since seeing them comfortably lead the all-time series.
This year however sees the return of Eddie Jones as coach of the Wallabies. Jones was the last man to steer the Wallabies to a Bledisloe Cup victory in 2002 and is only starting to implement his vision for the team, making Crotty’s “fear of the unknown” potentially as relevant today as ever.
Jones opting for a new-look, younger starting XV only furthers that sense of the unknown with a debut halves partnership of Tate McDermott and Carter Gordon named to start next to a physical new loose forward trio.
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Matt Giteau added how each year’s All Blacks side would hate to be the team to hand the trophy back to the Wallabies after such a long period of success.
“Completely, you’re dead right,” Crotty agreed. “It’s massive, that’s the pressure.
“The All Blacks are kind of used to that, you have to win and you’ve got to win well. It’s not ok to just win, the expectation is high performance and for you to win playing well.
“You have a bad game and you’re walking down the street, everyone in New Zealand’s kind of (looking at you), gone a bit off you.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Great to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
1 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
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