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Wallabies written off by Aussie bookmakers with 'near-hopeless' odds of win
Believing in rugby miracles, the Wallabies have dismissed bookmakers writing them off as near-hopeless 22-1 outsiders of snapping a 22-year, 28-match winless run in New Zealand.
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The Wallabies are across the Tasman needing to reverse last Saturday night’s 38-7 drubbing in Melbourne as they bid to defeat the All Blacks in New Zealand for the first time since 2001.
The average losing margin during that barren run is 18.25 points, prompting one Australian betting agency to list the All Blacks as $1.01 sure things to win again in Dunedin on Saturday.
Almost unheard of in sports betting, the Wallabies are paying $23 to pull off a boilover, with the All Blacks fancied to cruise home by 24 points or more.
“I don’t know if that means much to us, to be honest,” Wallabies hooker Dave Porecki said on Tuesday.
“We’re looking to build this week and what the odds are, the odds are. I’m not a betting man.”
In a possible omen, the last time Australia conquered the All Blacks in NZ was in Dunedin during Eddie Jones’ first stint as Wallabies coach.
Jones is back at the helm and Porecki said the Wallabies had been buoyed by their performance in Bledisloe I at the MCG, despite the scoreline blowing out after a promising start.
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“Whilst we’re frustrated with the result, we are building in the right direction and there are elements in our game that we are happy with,” Porecki said.
“But against a team like the All Blacks you need to stay in it for 80 minutes.
“That’s our main focus. Turn that first half, first 30 minutes, into a longer period of play.
“We’ve shown what we’re capable of as a team and it’s exciting for us.”
Apart from an 18-18 draw under Dave Rennie in Wellington in 2020, the All Blacks have been especially ruthless against Australia in Bledisloe Cup encounters at home over the past decade.
Emotions are set to be running extra high at Forsyth Barr Stadium this weekend when a raft of champion All Blacks, including Beauden Barrett, Sam Whitelock and coach Ian Foster, feature in their final Test match in New Zealand.
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That could spell trouble for the Wallabies, even if they visitors are dismissing the home-crowd fervour as a factor.
“We respect the All Blacks and (them) playing at home but we’re looking to get after it this week and it doesn’t particularly matter where the venue is,” Porecki said.
The match is Australia’s last before heading to France for the Rugby World Cup, offering the Wallabies one final chance to make a statement to Jones before he settles on his 33-man squad for the global showpiece.
“Everyone’s just thinking about the next game, not really the selection part of things,” Porecki said.
“We’re all pretty focused on trying to back up after those first three losses (this year).
“We’ve got a lot to make up for.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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