Bledisloe Cup: Eden Park hero on why this year is different for Wallabies

SPOTLIGHT: Andrew Slack hears it every year. The difference now, he thinks, is that the Wallabies actually believe it.

Plenty of Australian teams have tried and failed since Andrew Slack captained the last Australian side to beat New Zealand at Eden Park in 1986.

Now, 40 years on, he thinks subtle development under Joe Schmidt and some astute selection from replacement Les Kiss has them primed to break the drought.

“Everyone’s going to talk up their confidence, every year,” Slack, also a former Wallabies selector and Queensland Reds coach, told AAP.

“But this year they actually believe what they’re saying and have cause to believe it.

“I believe they believe they’ll be in the contest with five minutes to go, and the rest is in the lap of the football gods.”

The Wallabies have won four Tests and drawn one since Kiss took over.

With Schmidt having signed off with a thumping of Italy, that leaves Australia unbeaten in six Tests for the first time in nine years.

That followed losses in nine of their previous 10 Tests.

Slack, who also led Australia’s dominant 1984 Grand Slam tour of Europe, was part of a panel that reviewed the Wallabies’ disastrous 2023 season that included a historic World Cup group-stage exit and the short-lived second-coming of coach Eddie Jones.

He later told AAP that the findings called for “common sense and calm”, something he thinks Schmidt and Kiss have delivered differently in the role.

“What we’ve got now that puts us in the contest is our positional depth just about everywhere. If we lose someone it’s not ‘woe is me’,” Slack said ahead of the Wallabies’ team announcement on Thursday.

“The only question mark is flyhalf, because nobody had a chance to put their hand up due to all the injuries.

“They’re a very happy team, comfortable in their own shoes.”

That theory will be tested at a venue where the All Blacks are unbeaten in 53 Tests dating back to 1994.

New Zealand have won their past 11 Tests against Australia and have held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003.

Taniela Tupou (Racing 92, France) and Tom Hooper (Exeter, England) have left camp for club duties, while Hunter Paisami will miss the two-game series through suspension.

Paisami’s fellow centre Len Ikitau and form lock Josh Canham are with the squad, although Ikitau is likely to overcome his ankle soreness and wear the No.12 on Saturday.

Kiss debuted Isaac Henry, who can play either No.12 or 13, against Japan and has recalled former Queensland Reds utility back Jordan Petaia after stints in France and Japan following a short-lived NFL cameo.

With Ikitau covering Paisami at inside centre, it’s expected Henry will start outside him in the No.13.

Injuries aside, Slack said he didn’t agree with suggestions Kiss should “save his best team” for their Sydney rematch next Saturday.

“I’ve always hated the notion of looking ahead to the next game or the next year, but I understand that thinking is now outdated,” he said.

“But ultimately, it sounds stupid, you sense it doesn’t matter [who they select], because of that depth.

“There is similarity and ability in players.”

The two-game series – the teams play again in Sydney next Saturday – will carry an unprecedented edge, with former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie now in charge of his native New Zealand.

Rennie, who replaced Scott Robertson, gave Test debuts to 11 Wallabies in this week’s squad.

Scott Barrett and Shannon Frizell have returned to the All Blacks’ squad, but they are without injured stars Ardie Savea and Ruben Love.