VIDEO: Wallabies seek intensity against All Blacks
A more intense Wallabies outfit can be expected when they face the All Blacks in the final Rugby Championship clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
The Australians have yet to record a Rugby Championship win this season. They opened their campaign with a humiliating 12-43 defeat to the Springboks before stumbling to a heartbreaking 31-34 loss to Los Pumas.
It does not get any easier as they face the mammoth challenge of hosting New Zealand in their final Test on home soil before the World Cup in France.
Another trophy is at stake, with the Wallabies needing victory in Melbourne and also in Dunedin next month to win the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.
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Speaking to reporters, Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi said the team are eager to deliver an intense performance in front of their home crowd.
“We weren’t happy with the results but Eddie [Jones, Wallabies head coach] being Eddie, I think the intensity was always going to lift leading into the next Test matches, but especially the Bledisloe,” Kerevi said.
“It’s not just because of the Bledisloe, but as a team, we needed to lift the intensity at training and create some great habits leading into these next two games.
“Especially this game in front of our home fans, it’ll be the last opportunity we get [before the World Cup].”
Kerevi has not faced the All Blacks since September 2021 after the 29-year-old suffered an injury blow while on sevens duty at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
He returned to action off the bench against South Africa earlier this month and started against Los Pumas two weeks ago.
The star showed some glimpses of promises but has yet to find the form that will secure him a spot in the World Cup squad.
The former Reds star could have a chance to solidify his trip to Paris, as he might get a could start this weekend and have to deal with the All Balcks’ star midfield duo of Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane.
“I want to peak at the right time. After a long layoff just finding that groove and rhythm again,” Kerevi said.
“Finding where I fit in terms of the team and where I can be my best. I want to show my strengths and building to be a world-class centre.
“You look across the board at Test matches, they’re all tough now. You want to look forward to the World Cup – each pool has some teams there that you can’t take lightly, you can’t take anyone lightly.
“The All Blacks have been playing some great footy and I think the rivalry of the Bledisloe is what you look forward to but Argentina was a big matchup as well as South Africa. This weekend will be no different.
“There’s importance on every Test but I guess there is that element of the Bledisloe and that rivalry across the ditch, which always excites the boys.
“But for me, my work-on is just every day, that’s the real battle. Saturday’s one day of the week or one day of the year I play the All Blacks or two, whatever it is.
“My battle every day is probably the biggest thing I look forward to.”
*Additional source: Rugbypass
