Wallabies 'not daunted' by All Blacks
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has said that instead of being intimidated by the All Blacks, his side are relishing the challenge of ending their unbeaten run.
The world champions have swept all before them this year in emphatic style, and will be hunting their 17th consecutive victory against australia in Brisbane this weekend, but Deans was adamant that his side will embrace the opportunity to end the winning streak.
"It's an exciting prospect, they're not daunted. They understand they're playing against the world champions and the top-ranked side in the world. But that's exciting for these blokes.
"This is what these guys play the game for. They don't play it for the ease, they play it for the challenge," he told AAP.
The last time the All Blacks lost a Test match was against the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium last year, but Deans refused to get drawn into the significance of their achievements since and said that his side is focused on the quality of their own performance this weekend.
"Obviously we respect them but we also respect what we do," he said.
The Wallabies will be boosted by the return of utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper who has recovered from the concussion he sustained against the Springboks at Loftus Versveld, which leaves Deans with something of a midfield selection poser following the assured performance of the backline in their victory over Argentina in Rosario.
The experienced Ashley-Cooper admitted that the current All Blacks side is probably the best New Zealand side he has ever faced in his 72-Test career.
"These guys are the best in the world, you can't argue with that, and I'd argue that these guys are the best All Blacks side I've ever come across," Ashley-Cooper told Australian media on Monday.
"They are absolutely humming at the moment."
"We can't really let that be a distraction to us; we have to look back at what we did well on the last week of the tour and use that. Bring that belief out and use it," he added.
With the Bledisloe Cup already safely in Kiwi hands the match is something of a dead-rubber, but Ashley-Cooper said that the lack of pressure may present a good opportunity for the Wallabies to express themselves.
"There's nothing to lose and we can go out and have a good crack," he said.
The Wallabies are still sweating on the fitness of wing Digby Ioane (knee) and loose forward Radike Samo (bicep), with the returning duo of Wycliff Palu and Drew Mitchell most likely to replace them should they be declared unavailable.
