Australia prop Adam Coleman insists going into the belly of the beast to try and gain redemption after being humbled by the All Blacks at home in their Bledisloe Cup opener provides the nation with great motivation.
The Wallabies are hurting after being humbled on their home turf and want redemption, but winning at Eden Park for the first time in more than 30 years would be the perfect response.
Coleman said they were disappointed to let a 6-5 half-time lead slip by squandering possession and failing at the set piece, with world champions New Zealand eventually sauntering to a 38-13 triumph in Sydney following a superb second half spectacle in which they ran in six tries.
But Coleman believes Australia could improve in the second match of the three-Test series on Saturday.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in our boys,” he told reporters at the team’s remote island base on Monday.
“What a challenge to come to Eden Park and respond here in New Zealand. It’s great motivation for the squad.”
Work to do: Wallabies boss Michael Cheika.
Michael Cheika’s men have retreated to Waiheke Island, 20 kilometres off the Auckland coast, to plot vengeance for their drubbing in the first Bledisloe Cup Test, which also doubled up as the opening Rugby Championship clash.
A favourite weekend getaway for Aucklanders visiting its upmarket vineyards, the island this week hosts an Aussie team desperate to stop the All Blacks claiming the Bledisloe for the 16th straight year.
Coleman, 26, was not born the last time the Wallabies beat the All Blacks at Eden Park in 1986.
But he said the Australians were relishing the opportunity to challenge the Auckland venue’s intimidating history.
“We laugh about it but we’re here to do a job,” he said.
“The boys are hurting at the moment and to come here and play at Eden Park is something we’re looking forward to.
“We get to turn around a performance that we’re not really proud of. I think we let down people on our home turf and it hurts.”
