The log-leading Wallabies will be looking to fell their old foes New Zealand when they two sides meet at Eden Park this Saturday. The odds are stacked against the visitors with the Kiwis having not lost at Eden Park since 1994, while Joe Schmidt’s men last beat their neighbours back in 2020. While the hosts do come into this one as heavy favourites, Darry Worthington reckons this will be a close run clash
New Zealand v Australia | Saturday 27 September | Eden Park
To Win (80 Mins)
New Zealand | Draw | Australia
Handicap
New Zealand | Australia
It’s all to play for at Eden Park with the Rugby Championship log as congested as Lilian Ngoyi Street at rush hour. Only two points separate the log-leading Wallabies and the last placed Argentines while New Zealand and South Africa are only a point off the summit of the log.
As is the case for all the sides in the ‘comp, the Australasian duo come into this one off the back of two wins and two defeats with each side bagging a win over the Springboks and Argentina as well as suffering defeats to both of those sides.
It would be unfair to say the duo have blown hot and cold as it has just been such a tight Rugby Championship. Both sides do head into this one off the back of disappointing loses, however, with a slow start from the Wallabies seeing them go down 26-28 to Argentina in Round 4 while the Kiwis game of attacking ‘Russian Roulette’ with the Springboks saw them take the bullet as they were hammered 10-43 at the ‘Cake Tin’.
A lot has happened over the past two weeks when it comes to playing personal with the All Blacks set to welcome back a plethora of players from injury including scrum halves Cam Roigard and Cortez Ratima. This great news for the hosts as Finlay Christie and Kyle Preston really struggled last time out against the ‘Boks. Another area where the Saturday’s hosts struggled in Round 4 was at the lineout and they’ve had some good news with this as first choice hooker Codie Taylor and veteran lock Patrick Tuipulotu are fit and ready to go.
For the Wallabies, things are far less positive with exciting winger Dylan Pietsch, the reliable Tom Wright and fly-half Noah Lolesio all ruled out with injuries. There is some good news for Schmidt, however, as it looks like James O’Connor will be released by the Leicester Tigers for this one while experienced nine Jake Gordon has also returned from injury.
Verdict: Australia (+)
While they are entering fortress Eden Park, I do fancy the Wallabies to give their old foes a real run for their money. While I can’t see them bagging a famous away win, I can see them keeping it within the ‘cap.
