UPDATED: 6:34am – There are mental blocks the Australian rugby team has to get over when they meet the All Blacks next month, Australian player Allan Alaalatoa says.
The Wallabies are in camp now as they prepare for their upcoming Tests.
Their record against the All Blacks has been poor in recent years and Australia is also licking its wounds after a disastrous Super Rugby season.
Australian sides lost every single game they played against teams from New Zealand in 2017. Wallabies prop Alaalatoa said half the battle would be psychological.
“You know you just have to mentally put that all aside and when you come out against them you just have to give it your all I believe. Even when you’re out there you’re going to expect a tough battle. When it comes down to those dying moments in a game you just have to mentally pick yourself back up and then back yourself physically.”
Alaalatoa said he was pushed to new mental limits in the Wallabies train-on squad camp.
Coach Michael Cheika has been driving his charges hard, with the Wallabies needing to rebound from Australia’s Super Rugby season heading into their Bledisloe Cup clashes with the All Blacks next month.
“I only came in the last two sessions [of last week] and I felt like I was there the whole week,” said Brumbies forward Alaalatoa. “But for me physically it was a good test, for me mentally I haven’t been pushed that far.”
Wallabies forwards Rory Arnold said they can take some lessons from the British and Irish Lions, who recently drew their 3-Test series with the All Blacks.
“The Lions had great series against the Kiwis, the coaching staff will review that series and see where they went right there. I guess they had really good line speed, their kicking was on point so I guess if anything we can take some of that away from it.”
– RNZ/AAP
