Wallabies can upset All Blacks with good start: Waugh

Rugby Australia CEO says there are two things the Wallabies must do to beat New Zealand with ticket sales strong despite a disappointing start to the season.

Rugby Australia’s CEO Phil Waugh is optimistic of the Wallabies’ chances against the All Blacks

Eddie Jones’ Wallabies may have lost the opening two games of the Rugby Championship but it has not dampened ticket sales for the Bledisloe Cup.

Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said he expects a crowd of over 80,000 for the game between the Wallabies and All Blacks for the game at MCG this Saturday.

“We’re hoping to get over 80,000 and as we all know, a crowd at that number at the MCG holds an enormous atmosphere,” Waugh said.

“So I think it’s exciting and at the moment all is tracking well.”

Waugh, who played 79 tests and captained the Wallabies, said a key to getting a win over the All Blacks on Saturday will be starting well.

“I think starting well is really important, setting that foundation is key,” he said.

“There’ll naturally be a lot of nerves, particularly coming off two losses and the performances the All Blacks have put on the park. I think it’s, you know, naturally you go in with a lot of nerves into the Test match.

“I think starting and going well is going to be really important. I think then it is actually; how do we hold a level of discipline that allows us to build momentum in the game?”

There were some positives in the losses against South Africa in Pretoria and in Sydney against Argentina, but Waugh said they’ll need an 80-minute disciplined effort if they are to get the win over the All Blacks.

The Wallabies conceded 14 penalties against Argentina.

“I think we’ve done some really good things in patches and then let ourselves down on unforced errors, or pure ill-discipline,” Waugh said.

“The danger with the All Blacks is that they can score points really, really quickly if you have a lapse in concentration.

“Whereas historically the Australian teams have to work really hard for points.

“So I think the starting point would be, you know, the level of concentration in intensity and discipline across the team is going to be really important.

“I think we’ve seen in the All Blacks performances this year, as soon as there’s a lapse in concentration or discipline from the opposition, they capitalise with points very quickly.

“So it’s a concerted 80-minute disciplined effort that will be required to get the success that we’re all after.”

Waugh, who recently starred in a new RM Williams campaign to promote the Wallabies’ campaign for the 2023 World Cup, said the new partnership was another positive move for the organisation, which he says is in a “reset and relaunch” period.

“Partnering with another really iconic Australian brand is important for our brand, but also for their brand,” Waugh said. “And so I think that it’s a sensible partnership and one that we hope to grow over time.”

The campaign has been launched starring the likes of former Wallabies David Campese, Mark Ella, Stirling Mortlock and Nick Farr-Jones.

Meanwhile, bullocking Wallabies No.12 Samu Kerevi has hailed the “chopping and changing” of Australia’s centre combinations as he prepares to partner expected inclusion Izaia Perese.

With Len Ikitau injured, 26-year-old former Brisbane Bronco Perese is tipped to be named in the centres alongside Kerevi when the Wallabies host New Zealand at the MCG.

It will be Australia’s third different starting centre combination in three Tests under Jones.

And that can only benefit the Wallabies as they prepare for the Rugby World Cup.

“We’ve been chopping and changing our (number) 12s and 13s, getting different combinations in — it’s been great for our growth,” the Japan-based former Queensland Reds captain said.