Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones says the MCG will be a stage for the perfect stress test ahead of September’s Rugby World Cup.
Jones is talking up the Wallabies’ chances of claiming their first Bledisloe Cup victory since 2002 this winter, suggesting some of the hype around their All Blacks opponents’ superiority is unwarranted.
Jones was at the helm early in his first five-year stint as Australian coach when they drew the 2002 series to retain the cup for the fifth consecutive year.
“We’ve got plenty of talent in Australia with plenty of good players, there’s not something magical between Australia and New Zealand,” Jones said.
“The Tasman Sea – it doesn’t create supermen on one side, and on the other side there’s people who are going to get beaten.”
Addressing reporters at the MCG on Monday ahead of the Wallabies’ clash with New Zealand at the venue on July 29, Jones said his side’s record at the historic Melbourne stadium would give them an edge in the first Bledisloe Cup match.
“If you look at the record of Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, we’ve got a two-one record against the All Blacks, which is the only place in the world we’ve got this record,” Jones said.
“It’s quite a fitting time to come back here – we haven’t won a cup for 22 years, we’re looking forward to playing in front of the huge crowd.
“Victorians want to have the World Cup final so it’s a great opportunity for them to dress rehearse here.”
An average crowd of 81,529 attended the previous three Bledisloe Cup matches at the MCG, held in 1997, 1998 and 2007.
Jones said the cauldron-like atmosphere he anticipated would serve the Wallabies well in their preparation for the Rugby World Cup, which begins in France in September.
“It’s a great opportunity to play under pressure,” he said.
“Players live for these sort of games where you’re under the most pressure, big crowds, and you’ve got to play good rugby.”
He said the Wallabies’ heartbreaking and controversial loss to the All Blacks at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium last year before his tenure had served as a learning experience for his side.
“They played very well, had the run of the game and then the referee makes the decision at the end of the game and you get beaten,” he said.
“You can’t get frustrated by those things – the game gives you what it gives you and then you’ve got to be able to cope.
“Our job is to create a team that can cope with any situation – good or bad refereeing, drunk crowd, big crowds – doesn’t matter what happens we’ve got to be able to cope with it.”
