Former Australian first-five-eighth Mark Ella outlines the priorities for the Wallabies in Christchurch tomorrow night:
For the sake of future Bledisloe Cup matches it is important that the Wallabies bounce back in Christchurch after their disappointing 49-28 loss to the All Blacks last weekend in Melbourne.
The Wallabies are
on a hiding to nothing with a young side struggling to play with any consistency against a side at the peak of their powers.
Under coach Robbie Deans the Wallabies have gone for a youthful approach whereas the New Zealanders have gone for a combination of youth and experience.
So far this year that approach has given the All Blacks an even balance and put another Tri-Nations title just one win away.
In his third year as Wallabies coach Deans is no closer to selecting his best XV, which must be a worry for the ARU one year out from a Rugby World Cup.
Deans has based his reputation on the Wallabies, who have failed to deliver the goods on so many occasions. I can't remember the last time we won more than three matches in a row.
The Aussie media haven't been slow to highlight the Wallabies' lack of performance which at the moment is running at 0-8 and gets worse when you consider that the Wallabies have only won two out of the last sixteen Bledisloe Cup encounters.
I have no doubt that we can improve on last week's embarrassment when the Wallabies let themselves down badly by giving the All Blacks a number of easy try scoring opportunities.
For years now the Wallabies have failed to go the distance and match the intensity of an All Blacks side led by Richie McCaw who seems to be getting better with age.
So far in this season's Tri-Nations matches it has been noticeable that the senior players within the All Blacks group have been in outstanding form and the likes of McCaw, Kieran Read, Keven Mealamu, Brad Thorn, Tony Woodcock and Mils Muliaina are getting better with age.
The one aspect of the game that is worrying from an Australian perspective is the lack of combination within the Wallabies backline.
The Wallabies have a team of utility players who, apart from halfback Will Genia, are too accustomed at playing in different positions week in week out.
Deans must settle on his best XV sooner rather than later and decide once and for all who is his best first five, his best second five, his best fullback and the like in order to develop formidable combinations who understand each other - particularly in pressure matches like the Bledisloe Cup.
The Wallabies will be a much improved outfit this weekend, but it is hard to imagine how they can possibly win in Christchurch when they couldn't win on home turf. The odds are firmly placed against them.
This is a great All Black side, up against a side still getting to know itself but sadly lacking in self belief and commitment.
Like the All Blacks, the Wallabies desperately need their senior players to lift their game to take on the Kiwis head on. Only then will they achieve success - not only as individuals, but importantly as a team.
* Mark Ella played for the Wallabies 25 times in the early 1980s, captaining the side on four occasions. He retired from the game in his mid 20s, having established himself as a freakish talent and one of the finest first five-eighths in world rugby.
