Rugby: Wallabies get head around mental block

The Wallabies have lost 10 straight matches to the All Blacks. Photo / Getty Images

After losing an unprecedented 10 successive Bledisloe Cup rugby tests, the Wallabies have finally acknowledged the psychological benefits of simulating "should-win" scenarios.

Since the team assembled in Sydney three weeks ago before heading to Hong Kong and Saturday's final trans-Tasman test of the year, coach Robbie Deans has attempted to address a debilitating tendency - the Wallabies inability to close out tight matches.

Training sessions involve players being challenged to brain storm how they would respond to a particular on-field situation late in a game.

The inaugural offshore Bledisloe Cup test two years ago should figure among the case study's of test matches that Australia could, and possibly should, have won.

At Hong Kong Stadium a scoreless second half and late try to All Blacks captain Richie McCaw completed a 19-14 comeback; at Sydney in August last year a Daniel Carter penalty with two minutes remaining secured a one-point victory and as recently as September 11 the Wallabies surrendered a 22-9 lead as McCaw and Kieran Read scored converted tries to produce a 23-22 victory and unbeaten Tri-Nations campaign.

And New Zealand is not the only nemesis; South Africa successfully fought back from a 14 point deficit in Pretoria, a 25-point advantage was squandered a week later in Bloemfontein until Kurtley Beale's last gasp penalty avoided another inexplicable defeat.

"There's been a certain angle at training where we're putting ourselves in situations like 'OK, we're one point up with five minutes to go. What are we going to do?" explained No 8 Richard Brown.

"How are we going to play? What tactics are we going to use so we finish it?"

Drew Mitchell experienced the heartache last time the teams were in Hong Kong as his first half double was eventually negated by a relentless All Blacks side.

"We've been on the wrong end of plenty of those, we're working pretty hard to try and rectify that," the 50-test wing said before revealing the Wallabies Achilles heel.

"We go away from what was working for us in the first half and play a different style of game and ultimately we jam up a little bit and the opposition come back into it."

The Wallabies desire to perfect their mental approach in times of stress was no surprise to All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith.

"It's something we've done for years, for them it's obviously something they've identified they need to do to close out games and play in different situations," he said.

"I think every top team looks at scenarios and gets clarity through the team on what your response should be.

"Experience is built up through work you do in the classroom, work you do on the training field and work you do on the playing field.

"It's like stacking up building blocks, you keep stacking them up and that history holds you in good stead further down the track."

Smith agreed it was impossible to recreate an atmosphere associated with of last five minutes of a test on a knife edge but running through scenarios was clearly beneficial.

"All you're looking for is common understanding and alignment throughout the coaches and players on what would be the best option."

Both teams continue their preparations today before members of the All Blacks squad visit local schools in a bid to drum up support for a test that is yet to capture the imagination of the rugby-loving ex-pat community and locals.

About 25,000 tickets have been sold for the 38,000-seat venue and organisers doubted there would be a late surge of interest among the population of 7 million.

- NZPA