Rugby World Cup: All Blacks wary of familiarity

The last time the All Blacks met the Wallabies at Eden Park, they ran out 30-14 winners. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks will meet a familiar foe on familiar territory in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals this weekend. But the circumstances are foreign to most of Graham Henry's men.

Speaking to a press conference at Trusts Stadium in Waitakere this afternoon, half-back Andy Ellis said going up against the Wallabies in a semi-final would be a different beast to past encounters.

"It's hard to say [whether the familiarity with Australia will make the task easier or not] because we haven't played in a match this big against them. It's probably the biggest game a lot of our boys have ever played in, and the same for them as well.

"I don't know if you can buy into too much what has happened in the past few years. I think this is going to be different again. Every game at knock-out stage is big."

Reflecting on advice from the 1987 team reunion yesterday, Ellis said the semi-final would be the "big game", before the final "takes care of itself".

Jerome Kaino said they could take some comfort from playing at a ground where the All Blacks are unbeaten since 1994. The Wallabies have not won there since 1986.

"I love playing at Eden Park and it gives me a little bit of comfort. Having said that, it's a semi-final and both teams are going to be firing. Like Andy said, semi-final football is going to be something we haven't encountered before."

- Herald Online