Rugby: Cup, not record, spur for Wallabies

Matt Toomua.
Matt Toomua.
The Wallabies couldn't care less about the All Blacks' quest for a record 18th consecutive test win tomorrow night.

Despite Australia's fierce sporting rivalry with New Zealand, the Wallabies say their drive to topple the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium certainly isn't fuelled by a desire to deny the All Blacks any kind of rugby record.

After watching the All Blacks raise the Bledisloe Cup for 11 years in a row, the chance to go 1-0 up in the three-test series is incentive enough.

"There's a big cup here. That's in the thought process a long way before their consecutive wins," Australia halfback Nic White said.

"It's about putting some pride back in the jersey and doing our best to win that cup back.

"You don't need any more motivation than that big Bledisloe Cup.

"If you need any more than that, then I don't know what you are doing."

Wallabies centre Matt Toomua said he didn't even know about the All Blacks' shot at history until Thursday.

"I honestly wasn't too aware of it before," he said.

"It is clearly an impressive statistic, but the fact I just found out about it (shows) we haven't spoken about it this week.

"I guess they will take a bit of motivation out of it, as you would.

"But we are focusing on our personal goals, our own milestones in a sense, too."

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen admitted there was pressure on his side to deliver once again, but no more than in any other test week in New Zealand.

"Every week there's pressure on us to win," he said after the team's low-key arrival on Thursday night.

"That's what test rugby is about. You're expected to win and, whether it's one test or 18 tests or 25 tests, you know, the result that people want is for the All Blacks to win - from our point of view.

"It's no different for Australia, I should imagine."

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