All Black lock Brodie Retallick expects Australia to come out at them with a bit more physicality and hunger in the second Bledisloe Test in Dunedin this Saturday.
Brodie Retallick (left) and Sam Whitelock. Photo: Photosport
The All Blacks ran out 54-34 winners in the first Test in Sydney on the weekend, after establishing a 54-6 lead.
"In that first 50 minutes our ball carriers were getting in behind them and finding some seams there so no doubt they'll be coming, especially up front, they'll be trying to take us on a bit more up there," said Retallick.
All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock said the second half had been a major focus of their review after leaking four unanswered tries in the second half on Saturday.
Whitelock said it shouldn't matter what the scoreboard said.
"It's pretty much what our review is about and making sure that going forward no matter what the distractions are, [whether it be the] scoreboard, how the game's flowing, making sure that we can go out there and keep it nice and simple and just doing your role and doing it to the best of your ability."
Retallick said scrum issues would be addressed before their re-match with Australia in the second Bledisloe Test in Dunedin this weekend.
Despite the comfortable 20 point win, Retallick said the Wallabies probably outsmarted them at the scrum, forcing resets and winning two penalties off it.
He said they needed to adapt better to different styles.
"We had a quick look at that as a forward pack and I think it's probably just a little bit different to what we're used to in Super Rugby where I think normally pre-set call there's a lot of weight going through but the Australians weren't doing that and we were sort of getting over extended and collapsing, giving away penalties, so we'll be looking at trying to fix that."
Retallick said the group was excited to be back in New Zealand with one hand on the cup.
"Obviously coming out of the Lions series we were a little bit disappointed and that's the last Test we had here so it's always nice to put a performance on your home patch. And we've got another chance to try and lock the Bledisloe up for another year."
Wallabies look for positives
The Wallabies defence coach maintains there are some positives Australia can draw from their horrendous defensive performance.
Nathan Grey is under huge pressure after Australia missed an incredible 48 tackles and conceded more points than they ever have against the All Blacks.
But he insists it isn't all bad, saying tackles started sticking when the Wallabies fired back in the second half.
Grey admitted today's video review session was a sobering reminder of just how much they needed to improve.
"You get to look at the things that you did wrong and how you can improve and you lick your wounds, you pull yourself back together and you get stuck in again.
"(But) there's certainly some areas in the game there where we were able defensively to put them under some pressure and force a couple of turnovers and get a few tries.
"It was a bit late to do that... (But) there's certainly some positives from that perspective."
Grey said the coaching group was taking full ownership of the defeat, which has further angered Australian rugby fans at a time when the game is at its lowest ebb domestically.
Winger Henry Speight said players trusted in Grey's defensive system but admitted they were too "hesitant" early, perhaps a product of not having played Test rugby for a while.
"All we can do is learn from the weekend and in the past 48 hours, there's been a lot of learning going on," Speight said.
- RNZ / AAP
