22 Aug 2017

Wallabies confident they can bounce back

1:36 pm on 22 August 2017

Their pride may have taken a hit but the Wallabies insist their confidence hasn't been mortally wounded by Saturday's 54-34 loss to the All Blacks in Sydney.

The Wallabies have set up camp in Christchurch ahead of this Saturday's second test against the All Blacks at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium. They will shift their training operations to Dunedin on Thursday evening.

Australia must win the test to keep the Bledisloe series alive.

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is wrapped up by the All Blacks

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is wrapped up by the All Blacks Photo: Photosport

That will take a form reversal of epic proportions especially considering the Wallabies haven't won in New Zealand since 2001.

But defence coach Nathan Grey said the team was staying stubbornly optimistic.

"No, they haven't been wounded," Grey said.

"It's a matter of looking where we can improve things. The guys are resilient, they're professional football players. They go through situations where they see things go wrong."

"Us, as coaches, look at where we can improve things and we work together to find those solutions. This week has been no different."

There is one statistic they can hang their hat on as they slug through the final days of New Zealand's bone-chilling winter - although they lost, they were only one point short of the highest score ever posted against their great rivals.

But most of their tries came in 'garbage time', with the All Blacks up by as much as 54-6 early in the second half, and Steve Hansen admitted they let themselves be "seduced" by the scoreboard.

"Starting off really well is a big focus for this week and with defence, just sticking to our structures and trusting each other to make our tackles and back each other up," winger Henry Speight said.

"That's one of the main focuses we've looked into. You can't let in that much points and try and chase them down."