15 Aug 2019

Wallabies urged not to change

7:29 am on 15 August 2019

As one of the few Wallabies who knows what it's like to win at Auckland's Eden Park, former captain Andrew Slack wants coach Michael Cheika and his selectors to resist making changes for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup decider.

Slack was the last captain to lead the Wallabies to victory over the All Blacks at Eden Park in 1986 with the win clinching the Bledisloe Cup.

Slack says he wants the same players who trounced New Zealand 47-26 in Perth last weekend rewarded with selection for game two.

Australia’s Kurtley Beale (R) celebrates with Lukhan Salakaia (C) and Matt Toomua (L) after beating the All Blacks in Perth

Photo: AFP

Four years ago the Wallabies were in the same scenario after winning their opening Test in Sydney but coach Michael Cheika changed most of his backline.

two members of the forward pack with Australia then losing 41-13.

Cheika will name his lineup later today but hasn't given any indication what his selection thinking.

Slack says experimenting or making changes even with teh world cup in mind would be a backward step.

"I think part of the good performance last week was that everybody who was selected earned their place and deserved to be there and I'm not sure that's always been the case," he said.

Former Wallabies captain Andrew Slack.

Former Wallabies captain Andrew Slack. Photo: Supplied

"I think when you've got a team where everybody can say, 'He deserves to be there', it builds a confidence within the team.

"You know the bloke besides you is going to do their job so if we start fiddling and mucking around with selections again just to experiment, I think it's a backward step.

"You don't play like that and reinvigorate the game and get everyone with a smile on their faces with a reward of not getting a game - I don't buy that."

Slack wanted to starting line-up to remain intact but could see room for the return of champion flanker David Pocock, who has been sidelined since March with a calf injury.

When Slack led his troops to victory at Eden Park, he never envisaged the mark would stand more than 30 years on.

He said he had found the ground "tricky" due to its cricket ground dimensions, but felt it had no mystical value.

Slack's only explanation for the long drought was simply how well the All Blacks played at their spiritual home.

"The problem with Eden Park is that every time you play there, you've got to play the All Blacks," Slack said.

"It's a tough opposition every time but I've got no answers why it's taken 33 years - well hopefully taken 33 years to get another win."

He predicted the All Blacks would come back hard after being stung in Perth.

Slack felt the result could come down to discipline, which the Wallabies had the better of with an 8-4 penalty count as well as an All Blacks sending-off.

"The key will probably come down to who gives away the most crucial penalties," he said.

"The All Blacks weren't up to their general standard on that front so they will be really concentrating on that.

-AAP