Eales revisits Kiwi failures
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:10
Expert opinion: John Eales has his say
World Cup-winning Wallaby captain John Eales has turned up the heat on his country's trans-Tasman rivals, ahead of the much-anticipated Bledisloe Cup/Tri-Nations double header between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday.
Eales, joining in the psychological war being waged between the two sides, suggested that there would be plenty of "mental scars" for the All Blacks to scratch after their World Cup flop - a disappointing quarterfinal exit - last year.
Eales, a respected lock and captain in an era when the Wallabies reigned supreme, said the World Cup disaster would contribute significantly to the "immense pressure" on All Black coach Graham Henry and his charges.
Eales expressed his surprise New Zealand had stuck with their coaching team after the white-hot favourites' quarterfinal choke in France.
"They are a very, very good coaching staff and I respect them a lot, but how differently can the same coaching staff do things?" Eales asked, when interviewed by AAP.
"And people know, 'well, it didn't work for us last time'."
Asked if he was surprised New Zealand had stuck with Henry - and knocked back five-time Super rugby winning coach Deans - Eales said: "I'm surprised they didn't change something.
"I think Graham Henry's a wonderful coach ... but it would have been playing on people's minds, that (World Cup) result.
"I think it adds a bit more pressure on him than it does on Robbie."
The impression all week has been of a carefree Deans having the time of his life after plotting the downfall of world champions South Africa in last Saturday's Tri-Nations clash, while stern-faced Henry bunkered down.
The All Blacks only arrive in Sydney on Thursday and will not officially face the Australian media until late on match eve.
"It's a very different psychology, what they're under than what we're under," Eales told AAP.
"We've been rebuilding for quite a while now and had a couple of false starts with short periods under different coaches.
"Now Robbie's sort of coming in, and when you first come in you like to change things, so you have that period where people forgive you a bit and we're still in that zone.
"The All Blacks are well past that moment so that puts more pressure on them, there's no question.
"The psychology of backing up after you've had a really disappointing result in a World Cup is difficult.
"It's more difficult than backing up with a big change to what's happening."
The All Blacks remain favourites for the ANZ Stadium clash, having won six of their past seven Tests against Australia as well as holding the Tri-Nations title for the past three years and the Bledisloe Cup since 2003.
"It's a bit harsh judging the All Blacks like this too, isn't it, because in that period of time they've also had wonderful success in everything that they've been in except the World Cup, but that would be playing on their mind," Eales said.
