Rugby: All Blacks bagging no help to us - Deans

Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau was passed fit to play against the All Blacks on Saturday. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - It might be music to some ears, but Wallabies rugby coach Robbie Deans insists rabid criticism of the All Blacks can only mean bad news for him.

Deans took a 1-0 advantage in the pre-test jousting yesterday by naming an unchanged team to play in Wellington on Saturday, as the All Blacks delayed their announcement by 24 hours.

The only concerns were rib injuries to hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and winger Lachie Turner, who were both passed fit after a contact session yesterday, which meant the same fresh-faced lineup who stunned the Springboks 21-6 in Brisbane.

Deans heard and read the barbs directed at the All Blacks after their error-ridden 29-32 defeat to the Tri-Nations champions the Springboks on Saturday.

But with his side having suffered five consecutive defeats against Graham Henry's team, he knew how they could bounce back.

"That's the concern because they normally respond to that sort of criticism," Deans said today.

"We're just concerned about what we're doing. We're delighted to have taken a step in Brisbane, but clearly they're travelling better than us. We're still the chasing group."

A case in point was Deans' much-heralded victory in Sydney last year in his first Bledisloe Cup test, which was followed by a big turnaround in Auckland.

"They're taking a lot of criticism, they are an experienced combination so there's only one way they're going to respond to that."

Meanwhile Deans was baffled as to the All Blacks' team naming delay.

"Obviously they're contemplating something, whether that be injury or combinations or form, I don't know. We'll know shortly, then we'll get on with it."

On Monday he predicted his side would face a new midfield combination of Ma'a Nonu and Isaia Toeava after their solid finish in Hamilton.

The plaudits flowed for Deans after his side with five changes dispatched the Springboks with a much-improved performance nearly a fortnight ago.

With halfback Will Genia providing the spark in his run-on debut, and the likes of fullback James O'Connor, flanker David Pocock, lock Mark Chisholm and prop Ben Alexander relishing their starting roles, the Wallabies finally averted a series of indifferent showings.

But backing up, and winning in New Zealand, has been a struggle.

Since the tournament began in 1996, the Wallabies have only won back-to-back tests in a Tri-Nations season six times. Their last win in New Zealand was eight years ago, in Dunedin.

Turner reflected the new-found swagger among the players when he said they were determined to break their drought on New Zealand soil.

"There's plenty of confidence. All along the squad's felt we're really building towards something and last week we found where we're going.

"We showed a lot of people what we're capable of. Going into this game we've got a great opportunity to build on that and continue showing people how good we are and where we want to be."

The Wallabies arrive in Wellington this afternoon.

Wallabies
James O'Connor, Lachie Turner, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Will Genia, George Smith (captain), David Pocock, Rocky Elsom, Mark Chisholm, James Horwill, Ben Alexander, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson.

Reserves: Stephen Moore, Pek Cowan, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Peter Hynes.

- NZPA