Rugby: McCaw wins more than Wallabies

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw. Photo / Brett Phibbs

All Black captain Richie McCaw has posted more wins against the Wallabies than the entire Australian team has enjoyed against New Zealand.

The skipper has enjoyed 25 test wins against Australia since 2001. Add up the number of tests each of the Wallaby starting XV has been part of against the All Blacks and the total is just 14. The All Blacks in comparison have collectively won 136 Bledisloe tests. Their total losses sit at 21. Australia, despite having collectively played far fewer Bledisloe tests, have lost 70 times.

That statistic in itself paints the picture of how dominant the All Blacks have been in the last 12 years. There are seven of the All Black starting XV who have never lost to Australia. Ma'a Nonu has also enjoyed more individual wins against the Wallabies then they have collectively recorded against the All Blacks.

It was legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi who talked about winning and losing both being habitual and few rivalries over such a long period illustrate that theory as well.

There are seven Wallabies in their starting XV who have never beaten the All Blacks and another four who have only done it once.

That imbalance of victories explains to a large extent why the Wallabies are forever talking themselves up.

It's not simply their way -- their natural disposition to be confident -- they need to believe it. They need some positive energy to deflect the cold, stark reality of the truth.

Their lack of success hurts and can be a cycle from which they struggle to escape.