Wallabies: We have to win the battle of the locks

All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock in action against Australia. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Australia's second-rowers have acknowledged the need to assert themselves against New Zealand in the upcoming Bledisloe Cup tests.

The All Blacks' formidable duo of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock has been one of the strengths of the world champions' forward machine in recent years and are both used to winning against the Wallabies.

Whitelock has tasted defeat against just three times in 20 games and Retallick once in 15.

Wallabies' lock Rory Arnold acknowledged getting an edge over the duo was key for his team.

"They've been world class locks now for a number of years, so if we want to dominate up front we know we've got to go at those blokes," said Arnold.

"We're going to have to be at our best, the second rowers, to take those blokes on."

Whitelock and Ratallick started all three of the recent Tests against the British and Irish Lions and were largely ever present for the All Blacks last year.

Conversely, Australia have chopped and changed their second row combinations since the 2015 World Cup final against New Zealand.

Coach Michael Cheika utilised five different starting second row combinations in the first five Tests of 2016 and seven in total across the season, with six different locks getting an opportunity in the run-on side.

In the June Tests, Cheika started with Adam Coleman and Sam Carter and then brought Arnold in to partner Coleman for the last match.

"He sort of swapped and changed a fair bit last year, so I'm not sure how he's going to go this year with those second row spots," Arnold said.

"We've all got to to be putting up our hands up and playing well to cement that spot."

While conscious of trying to do just that, Arnold said he felt a little bit more comfortable in the international environment than in his first season at that level last year.

He said the Wallabies could draw some things from the Lions' efforts in the drawn three-match series.

"They had really good line speed, their kicking was on point, so I guess if anything we can take some of that away from it," he said.

- AAP