Australia winger Lote Tuqiri says that beating New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup will help make up for losing the Tri-Nations.
Beating New Zealand would make losing Tri-Nations less painful
Australia winger Lote Tuqiri says that beating New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup will help make up for losing the Tri-Nations.
The Wallabies had looked set to hand new coach Robbie Deans a dream start after wins over the All Blacks and South Africa, but a heavy loss to South Africa followed by another to New Zealand meant they lost both the Tri-Nations and the Bledisloe Cup.
And although that means there is technically nothing at stake in Saturday's Bledisloe Cup tie against the old enemy, Tuqiri says there is plenty to play for.
He said: "I don't know if it's so much about revenge, I guess redemption.
"We let ourselves down in that last game, that game could have gone either way and we just weren't good enough to close it out and the Blacks were and I guess if anything, that's what they had on us.
"We worked hard on those things that we didn't do well and I guess the fruits of that we'll have to see over the weekend and this upcoming tour to Europe."
Confidence
Success will underline new coach Deans' impressive start and Tuqiri says it's all down to the former All Blacks man.
He said: "The thing is he puts the confidence in your own ability and that's been huge for guys who in the past have been pigeon-holed into a type of player.
"These guys can go out there and be confident to put their skills on the park. That's a huge thing. It's probably something you could forget about playing international Test rugby, you don't back your instincts.
"We haven't done that in the past and I think that's one thing Robbie's brought out in all of us."
Injury
Meanwhile, Tuqiri himself will not be in action for the Hong Kong clash - the first time a Bledisloe Cup match has taken place outside of Australasia - because of a knee injury. He says he's close to fitness - but not expecting an easy ride to get his place in the team back.
"The knee's coming along fine, probably two weeks ago I was a bit iffy but I've done a lot of work since then and I've started running over the last 10 days and it's pulling up fine," he said.
"Fingers crossed it will stay that way and I can keep putting more load on it over the next couple of days.
"I'm hoping to be back next week, it's feeling okay. It's a big squad and I've got to earn my spot back first and then go from there. These guys have got an opportunity now to cement a spot in the top team and good luck to them."
