Roigard Confident All Blacks Have Answers to Wallabies’ Rising Threat

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A win for the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday would be enough to retain the trophy before heading to Perth for next week's final Championship Test of the campaign. 

Their plan was designed to play the type of strategic game that best suited the team's makeup.

"We've got great athletes all across the park and being able to use them when necessary and playing smart at the same time is massive for us."

He acknowledged the Wallabies' ability and the threat they pose. 

"We've seen from the start of the international campaign that they've grown a lot in confidence as a backline. They have built some combination, and Joseph Sua'ali'i's getting better each week, which was always expected.

"They've been battle-hardened. They've had some big Test matches, including the Lions series, where they were probably unlucky not to win it.

"They're a team that're going to go for 80 and regardless of previous results and history, they're going to come here thinking they've got a genuine chance to win. They will have a crack from anywhere, especially with the likes of James O'Connor coming back.

"He's been instrumental for them since he's come in with that fearless mindset.

"We understand the threat each player is. It's not just him. They've got threats across the part defensively as well. Identifying that and being able to replicate that in training so we are prepared for it come Saturday."

Roigard said his body came through his return to rugby at the weekend with his Counties Manukau side, and he appreciated being able to settle in without his side having to 'chase the game.'

"The time at Counties was good because I was able to get my body right for rugby.

"I'm not just doing the stuff on the side, it's probably a bit more homework, a lot of the stuff we've had through the French series at the start, so nothing's too new. Every week we've got new stuff, so everyone's still plenty to learn and do together."

He also felt the frustration of watching the All Blacks lose their Test to the Springboks in Wellington.

"We pride ourselves on performing every week. We got quite a few things wrong in that Test match. We've done our review and we're looking forward to putting a performance on that makes ourselves, and the country, proud on Saturday."

After the review, he sensed that an edge had developed regarding the standards and expectations they had, and where they went wrong, as well as how they would improve by avoiding the same mistakes.

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