RUGBY-AUSTRALIA/CHAMPIONSHIP It's all about Australia not the Bledisloe for Mitchell

Record ID: 144785

  • Title: RUGBY-AUSTRALIA/CHAMPIONSHIP It's all about Australia not the Bledisloe for Mitchell
  • Date: 7th August 2015
  • Summary: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (AUGUST 7, 2015) (REUTERS) WALLABIES AT TRAINING
  • Embargoed: 22nd August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Australia
  • Country: Australia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAAVVZ9NIGF2X3Q2V0IOZBVE0VK
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The Wallabies have been determined not to give New Zealand a single scrap of extra motivation ahead of their Sydney clash this week and seasoned campaigner Drew Mitchell was never likely to go against that trend on Friday (August 7).
    While Australia coaches over the last three seasons have been upbeat about their chances of knocking off the All Blacks and wresting back the Bledisloe Cup, Michael Cheika has been keen to claim the status of underdog this week.
    Replacing what ultimately turned out to be misplaced optimism has been a focus on what Australia are building for themselves.
    So while a victory over the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship decider on Saturday would give them a chance of ending a 13-year Bledisloe drought in Auckland next week, it has not been a focus of discussion in the camp.
    "We've got to understand our role. We've got to stick to it and, you know, we let the leaders lead us. they'll give us the direction and the way we want to play and it's up to us having the discipline self belief just to stick to it. If we're able to stay together and play on the same page for eighty minutes then we we have every belief that we can go out there and get the outcome that we desire. The moment we start fractionating off and going away from that, previously in history we've found ourselves on the wrong side of the ledger. So, I think, you know, we trust in these guys to make the decisions and we've got to go out there and fulfil our role," said Mitchell.
    Part of Cheika's plan to restore Australia to the top echelon of rugby in time for the World Cup has involved changing the eligibility rules to allow the likes of Mitchell and his Toulon team mate Matt Giteau back into the test fold.
    Both have been included in the starting side for Cheika's first match in charge against the All Blacks, bringing 157 caps of experience into the backline.
    Mitchell played most of his 64 tests under New Zealander Robbie Deans and said the environment was "fairly different" under Cheika.
    "I didn't think I'd get this opportunity again. To be named to start against, you know, against New Zealand is a great opportunity and you know, Cheik's shown a fair bit of faith in me, firstly brining me back then also giving me the nod to start. So, it's now up to me to go out there and repay that faith," he said.
    Mitchell has scored 30 test tries, a tally matched by his opposite number on Saturday, Julian Savea, in just 33 games.
    Debutant All Blacks right winger Nehe Milner-Scudder is likely to be of more immediate concern to Mitchell at the Olympic Stadium, however.
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