What The Wallabies Can Learn From Eden Park Defeat | John Eales

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Martin Devlin (1:00)

Much like in HBO Max's House of the Dragon, the Greens and the Blacks are the two rival factions that fight in the Dance of the Dragon Civil War over who should rule the Iron Throne. So it's kind of like the Green and Golds versus the Blacks. The All Blacks or the Wallabies, the HBO original series House of the Dragon is now streaming only on HBO Max, where it's all killer and it's no filler.

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Welcome to the DSPN. Did you get me?

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Oh, there you go, he was forward.

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Oh, a punch up now in midfield.

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Frazer's involved.

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Martin Devlin (1:34)

DSPN, courtesy of HBO Max, always a treat, always a pleasure to get this guy back on the podcast with us, John Eales, two World Cup wins, 86 caps.

Ended his career with a Lions Series win and also retaining the better slow cup with that Toitai Kefu try 2001 Highest scoring forward in test rugby. This is the bit I really like. I love this run. That you've scored two tries for the Wallabies. One was worth four points and one was worth five points.

John Eales (1:58)

Yeah, a bit of a unique thing. I think saying you're the highest scoring forward in world rugby is a bit like saying you're the best number 11 batsman in cricket. You know, it's one of those things like it's, yeah, but I think that'll change pretty soon because there's a lot of forward scoring, a lot of tries, particularly through rolling mauls and stuff like that.

But no, I was so fortunate in having very long and playing with some great players through my career.

Martin Devlin (2:25)

John, you've had a few days to think about it now, and I want you to contrast how you're feeling after that result at Eden Park compared to how you were feeling prior to the game.

John Eales (2:35)

Yeah, look, I think you always know when you're up against the All Blacks, and particularly in New Zealand, and maybe even more particularly at Eden Park, that it's always going to be a massive challenge, and you never...

Yeah, you know if you need everything going right, and you've got to play really well to win the game. And, you know, I think we had... Yeah, we were looking really promising. Yeah, we did some really good things. I think our start was excellent. Our courage and our fight back in the first half. Our start to the second half was really good, and there was that hope. But then you just saw the All Blacks just build that momentum, maintain it, and get through. And, you know, it was disappointing in the end, of course, because you always go in with so much hope.

And the thing is, we didn't lose through a lack of trying. You'd be really disappointed if you felt that there was that. But there was a lot of effort from the guys. But I think just being able to be clinical in the crucial moments right through the game let us down a bit.

Martin Devlin (3:48)

Well, what's the feeling in Australia leading into this? Was it really one of those weeks where you thought, you know, okay, you've got to get everything right, but it just felt like everything was kind of coming right?

John Eales (3:58)

Yes, but you always know that playing the All Blacks is different. I think no one goes into those games. And, you know, you see, sometimes you read articles after the game and people say, oh, the Wallabies were so, you know, cock-a-hoop going to the game. They were super confident, but they know how difficult it is against the All Blacks. So I think there's a balance between, you have to be really positive going to those games. You have to believe that you can win. You have to say things that are actually really positive, but it doesn't mean that they're getting ahead of themselves. I think that they're really focusing on, you know, what we can do, how we can improve. I think that was a bit of a, you know, a bit of a, well, it was a good yard stick for us to where we were. I mean, you know, some of the teams were up against, were not, you know, certainly not of the standard that the All Blacks are, and the All Blacks are in their own backyard. So, you know, good measuring stick for us.