Kiss vows Wallabies will take the fight to All Blacks at Eden Park fortress

Australia head coach Les Kiss has urged his Wallabies squad to embrace the weight of history ahead of the Bledisloe Cup series opener against New Zealand at Eden Park, insisting the match is “not just another game” as Australia seek their first win at the Auckland ground since 1986.

Speaking to reporters two days before the Test, Kiss acknowledged the scale of the challenge facing his side. The All Blacks have named a squad boasting more than 1,000 combined Test caps, compared to the Wallabies’ 625 across their 15 starters. Allan Alaalatoa and Rob Valetini are the most experienced players in Australia’s run-on side.

“They’ve named a couple of centurions and they’ve got a lot of caps in their team,” Kiss said. “It’s impressive and we’re gonna have to be good, that’s for sure, to go out there and put something on that can compete with that.”

Despite the experience gap, Kiss — who remains unbeaten as head coach with four wins and one draw — pointed to the Wallabies’ recent record of upsetting established rugby powers. Harry Wilson led Australia to a comeback victory over the Springboks 14 months ago, ending a 62-year losing run at Johannesburg’s Emirates Airline Park, and Kiss believes a similar mentality can be channelled at Eden Park.

“This is a team that can step forward and see how close we can take it,” he said. “We’re a team that’s willing to take the fight to them and see where it goes. It’s gonna be tough.”

New Zealand coach Dave Rennie has named an experienced All Blacks side that includes 145-Test utility back Beauden Barrett making his first start since the 2025 Autumn Nations Series. Barrett had been limited to roughly ten minutes off the bench against the Springboks in Baltimore during the current Test season. Hooker Codie Taylor, another centurion, takes on leadership duties in the absence of loose forwards Ardie Savea and Luke Jacobson. Four further players in the 23-man squad have earned at least 80 Test caps.

Kiss was candid about the quality New Zealand possess across the park. “Quinn [Tupaea] in the centres has been the best centre all year. Jordan’s just so electric. McKenzie, Beaudy, Codie Taylor — it’s a tough team,” he said.

Both nations regard the Bledisloe Cup as one of rugby’s most fiercely contested prizes, and Kiss was clear that his group understand the significance of the occasion. “Both countries, the Bledisloe means a lot, so it is significant,” he added.