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Isi Naisarani out to make amends for last Eden Park showing

Isi Naisarani in thethick of the action during his Wallabies debut. (PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP/Getty Images)

Isi Naisarani could be excused for wondering what the fuss is all about with Bledisloe Cup Tests.

After all, he boasts a 100 per cent record and a pretty emphatic one at that after Australia’s 21-point triumph over New Zealand in Perth.

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However, the rookie Test No.8 doesn’t need experience to know that big wins over the All Blacks are an exception rather than the rule and is bracing for a colossal return match on Saturday at Eden Park.

“I think they’re going to come hard at us. They’re going to fight out,” the 24-year-old said.

“They’re going to be physical as well so we’ll need to match them up.”

Many of the Wallabies will look in envy at the one-from-one Bledisloe records of Naisarani and reserve forward Luke Jones, given the years of torment for many.

Captain Michael Hooper arrived at Optus Stadium with a two-from-20 record against New Zealand.

Suva-born Naisarani also doesn’t need lessons on Australia’s hex at Eden Park, where they’ve failed to win in 18 attempts since 1986.

His only game there was a forgettable outing for the Western Force against the Blues in his maiden Super Rugby campaign of 2017. His team lost and he earned a yellow card.

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Naisarani has gone on to be one of the finds of this season, transferring his consistent ball-running form with the Melbourne Rebels onto the Test stage.

Yet his selection has become a topic for conjecture, with world-class flanker David Pocock reported to be training fully in Melbourne this week and on the verge of returning from a long-standing calf problem.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika hasn’t touched his starting loose forwards and locks in all three Tests this year. But Naisarani said he would understand if former Brumbies teammate Pocock was recalled.

“Dave is a good player and he is fighting his way back to the team. We will see how the selectors think.

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“He has been a world-class player. There are so many good players and everyone is pushing for spots. I just want to do what I can for the team, in whatever roles that the coach wants me to play.”

– AAP

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JW 2 hours ago
Reds vs Blues: Ex-All Black missed the mark, Lynagh’s Wallabies statement

Agree re Lynagh.


Disagree Beaver got it wrong. Blues made that look easy. It might be a brawn over brains picture though? More in the last point, but, and this may have changed by player selection, the Reds were very lucky this game. Tele’a should not have been red carded as Ryan landed on his shoulder, and both Tate and Jock (was it) should have been yellowed carded for their offenses in stopping tries. We also had a try dissallowed by going back 10 phases in play. We all should have learned after the RWC that that is against the rules. So straight away on this simple decisions alone the result changes to go in the Blues favour, away from home and playing fairly poorly. The sleeping giant if you will. I didn’t agree with the Blues take either tbh, but to flip it around and say it’s the Reds instead is completely inaccurate (though a good side no doubt you have to give them a chance).


And you’re also riding the wave of defense wins matches a bit much. Aside from Dre’s tackling on Rieko I didn’t see anything in that match other than a bit of tiny goal line defending. I think if you role on the tap for another second you see the ball put placed for the try (not that I jump to agree with Eklund purely because he was adamant), and in general those just get scored more often than not. They are doing something good though stopping line breaks even if it is the Blues (and who also got over the line half a dozen times), I did not expect to be greeted with that stat looking at the game.

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