All Blacks captain Kieran Read has stressed the importance of the Bledisloe Cup ahead of Saturday night's clash against Australia in Sydney.
The All Blacks have held the Cup since 2003 and the Wallabies are desperate to win it back.
Read is expecting a determined Wallabies side to front at ANZ Stadium, but knows his side be motived to win the first of three Bledisloe Cup Test matches.
"For us it is an important cup," said Read.
"As All Blacks we don't take it for granted. None of us have been a part of a team that have lost it.
"We all know the history of the cup. It is very special to us as All Blacks and we know how hungry the Wallabies will be.
"It doesn't take much to motivate the guys, outside the World Cup it is our most special cup which we cherish and we want to do well in it."
The All Blacks are coming of an unexpected drawn series against the British and Irish Lions which left everybody speechless and our willingness I guess to where our strengths are which is to have an attacking mind set.
Read knows some of the players might be lacking confidence after the series, and he knows the team has to be better if they are to win.
"We have to have our minds on the job.
"If they are not there tomorrow we will certainly get found out. Things have been spoken about but we have come here with one job in mind and that is out on the footy field.
"We need to be better than what we were a month ago. That is in our performance and in a bit of attitude from the boys.
"We can't wait to get out there as it is a highly anticipated clash. Expect some pretty big fireworks."
Victory in Sydney looms as non-negotiable for the Wallabies, who travel to Dunedin next week for game two of the series having last won in New Zealand in 2001.
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