By Robert Lowe
Experienced midfielder Ma'a Nonu says there's no hiding from the fact the Wallabies were hungrier as they took out the opening Bledisloe Cup clash.
It's something the All Blacks will need to lift in their own game during the return encounter in Auckland on Saturday night as they seek to retain their 13-year-old hold on the trophy.
"I think we were out-passioned," Nonu said of the 27-19 defeat in Sydney.
"I don't think we can hide away from what we saw at the weekend, if you look at how the Australians flew into those rucks and how they were physical and just the way they played.
"Everyone knows that and everyone has seen that."
The 96-Test Nonu missed the match because of a shoulder injury picked up in the All Blacks' win over the Springboks in Johannesburg in their previous Test.
He trained fully on Tuesday, increasing the chances he'll be in the frame for selection for Eden Park.
"It's coming on well, so hopefully I'll get into some contact this week and be available," he said.
"It was frustrating, just a little niggle where it was nothing too serious."
Nonu's replacement in the No.12 jersey in game one against the Wallabies, Sonny Bill Williams, is himself in doubt for selection this week.
Williams, who came off early in the second half, didn't train on Tuesday because of a knee problem.
Nonu said early preparations had gone well for an encounter where the stakes have been ramped up by the Wallabies' victory at ANZ Stadium, which also clinched them the Rugby Championship title.
"It hasn't been a fun two days in terms of reviews, but we're pretty confident in ourselves," he said.
Nonu said the All Blacks had been looking at ways of countering the Wallabies' rush defence.
They were also addressing their execution of the fundamentals.
"Our biggest challenge is our basic skills, really," he said.
"I thought we made too many errors in terms of not having our backs available when we did have the ball."
If the 33-year-old Nonu gets on at Eden Park, it is set to be his farewell appearance at the ground, as he heads for French club Toulon after the World Cup.
"I haven't really thought about that," he said.
"I just want to be fit and ready to go this week."
NZN