Fly-half Tane Edmed unfazed by Wallabies’ long losing record at Eden Park
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Australia's scrum-half Tane Edmed dives across the line to score a try in the Rugby Championship Test match against South Africa at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Aug 23, 2025.
PHOTO: AFP
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MELBOURNE – Australia’s dismal record at Eden Park has proved a millstone for visiting Wallabies teams, but fly-half Tane Edmed regards the All Blacks’ fortress as “just another footy field”.
A year on from a stint with Auckland-based club North Harbour, Edmed has returned to the city with the Wallabies squad for a crunch Rugby Championship test against the New Zealanders.
The Wallabies have not won at Eden Park since 1986 and no team have beaten the hosts there since France in 1994. But Australian fans have renewed hope that this could be the Wallabies’ year as the All Blacks appear vulnerable after their record 43-10 hiding by South Africa in Wellington.
Edmed shares that optimism, even if the Wallabies are coming off a 28-26 defeat by Argentina in Sydney and are missing one of their most important players following an injury to loose forward Rob Valetini.
“They’ve got a great record, but it’s still just another footy field,” he said in Auckland on Sept 22.
“We’ll prepare accordingly. The All Blacks are a great side, no denying it, but we’ll focus on what we can control and work hard this week to give ourselves the best chance.”
In preparing for the Sept 27 clash, the 25-year-old may get little out of watching recent Wallabies matches at the stadium.
It has been the site of furious smack-downs by the home side, with an aggregate score of 130-61 against Australia in the last three Rugby Championship tests.
The last visit in 2022 saw the Wallabies humiliated 40-14.
No matter their form, the All Blacks tend to lift at Eden Park, where they beat the Springboks 24-17 three weeks ago after suffering their first defeat in Argentina against the Pumas.
History aside, Edmed has better memories of playing in New Zealand than most of his teammates.
“I went to Auckland to get better as a rugby player and it delivered – good coaching, good players, a new way of playing,” he said. “My four months with North Harbour were great and enjoyable, and that experience helped springboard me to this moment.”
All four teams have two wins and two losses and Australia lead the Rugby Championship table on 11 points, one ahead of second-placed South Africa and third-placed New Zealand. Argentina are on nine points.
A bonus-point victory at Eden Park could knock the All Blacks out of the title race with a round to spare.
Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa said he was not reading much into the standings, though.
“Not really. As players we look more at why we’re there – the performance and preparation,” he said.
“There’s plenty of belief in our game; our aim is to impose it on the opposition.” REUTERS
