Ahead of this evening's Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney, former All Blacks and Wallabies greats gathered to share their thoughts on the upcoming match.
1News' Andrew Saville spoke to several former greats, including Wallabies that won and held the Bledisloe Cup, and an All Blacks star who lost the Cup in the late 1990s.
Former Australia captain Stirling Mortlock played at Wallabies wing/centre from 2000 to 2009.
"It's been so long since we won the Bledisloe, I had hair!" he joked.
"The history and tradition is the most important thing. When you played the All Blacks it was the biggest game of the year. It's a really unique moment for any Australian to play.
"Whenever you play the All Blacks any time through history, you have to play your best game for the whole 80 minutes. You've got to be on or else they will hurt you."
Former All Blacks first five-eighth Andrew Mehrtens was back in Sydney and Wellington for the Bledisloe tests.
"In 1998 I gave it to them! We lost three zip and I didn't play in 2003 when we won it back, I can't lay claim to have got it back. That's why I've been living in Sydney until recently, it's been more comfortable for me living in Australia really!
"It's been tough on the Wallabies, there's been a lot of two game series, where the Australians have had to win 2-nil. There's been five series since 2003 where it's been 1-1.
"Look, the Wallabies have got a good back line, their back row is fantastic, their tight five aren't slouches. The All Blacks will have been preparing for the best Aussie team possible. It'll be an open game, the Wallabies will be pleased not to be facing that bulky style of rugby played by Argentina and South Africa."
'You've got to nail the big moments'
Former Australia Captain George Gregan who played Wallabies halfback from 1994 to 2007 said it's important to be "prepared to start fast, start with urgency and be very accurate" when playing against the All Blacks.
"If they do that, they have a chance. It's never going to be perfect but if you have 15-20 minutes to go with the game in the balance, that's where you want to be. If you don't start fast you could be in for a long day.
"There's always hope for Australian Rugby but we live in reality as well. You learn from the past, what this team has learned over the past seven Test matches under Joe Schmidt is it’s all about attention to detail, also being consistent in Test match rugby.
"You've got to nail big moments."
Asked about Gregan's infamous "four more years" call from that All Blacks loss in the World Cup semi-final in Sydney 2003, he responded: "Yes I knew you'd ask!
"Kiwis still yell that out in the street, just about every day! It’s all good natured though, it’s been a long time between drinks for Australia — it’s a bit more than four-year multiples!
"It was gamesmanship, a little moment between myself and All Blacks half Byron Kelleher.”
Rugby Australia chief executive and former Wallabies flanker from 2000 to 2009, Phil Waugh said there was a "lot to work on".
"Look, we've got a lot to work on but we think Joe [coach Joe Schmidt] is making progress. I'd like to think we see Aussie fingerprints on the Cup sooner rather than later.
"I played in the last Wallabies team that won in New Zealand, in Dunedin. It's always been so hard to win. We need a fast start, the last few games especially at Homebush we've been poor at starting the game, start well, build confidence, score points.
"The closer we work with rugby in New Zealand means rugby is stronger in the region."
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