New Zealand
All Blacks must match Wallabies' passion: Ma'a Nonu
August 11, 2015
New Zealand's Ma'a Nonu runs the ball during an All Blacks training session © Getty Images
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We're all hurting - McCaw
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Ma'a Nonu looms as a key change for the All Blacks when they attempt to retain the Bledisloe Cup against the improving Wallabies on Saturday.

Nonu sat out the opening loss to Australia in Sydney with a shoulder injury incurred in the previous Test win against South Africa, but the 96-Test veteran appears set to replace Sonny Bill Williams at inside centre after training fully on Tuesday. Williams didn't train because of a knee problem that may have contributed to his lacklustre effort in Sydney marked by two poor options to kick - badly both times.

"It's coming on well, so hopefully I'll get into some contact this week and be available," Nonu said of his shoulder injury. "It was frustrating, just a little niggle where it was nothing too serious."

Nonu had no doubt where the problems lay for the All Blacks in the 27-19 defeat that has put their 13-year hold on the Bledisloe Cup in jeopardy.

Australia 27-19 New Zealand (Australia only)
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"I think we were 'out-passioned'," Nonu said. "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."

Nonu said the Sydney loss had added intensity to training this week.

"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 and 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."

© AAP

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