New Zealand
Sydney result means nothing for World Cup: Smith
ESPN Staff
August 10, 2015
World Cup is a different game entirely

All Blacks centre Conrad Smith says there's no doubt the Wallabies will be buoyed by the live Bledisloe Cup rubber but believes Saturday night's result in Sydney is of little consequence to either side in terms of the Rugby World Cup.

A disappointed Smith fronted the media after the match alongside star debutant Nehe Milner-Skudder, saying his side's lacklustre performance was partly due to some constant Wallabies pressure and some poor decision-making of their own.

But he said the result mattered little for this year's biggest prize - the Webb Ellis Cup - a trophy the All Blacks would turn their attention to after this week's clash at Eden Park.

"Obviously for the Bledisloe now; they've got everything to play for now," Smith said when asked whether the All Blacks had given the Wallabies "a sniff" going forward. "We wanted to end it now and win tonight but, you know, there'll be a lot more riding on the game next week.

"As for the World Cup; I think past World Cups have shown it's a different game. Whether you win, you take confidence in; if you lose, you use it as a good wake-up call. So we just want to win (Bledisloe II) and focus on the World Cup after this is all finished up. And I think they'd (Wallabies) be much the same."

The Wallabies have not beaten the All Blacks at Eden Park since 1986.

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