Wallabies hooker Dave Porecki admits the loss of Allan Alaalatoa will be as keenly felt off the field as it is on, calling the prop “the binding figure” of Australia’s Test team.
Alaalatoa ruptured his Achilles tendon in Saturday’s crushing 38-7 loss to the All Blacks in Melbourne, the same injury suffered by Quade Cooper and Taniela Tupou last year.
Tupou will now shoulder the senior tighthead responsibilities at the Rugby World Cup in France, although he has his own injury battle after damaging his ribs at the MCG.
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Alaalatoa, 29, is one of Australia’s most consistent and reliable players and captained the Wallabies for the second time in the Bledisloe Cup opener.
“I think what the spectators see in Al is he’s an abrasive player, he’s a leader on the field but they don’t see what’s off the field and he is the binding figure within our group I believe,” Porecki told reporters from Dunedin as the Wallabies prepare for Saturday’s return match at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
“He’s one of the great men within us that drives everyone to be better and drive standards so obviously it’s a huge loss.
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“It was gutting being out there with him when he got injured but I know he’ll come back bigger and better. He’s already helping us and helping the leadership group and I think he’ll play a pretty pivotal role getting through his rehab and touching base.
“It isn’t the first time that this has happened in the Wallabies and we’ve got boys that can step up. Previously we might not have had that depth, now we’ve got sort of three or four in each position that are looking to have a crack and so whatever happens this weekend in terms of selection I know that the boys will be ready to go.”
The gulf between the teams has been brutally illustrated by the bookmakers, with Sportsbet offering $23 for a Wallabies win with the All Blacks at $1.01.
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“Respectfully I don’t know if that means much to us to be honest. What the odds are, are what the odds are. I’m not a betting man,” Porecki said.
While the All Blacks have already retained the Bledisloe Cup with their victory in Melbourne, they won’t lack for motivation.
It will be coach Ian Foster’s last Test in New Zealand and the same could be true for stars Sam Whitelock, Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga, who will all play overseas next season.
Hooker Dane Coles will retire at the end of the year.
“There’s emotion every week in a Test week,” All Blacks forwards coach Jason Ryan said.
“Guys get to represent their country. It’s important, but I think this one being down in Dunedin – I think the first Bledisloe (in New Zealand) was played there many, many years ago (1905). We want to get down there and have a really good performance.
“It’s more about the All Blacks in our last game at home, before we head away to a really special tournament that only comes around every four years.”
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