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Tuqiri takes heart from Bok win

Thursday 17th July 2008

Hopeful: Tuqiri reckons the Boks have shown the Wallabies what can be done in NZ

Wallabies star Lote Tuqiri says South Africa's Tri-Nations win over New Zealand last weekend has made him more confident that Australia can regain the Bledisloe Cup.

The Springboks proved their Rugby World Cup win was no fluke with a thrilling 30-28 win over the All Blacks in Dunedin, their first victory in New Zealand in a decade.

Tuqiri said the result made him believe he could achieve his goal of being part of a Bledisloe Cup-winning Wallabies side.

"I really haven't seen a lot of teams win over in New Zealand and it's quite refreshing to see that it can be done," he said.

"Not to say I didn't believe it could be done because we've had a few chances over there ourselves and haven't really played for the 80 and got done in the last 10 or 15.

"I've never held the Bledisloe Cup either.

"So I've been here for a while and there's certainly a lot of things for me to achieve in rugby yet."

The Wallabies face the All Blacks in the opening Bledisloe Cup Test next week in Sydney.

Tuqiri might have as good a chance as any of getting his hands on the giant piece of silverware this year with the Bledisloe Cup series being played over four Tests with only one of them in New Zealand at Eden Park on August 2.

Australia have two home Tests against the All Blacks - the other being in Brisbane on September 13 - while Hong Kong hosts the neutral fourth match on November 1.

Australia open their Tri-Nations campaign against the Springboks at Subiaco on Saturday and coach Robbie Deans on Wednesday named a side big on experience for the Wallabies' sternest test since he took the reins in June.

Lock Nathan Sharpe (groin), winger Lote Tuqiri (knee) and number eight Wycliff Palu (neck) all return from injury to take their place in the starting XV while George Smith has been given the nod ahead of Phil Waugh at openside flanker.