Schmidt wants Wallabies to believe ahead of visit to All Blacks stronghold

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FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - South Africa v Australia - DHL Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa - August 23, 2025 Australia head coach Joe Schmidt reacts REUTERS/Esa Alexander/File photo

Australia coach Joe Schmidt wants his improving Wallabies to be confident they can inflict a rare Eden Park defeat on New Zealand in the Rugby Championship this month despite their inconsistency so far this season.

The Australians slipped to a 28-26 loss on Saturday against Argentina as the Wallabies came up just short with the kind of rousing late fightback that has been a feature of recent performances by Schmidts team.

The All Blacks have not lost at their Auckland stronghold since 1994 and have not been defeated by the Wallabies in almost five years, but Schmidt wants his players to have faith they can pick up a win over the three-times world champions on September 27.

Weve got to believe because if you dont believe, youre beaten before you try, Schmidt said on Saturday after his sides loss.

But we also know weve got to be better than we were today and better than we were last week, and part of that is the start and part of that is the continuity.

Well get some people back but we cant just rely on that, weve got to rely on our work ethic.

Australia lost in Sydney despite scoring four tries to Argentinas one, as the kicking of Santiago Carreras allowed the visitors