Only win against NZ will do for Foley

Playmaker Bernard Foley says the Wallabies have not fully capitalised on their new-found form and only a win against the All Blacks will do on Saturday.

Bernard Foley

Only a win against the All Blacks will do for Wallaby playmaker Bernard Foley. (AAP)

Bernard Foley is happy with the progress made by the Wallabies but says only a win against New Zealand on Saturday will give him satisfaction.

Foley rates his men a massive chance of knocking off the All Blacks in Brisbane, having come within minutes of an upset in Dunedin on their last attempt.

The fly-half has felt the consequential shift in goodwill both within and outside camp since a record loss to the champion side in August.

But with only two wins against Argentina and two draws with South Africa to show for it, Foley sees Saturday as an opportunity to cash-in on their upward trend.

"I think just amongst the squad there's a lot more belief (since August), but we haven't really achieved what we wanted," Foley said.

"We had two good wins and two draws; it's not like we're really playing the house down, but there has been that development and progress and I think this week has to go up another level."

The Wallabies were bullied by the All Blacks in a 54-34 loss in August - New Zealand's highest score against the green and gold.

But Australia displayed immense resolve to come within minutes of an upset in Dunedin in a performance seen as a turning point of sorts.

Acknowledging that the side has taken a lot from that game, Foley said the video from that heartbreaking 35-29 loss had already been reviewed and tossed away, with no plans to dwell on it this week.

"We dealt with it at the time and won't be looking back at that," he said.

"But when we did watch it, we realised how the little details, the small moments are the ones we need to be prepared to win."

The Suncorp Stadium battle will be the Wallabies' last on home soil this year, with a four-Test tour of Europe pencilled in for November.

After slugging it out in South Africa and then Argentina, the Wallabies are enjoying a week of build up on the Gold Coast.

"It's great to be back home, and in our last home Test match before end of the year we want finish on a high and reward the rugby public and show we can come and play well at home," Foley said.

Meanwhile, Canterbury five-eighth Richie Mo'unga has travelled with the All Blacks as cover for Beauden Barrett, who suffered a head knock in the side's one-point defeat of South Africa.

Patrick Tuipulotu will remain with the squad as a replacement for new father Luke Romano, whose wife Hannah recently welcomed a baby boy.

Matt Todd also remains with the squad, while lock Brodie Retallick again misses for personal reasons.


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Source: AAP


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