Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is piling the pressure on his players ahead of this summer’s Rugby Championship.
While 2013 will all be about beating the British & Irish Lions, Deans is dedicating 2012 to winning back the Bledisloe Cup from arch-rivals New Zealand.
Deans claims it is a "ridiculous stat" the Wallabies haven't won the Bledisloe Cup for a decade.and has made the Trans-Tasman trophy his top target for this year as he prepares the way to defend Australia's 2001 Test series triumph over the Lions next year..
The Wallabies won the Tri Nations title in 2011, but couldn't stop New Zealand from holding onto the Bledisloe Cup as they won two of the three meetings between the two nations.
“The Bledisloe Cup is the most prized piece of silverware available this year and we haven't had it since 2002," Deans told the Aussie media this week.
“It's a ridiculous stat and it's obviously one that we would like to change. We've beaten them twice in the last four outings – it's not enough.”
The two southern hemisphere giants clash on the opening weekend of the newly constituted Rugby Championship, which will include South Africa and, for the first time, Argentina, in Sydney on 18 August. They meet again in round 2 the following weekend at Eden Park, where the All Blacks won the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Deans is embarking on his fifth season as Wallabies coach and will have four Tests in June to warm-up for the double-header with the world champions. Australia launch their 2012 campaign against Scotland in Newcastle on 5 June before going into a three match series against Wales in Brisbane just four days later.
"There is a possibility for some players to back up, but it is inevitable that it won't be the same two combinations. It's just not possible," added Deans.
