All Blacks chase ruthless edge in warning to Wallabies

The Wallabies should beware as Scott Robertson demands a ruthless edge from his smarting All Blacks as the 20-time champions bid to bounce back from their worst-ever start to a Rugby Championship.

Robertson has been surfing with league legend Andrew Johns this week to ease the tension ahead of what the first-year All Blacks boss candidly admits to being his most important match since taking the reins from Ian Foster.

The All Blacks head into Saturday's Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney off the back of successive defeats in South Africa and a rare home loss to Argentina to kick off the 2025 Rugby Championship.

"We've put a lot of preparation in, as much as the Aussies would, and that gives you the sort of underlying confidence going into it, but there's always a little bit of trepidation," Robertson said on Thursday.

"It's the appropriate fear that comes with any sport, especially contact sport.

"It's going to be a hell of a Bledisloe Cup."

Robertson is relishing his coaching match-up with fellow New Zealander Joe Schmidt, whose Wallabies are also coming off a loss, a record 67-27 submission to the Pumas in Santa Fe.

"That's what people want to read; the personality of the coaches, and full respect to Joe - he's taken on a hell of a job," Robertson said.

"It's an opportunity for him this week to show what his group's about.

"Last week's result is irrelevant. It's this week and Joe's got them structured enough to play some great ball in hand.

"They swing well, they know when they can kick the ball, they can hold the ball for high phases, they know what they're doing - with a little bit of bite in them, which they'll have."

The All Blacks also expect Schmidt to have some signature tricks in store at Accor Stadium.

"He's got a hell of a library of moves and uses a few trademarks in the way his teams play," Robertson said.

"(He) tries to catch a lazy defender out or find a way to get him and you think, 'Ooh, that's pretty good'.

"So sometimes you try to be two steps ahead and he takes you down the wrong alley, but you just keep your eyes open for anything (against Schmidt)."

The All Blacks, though, hope to counter Schmidt's smarts with clinical precision.

"We want to finish well. We're creating so much and created a lot of opportunities in South Africa that we didn't execute," Robertson said.

"So execution is on top of our mind, but we just want a really good energy over here, make sure we build off what we've done before but be a bit more ruthless."

Back-three stars Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan and Caleb Clarke will all return to bolster the All Blacks.

Clarke has recovered from a back injury to take his place on the left wing, with Jordan on the right wing and Barrett at fullback.

In the forwards, Ethan de Groot is back from a neck injury to start at loosehead prop.

The Wallabies must beat the All Blacks in Sydney for the first time since 2015 to have any chance of stopping the prized Bledisloe from staying in New Zealand for a 22nd straight year ahead of the second Test in Wellington on Saturday week.

All Blacks: Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett (capt), Tupou Vaa'i, Wallace Sititi, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Caleb Clarke, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett. Res: Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams, Pasilio Tosi, Sam Darry, Luke Jacobson, TJ Perenara, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sevu Reece.