Pride and Preparation: New Zealand Faces Australia in Rugby Championship Finale

With only pride at stake, New Zealand and Australia aim to fine-tune their game during their last Rugby Championship match. While New Zealand seeks to address late-game scoring issues, Australia hopes to improve early-game performances. Both teams will use the match to prepare for their upcoming challenges in Europe.

With only pride on the line, New Zealand and Australia are set to polish their game in their final Rugby Championship match in Wellington this Saturday. This clash comes as a preparatory step before they head north to challenge Europe's elite teams.

New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup after defeating the Wallabies 31-28 in Sydney last week. However, Australia's near-comeback exposed issues with closing out games, a struggle that has plagued them throughout this year's tournament. On the other hand, the All Blacks, once known for their late-game heroics, have failed to score in the final 20 minutes of any game this season.

Coach Scott Robertson emphasized the importance of discipline and experience from the bench, naming a seasoned lineup, including Patrick Tuipulotu and Damian McKenzie, for the forthcoming match. Meanwhile, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt aims to address his team's inconsistency and is focusing on a better start, following their early breakdowns and a recent record loss to Argentina.

(With inputs from agencies.)