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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie not to "stuff it up" Sunday in a light-hearted message of support ahead of their clash with the All Blacks. The arch-rivals lock horns later Sunday in Wellington in the first rugby Test since the coronavirus pandemic halted international fixtures. Both teams have new coaches with Ian Foster at the helm of New Zealand and Rennie, a New Zealander, in charge of Australia. "No pressure mate, just don't stuff it up," Morrison told Rennie jokingly in a video "from the boss" that the Wallabies posted on Twitter. "Seriously, Dave's new leadership marks what I think is a new start for a new era of the Wallabies," the prime minister added. "An era that will be defined as much by the culture of that team that is created both on the field and off the field." Morrison is known as a rugby league fan and is often seen in the stands watching his beloved Cronulla Sharks team in Sydney. But he also follows the 15-man game. "You know it's been a long time since we won in New Zealand. I was actually there when that happened," he said. "Who can forget John Eales' last-minute penalty in Wellington in 2000? Or Matt Burke's heroics at Dunedin the following year? "These moments are part of Australia's rugby folklore." mp/dh
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Date published
2020-10-10
Entities
Rugby unionRugby union positionsSydney Cricket GroundRugby leagueAustralia national rugby union teamNew Zealand national rugby union teamScott MorrisonPrime Minister of AustraliaPandemicTwitterCoronavirusMatt BurkeNo PressureCronulla-Sutherland SharksJohn EalesCarisbrookIan FosterFolkloreDave RennieWellington Rugby Football Union

