The All Blacks will not be able to rely on what has become a regular second half fade by the Wallabies in their final TriNations test according to Wallabies enforcer Rocky Elsom.
The last four trans-Tasman tests have seen New Zealand trail at halftime only for the All Blacks to finish stronger and to snatch the victory due to poor discipline or going into a defensive mode.
In the most recent test the Wallabies had halftime advantage which was the biggest yet at 12-3 and they came within a minute of winning before Daniel Carter slotted a penalty goal.
But Wallaby flanker Elsom wants to put an end to the second half fade and launched an emotional plea after that test for his team to learn to close out tests.
In the Wallabies most recent test they got stronger as the match wore on and scored two tries in the final quarter.
"The ability to keep at it, keep working and not have any lapses was a real positive out of that match," Elsom told NZPA.
"There were a lot of good things that happened in Brisbane. We managed to get over the top of them as the game went on.
"That was a real positive but ... it's going to be a new challenge against New Zealand and they've got a point to prove."
After the loss against All Blacks the Wallabies tightened their style in the final quarter against the Springboks and even set up for a dropped goal at Elsom's urging rather than chase more tries which could have given their opponents a sniff.
Elsom wouldn't specify on "certain things" which had been identified they did wrong in the closing stages at Sydney.
"If we're going to win this one, we have to work a hell of a lot harder than we did then," he said.
"Over the years the All Blacks have been pretty good at getting away with games.
"It's often very small things that happen. We know that because it's happened to us a lot, where we've come close but not been able to finish it off."
Possibly the most important area for the Wallabies to concentrate on is discipline as penalty goals have comfortably been the chief source of points in this year's TriNations.
Elsom acknowledged that home sides are invariably winning the penalty count.
"That's the way it's gone in the tournament so far," he said.
"We've had a big improvement from the middle of the tournament when it was really costing us.
"Discipline ties into a lot of things. If you're comfortable with the way you're defending or attacking, you don't give away too many of them."
Elsom said that since arriving in New Zealand for this weekend's Test he had noticed the intense pubic scrutiny on the All Blacks and felt sure it would get a reaction.
"When you make changes like that and when you get the flak that they're getting, they're a much harder team, " he said.
The big flanker was hugely influential in the Springboks upset, according to All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen.
"He's brought a bit of height to their lineout but around the park, he's probably the Footballer of the northern hemisphere season.
"He's come back and taken a couple of games to come right but he's played well in their last two tests, I think," said Hansen, who said the Wallabies found themselves in a similar situation to the All Blacks.
"Like ourselves, Australia has to start producing it consistently. "
"They were under the pump, had to win a test match at some stage, particularly on home soil, otherwise they would have been crucified."
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