Former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons has stoked the fire ahead of today’s Bledisloe Cup clash by mocking the age of the senior All Blacks players.
The Wallabies stunned the World Champions with a record-breaking 47-26 victory in Perth last weekend, a game which the All Blacks had to play a man down after lock Scott Barrett was red-carded for a dangerous tackle.
The All Blacks responded to the defeat by making several changes to their starting lineup, including dropping fullback Ben Smith and recalling centre Sonny Bill Williams.
FitzSimons, who works as a media commentator, said the All Blacks were outclassed last weekend and questioned their reliance on players who are over 30.
‘They humiliated those poor All Blacks and it was good for rugby,’ FitzSimons said on Newstalk ZB radio.
‘Sonny Bill Williams is 34, how’s Sonny Bill going to go up against James O’Connor?’ FitzSimons added. ‘The All Blacks just looked old and slow.’
FitzSimons’ remarks follow a story in Australia’s Daily Telegraph that manipulated pictures of All Blacks captain Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock to make them look like elderly men.
Photo: Stefan Gosatti/Getty Images
