Barnes expects even tougher

Berrick Barnes is not having an easy time. Each and every game so far this Tri-Nations he has been forced to tackle well above his weight, not to mention taking on some of Matt Giteau's kicking distribution duties.

Berrick Barnes is not having an easy time. Each and every game so far this Tri-Nations he has been forced to tackle well above his weight, not to mention taking on some of Matt Giteau's kicking distribution duties.

He's still found time to land a game-clinching drop goal though, and he was the undoubted Man of the Match in last week's stirring win over New Zealand.

There are bruises there from last week, but as he points out, the new Tri-Nations calendar is kind enough to allow him a respite at just the right moment.

“I'm good, I'm excited, one more week and then I've got a break,” Barnes said to Sportal when asked how his battered body was holding up.

“I know this is probably going to be the toughest match physically I've ever encountered and we know they're going to come at us, especially with (returning skipper) Richie McCaw leading them as well.”

“It's a big challenge for us and one we're looking forward to.”

The last time Australia beat New Zealand at Eden Park, Barnes was at the tender age of three months and eight days – the age at which mamny babies are just about learning how to grab on to things, although given Barnes' tackling display last week one may surmise he was probably doing that a little earlier in his life.

Young and carefree epitomised the wallabies' performance at times in last week's epic 34-19 win, and Barnes avowed to repeat the display.

“This is all mental this game, 90 percent of it this weekend is going to be getting up mentally for it,” he said.

“I've never encountered Eden Park in a Test match situation so I suppose we go in there with no baggage once again and just try and let it rip.”

“We'll be up for an arm wrestle if it comes to that. We're excited about this … we've got nothing to lose we'll just get into it.

“It would be massive for the game of rugby in Australia, we obviously saw last week with the TV coverage and things like that, the fans are loving it and people are talking about it on the street again.

“It's just exciting to be a part of that as a player and the good thing about it is we're actually on the field and we get to do something about it.”