Wallabies coach Robbie Deans admitted yesterday that it was a tough task to wrench the Bledisloe Cup from the All Blacks’ grip, but said it was time for a change of guard.

Australia have not won the Bledisloe Cup since 2002 and Deans wants that to end, starting with victory in Sydney today in the first of three Tests between the arch-rivals.

“Clearly it’s time. It’s pretty straight forward really. It’s far too long,” he told reporters.

“But we’re getting it done, the boys have worked hard, we understand that the All Blacks won’t let go lightly. That’s the nature of the way they push their work.

“This group I can assure you is really looking forward to kick-off.”

The Wallabies will be facing the All Blacks for the first time since their 20-6 defeat in the semi-finals of the World Cup and Deans has compared the trans-Tasman rivalry to cricket’s Ashes series between Australia and England.

Making today’s match all the more mouth-watering is Deans having been an integral part of the All Blacks coaching team which wrestled the Bledisloe Cup back from Australia in 2003.

He admitted he feels a responsibility to now return it to the Wallabies.

“Obviously we’d love to, and yes, I’m part of that,” he said.