The Wallabies are on the wrong end of a 10-match losing streak against their Southern Hemisphere rivals and face Wales, in the first European leg of their end of season tour, just seven days after tackling the All Blacks in Hong Kong.
Elsom and his side will present a different proposition against Wales if they can arrive in Cardiff on the back of a win over their old foes, but the All Blacks could also do Wales a service by winning the final game of the four-Test Bledisloe Cup series and removing any momentum the Wallabies could gain from victory.
“They have a pretty heavy winning streak against us.” said Elsom, who has 59 caps for his country.
“And just in general, because of the number of Tests they’ve won in a row, they have their run to play for and for us… we don’t need an extra reason to want to beat them.
“There’s no more motivation or reason required other than the fact that we are playing them,”
New Zealand also arrive at the Millennium Stadium in November (27th), but by then Wales will have faced Rugby World Cup holders South Africa and 2011 RWC pool D opponents Fiji as well as the Wallabies.
Cardiff crowds at the 74,500 capacity ground will have seen enough rugby first hand by then to know what to expect from the series crescendo clash with the All Blacks, but Elsom is already predicting a fast-flowing spectacle from the world’s two highest ranking sides this Autumn.
“I think we’ve seen the game opening up more and if there’s any two teams you want to see open up, it would be us and New Zealand — and that’s what we plan to do,” said the 27-year-old flanker.
The All Blacks go into the tie as Tri-Nations champions after a last-gasp 23-22 victory in Sydney earlier this month and both teams arrive in Hong Kong to finalise preparations for tours of the northern hemisphere.
But Elsom believes there is still much improvement to come from his side this Autumn and beyond, before RWC 2011 arrives next September.
“Set pieces can be crucial to teams in the tournament so there’s still a lot of work we need to do and I’m expecting us to make further gains,” he added.
“I’m reasonably happy with the gains we’ve made but you can take nothing for granted.”
Tickets to see Wales take on New Zealand, as well as Australia, South Africa and Australia, this autumn at the Millennium Stadium are available now from www.wru.co.uk/tickets Tel: 08442 777888 and to Personal callers: Cardiff Arms Store, 8 Westgate Street, Cardiff.
Saturday fixtures against the Wallabies, on 6th November, the Springboks, on 13th November and the All Blacks, on 27th November are priced at £25, £40, £60, £65 and £70, with the Friday night (19th) clash with Rugby World Cup Pool D opponents Fiji priced at just £20 and £25 with a children and concessions available for just £10.
Official hospitality packages can be purchased from just £99 per person for Wales v Fiji at the official Millennium Stadium website: www.millenniumstadium.com.
Prices start at £169 for games against Australia and South Africa and from £179 for New Zealand – packages include a ticket located in the best seats of the house, a complimentary match programme and a guest speaker from the world of rugby
