The All Blacks may have won their past five matches against the Wallabies but they have a healthy respect for the improving side ahead of their Bledisloe Cup/Tri-Nations clash on Saturday.
New Zealand, who have triumphed in eight of their past ten meetings with Australia, twice flogged France and then Canada before an impressive come-from-behind 26-21 win over South Africa in Durban last weekend to firm as favourites for the World Cup in France in September and October.
The All Blacks have won on their past two visits to Australia, winning 13-9 in Brisbane last year and 30-13 in Sydney in 2005.
They are expected to win again and take over from the Springboks at the top of the Tri-Nations standings, but there is no hubris coming from the New Zealanders in the lead-up to the Melbourne Cricket Ground Test.
The Springboks may have angered the Australian rugby fraternity this week by resting 20 of their best players for their two Australasian Tri-Nations Tests next month, but New Zealand coach Graham Henry is treating the Wallabies with plenty of respect.
Henry has made four changes to the team that downed the Boks, but winger Rico Gear, fullback Leon MacDonald, inside-centre Luke McAlister and lock Chris Jack are all seasoned campaigners.
”I have fond memories of that game. It epitomised what Test rugby is all about. It was low scoring, hugely contested and with good defence on both sides,” Henry said this week, referring to last year’s tight match in Brisbane.
”I am expecting the same sort of encounter this year. I am expecting a huge game. These games are highly respected. They are seen as top competition.”
Assistant coach Wayne Smith, who has been approached by the Australian Rugby Union to take over from retiring Wallaby coach John Connolly after the World Cup, knows the All Blacks will have a battle on Saturday.
”They’re a smart team. They’ve got the guts of those smart players and they’ve shown they’re tough as well,” Smith said.
”We found them really tough last year. I know they lost a few games to a few opponents but they and the Boks are our toughest Tests.
”They [Australia] really steeled themselves up for that [Cape Town] Test a week ago and we have a feeling that they’re going to be physically daunting.”
The Wallabies are keen to test their improving forwards strength against the benchmark team in world rugby.
The young front row of Matt Dunning, Stephen Moore and Guy Shepherdson did well against the massive Springboks in the set-pieces in Cape Town, but the Wallabies face a stiffer challenge against a technically superior and smarter Kiwi scrum, anchored by the game’s number one prop, Carl Hayman.
While the Australians have been improving in the forwards under the stewardship of Connolly and forwards coach Michael Foley, there is scope for more attack from the backs.
Connolly is settling on the combination of George Gregan at scrumhalf, Stephen Larkham at flyhalf, Matt Giteau at inside centre and Stirling Mortlock at outside centre.
”We certainly want to get some confidence out of these matches,” Larkham said.
”It’s the same combination that we’re going to take into the World Cup so we want to get a little bit of confidence out of that and the best way to get that is to beat the sides that you come up against.”
ACT Brumbies utility Adam Ashley-Cooper on the wing is the only change to Australia’s starting side that lost 22-19 to South Africa. — Sapa-AFP
Teams:
Australia: Julian Huxley; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stirling Mortlock (captain), Matt Giteau, Lote Tuqiri; Stephen Larkham, George Gregan; Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Rocky Elsom; Dan Vickerman, Nathan Sharpe; Guy Shepherdson, Stephen Moore, Matt Dunning. Reserves: Adam Freier, Al Baxter, Mark Chisholm, Stephen Hoiles, Phil Waugh, Scott Staniforth, Mark Gerrard.
New Zealand: Leon MacDonald; Rico Gear, Mils Muliaina, Luke McAlister, Joe Rokocoko; Daniel Carter, Byron Kelleher; Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerry Collins; Troy Flavell, Chris Jack; Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Ross Filipo, Chris Masoe, Piri Weepu, Aaron Mauger, Nick Evans.
Referee: Marius Jonker (RSA)