All Blacks see Tri-Nations as Cup rehearsal

The All Blacks and Wallabies line up in Auckland on Saturday in an all-or-nothing Tri-Nations finale, a showdown which the All Black see as a perfect dress reheasal for the Rugby World Cup.

Both the Tri-Nations crown and the Bledisloe Cup — the symbol of Trans-Tasman rivalry — are on the line.

”It is perfect. You couldn’t ask for a better dress rehearsal. Everything is on the line,” assistant coach Steve Hansen said, overlooking the fact that the All Blacks’ performances so far this year have been error-ridden.

Although they start as firm favourites at Eden Park — where they have won their past 17 Tests and Australia haven’t won for 21 years — New Zealand are playing well below the level expected at the World Cup in September.

Many of their shortcomings have been attributed to coach Graham Henry favouring rotation of players to establish game time through his squad ahead of bedding in combinations.

But he is taking no chances against Australia, naming a squad with only three changes to the side which beat South Africa 33-6 a week ago.

This new-found familiarity has Australian coach John Connolly downplaying the possibility of his side repeating their 20-15 upset win at Melbourne last month.

”I don’t think there’s a taller order in world rugby than playing New Zealand at Eden Park,” he said.

The three changes give the pack a powerful look with the return of Jerry Collins and Anton Oliver, while Byron Kelleher returns at halfback.

Arguably only injured lock Ali Williams and winger Sitiveni Sivivatu are missing from the armchair critics’ first XV, while injured Leon MacDonald could come back at fullback if the selectors opt for Mils Muliaina at number 13 ahead of Isaia Toeava.

Meanwhile Connolly has gone for Adam Ashley-Cooper at fullback for the injured Julian Huxley, with 72-Test veteran Chris Latham on the bench and ready to play his first Test in eight months since undergoing knee surgery.

Drew Mitchell comes off the bench onto the wing, Stephen Moore returns from injury to replace Adam Freier at hooker and David Lyons comes in for Stephen Hoiles at number eight.

While the All Blacks may have strength and depth across the board, the players have not been able to disguise their envy of Australia’s stability, with changes in the Wallabies mainly forced by injury.

”You can certainly see the benefits, especially in the toughest times of the game, later in the game. They seem to bind in really well,” said hooker Keven Mealamu, who is relegated to the bench after starting last week.

Although the All Blacks can again be expected to target the Wallaby scrum, where they have a decided advantage, the Wallabies have consistantly proven they are good enough to survive a drubbing up front but still come out on top.

Crucial to their attacking ethos are halfback George Gregan and flyhalf Stephen Larkham, both Test centurions, who can dictate the terms of any match.

A prime beneficiary of their acumen is outside centre and skipper Stirling Mortlock, who played a key role in engineering the Melbourne win with his targeting of Luke McAlister.

Mortlock sees the opposing midfield, where McAlister is paired with Toeava for just the second consecutive week, as evidence of how the All Blacks backs are underdone.

”No doubt a fair impact on our team is the fact we’ve had pretty solid combinations throughout the Tri-Nations,” Mortlock said.

”On the flipside for New Zealand, it’s a bit of a disadvantage they’ve got so many quality players putting up their hands.

”Their combinations have chopped and changed in most Tests, and we’re seeing a little less fluidity in their attack, in particular.” – Sapa-AFP

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