All Blacks wary of improving Wallabies

Graham Henry's All Blacks open the defence of their Tri-Nations title against Australia on Saturday under intense scrutiny and facing opposition who are making rapid strides towards international consistency.

The All Blacks have won the last four Tri-Nations competitions, which also includes world champions South Africa, but have failed to impress this season, sharing a series with France and bumbling to victory over a defensive Italy.

Their performances have created much hand-wringing in rugby-mad New Zealand, who expect the national team to not only win every test they play, but win them playing an attacking style of rugby.

In June, the All Blacks were missing several key players, including captain Richie McCaw, number eight Rodney So'oialo, and outhalf Daniel Carter, but the side for Saturday's match at Eden Park is the strongest available to Henry.

McCaw and So'oialo have returned from injury, as has regular winger Sitiveni Sivivatu.

Stephen Donald has again been given the opportunity to fill the considerable gap left by Carter's ruptured Achilles tendon, an injury he sustained playing club rugby in France.

Robbie Deans's Wallabies side, meanwhile, will be attempting to commemorate openside flanker George Smith's 100th test match with their first victory at Eden Park since 1986.

The Wallabies have shown steady improvement under Deans, whose plan is to build a team ahead of the 2011 World Cup and have them playing as consistently and ruthlessly as the Canterbury Crusaders sides he coached in Super rugby.

The Wallabies beat Italy twice and ground out a victory against France last month and Deans will hope that form will continue after some patchy performances last year.

The Wallabies destroyed the All Blacks 34-19 in Sydney last year, only for McCaw to return and inspire New Zealand to a 39-10 victory at Eden Park a week later.

While the Trans-Tasman rivals focus on Saturday's opener, both will be acutely aware of the threat posed by Pieter de Villiers' world champion Springboks.

The South Africans, whose core is dominated by the rampant Super 14 champion Bulls, have retained the players who battled to a 2-1 series victory over the British and Irish Lions.

After the intensity of that series, the Springboks will be grateful for the three-week break before they entertain the All Blacks at Bloemfontein on July 25th.