TRI-NATIONS/Australia v New Zealand:AUSTRALIA STAND to receive a World Cup progress report when they meet New Zealand in Melbourne today in a match that could also write the script for the remainder of the Tri-Nations tournament.
In their Tri-Nations opener in Brisbane last week, the Wallabies produced an encouraging defensive game to all but end South Africa’s hopes of retaining the title, but now face a very different beast at Docklands stadium.
The All Blacks’ blend of power and pace demoralised South Africa in their opening two matches and it sets the stage for a bruising encounter, with the Wallabies’ desperate to end a seven-match losing streak to their trans-Tasman rivals and announce themselves as bona fide World Cup contenders.
“(It’s) probably one of the more significant matches of the last two years,” former World Cup-winning Australia coach Rod Macqueen said this week. “(The All Blacks) are obviously the best team in the world at the moment and that’s going to be a good opportunity for Australia to get a measure.
“They’ve got a year and a half coming into the next World Cup and this is going to be a litmus test for them.”
The test may not be more keenly felt than in Australia’s backline where Quade Cooper’s two-week suspension for a dangerous tackle has forced coach Robbie Deans to switch Matt Giteau to outhalf and promote Berrick Barnes to inside centre.
Australia may take more heart in the strength of their forward pack, however, with hooker Stephen Moore returning from injury to bolster a frontrow that stood firm against the Boks.
“We expect the scrum to be a great area of contest on the weekend,” Deans said. “It’s one we’re looking forward to.”
Unlike Deans, counterpart and fellow countryman Graham Henry has had far less to ponder on the whiteboard, welcoming back winger Joe Rokocoko from a hamstring injury and scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan to replace new father Piri Weepu.
Henry has appeared a model of tranquillity this week in contrast to under-pressure Deans, whose tense reunion with New Zealand journalists yielded curt responses to queries about his dismal record against the All Blacks.
The New Zealand camp has also been ruffled by the media, with a photographer’s sneaky snap of a page of notes detailing some of the All Blacks’ tactics getting splashed across Australian dailies on Wednesday.
That “breach of trust” as described by assistant coach Steve Hansen may force the All Blacks to tweak the play-book, but neither side has hinted at modifying their running games that delivered wins over the Springboks.
“The nature of the game really is about ball retention,” Henry said. “I can’t see either side kicking the ball away too much.”
Six points or less have separated the sides in four of New Zealand’s seven consecutive wins over Australia, who have been over-run in the last quarter of games.
AUSTRALIA: A Ashley-Cooper; J O’Connor, R Horne, B Barnes, D Mitchell; M Giteau, W Genia; B Robinson, S Moore, S Maafu, D Mumm, N Sharpe, R Elsom (capt), D Pocock, R Brown. Replacements: S Faingaa, J Slipper, R Simmons, M Hodgson, L Burgess, A Faingaa, K Beale.
NEW ZEALAND: M Muliaina; C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, J Rokocoko; D Carter, J Cowan; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, O Franks, B Thorn, T Donnelly, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read. Replacements: C Flynn, B Franks, S Whitelock, V Vito, P Weepu, A Cruden, I Dagg.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
