Shallow back-up leaves him powerless
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has warned several players to get out of their comfort zone or their World Cup aspirations will be over.

Australia will have a Springbok ace up their sleeve when they tackle South Africa in their Tri-Nations Test in Pretoria on Saturday.

The All Blacks shed their cloak of invincibility last night yet continued on their winning way. They had to work for it. They had to sweat, remind the nation that appearances have been deceptive this season – test rugby is a tough business.

All Black captain Richie McCaw has been forced to defend his team, again, in the face of renewed accusations of All Black cheating.

New Zealand’s worst losing run against South Africa in 33 years, a 0-3 whitewash last year, is what helped the All Blacks turn their game around and made them mentally stronger.

Saturday night’s loss by the Wallabies, kids, was the reason we do all the boring and tedious drills at training each week. The simple fact of the matter is that if you can’t do the little things well, the “one-percenters” as we call them, champion teams will towel you up.

Body language experts weren’t needed in Christchurch yesterday. Five days before kickoff, two contrasting practice runs unfolded either side of town as the All Blacks and Wallabies began preparations in earnest for their Bledisloe Cup rematch.

All Black brains, rather than brawn, is the reason for New Zealand’s dominance in this year’s Tri-Nations tournament.

“This was the Russian tanks rolling into Prague.”
Wallaby legend John Eales reckons the All Blacks are on the verge of a great era. He needs to revise that view – the All Blacks are not on the verge, they are in the midst, writes GREGOR PAUL.

One of the more interesting things I discovered about rugby in the last three weeks is that Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher loves it too, wrties JJ HARMSE.

HEADMASTER DROPS RANGER, MESSAM FROM SQUAD
New Zealanders are once again divided in their opinion, despite emphatic back-to-back victories over arch rivals South Africa, as to the value of their most recent success.

VIEW FROM DOWN UNDER
It is obvious why the All Blacks are standing tall at the top of the Tri Nations ladder. They play as a team, writes GREG GROWDEN.

VIEW FROM DOWN UNDER
When the All Blacks were sitting on a 50 per cent win ratio last year, there was no sense of catharsis looming, writes GREGOR PAUL.

Northland prodigy Rene Ranger will start his first Test match on the left wing in one of two changes to the All Blacks starting XV from the 32-12 victory at Eden Park.

‘Will their hoodoo end on October 23, 2011? Will they at last have something tangible to show off their superiority?” GREG GROWDEN on the test.