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.

Australia coach Robbie Deans dropped wingers Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner on Thursday as he named his squad for the Tri-Nations that starts this weekend.

The Melbourne Rebels today announced the signing of three exciting young players in 19 year old JP Du Plessis from NRL team, Sydney Roosters, 21 year old Australian Sevens’ back, Nicholas Phipps and 22 year old Hugh Pyle from the Brumbies Academy.

Wallaby star Kurtley Beale has been fined by the Australian Rugby Union for urinating in public after Australia’s recent win over Ireland.

Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, who discovered Matt Giteau eight seasons ago, believes the Test centre’s recent form wobbles, in particular his goalkicking, stem from the fact he ”doesn’t look happy”.

The All Blacks have been given 100,000 good reasons to become the first New Zealand side to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy in 24 years.

A new employment agreement signed by the New Zealand Rugby Union and the association representing its professional players has cleared the way for overseas players to join New Zealand Super Rugby teams for the first time.

There has been much written about the poor state of junior Rugby in Australia. The effects of which is now being felt in the performance of the Wallabies – particularly in the belief that the Wallaby players are just not tough enough.

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French rugby is reeling after Saturday’s humiliating 13-41 defeat by Argentina in Buenos Aires left the players at a loss to explain how they could have fallen from Six Nations heroes to touring zeros in such a short space of time.

Bewildered Wallabies fans should feel grateful that many of the big boys will be back for the Tri Nations – with Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Will Genia, Nathan Sharpe and maybe even Digby Ioane among those scheduled to be around in time to tussle the Springboks and All Blacks next month.

The All Blacks struggled to a 29-10 win over Wales in the second Test on Saturday to complete their Tri-Nations preparations unbeaten.

Saracens centre Brad Barritt and Northampton number eight Phil Dowson will start for England against New Zealand Maori in Napier on Wednesday.