The All Blacks, a legendary name feared across the rugby world and when you look at the statistics it's easy to understand why. In 2013 they became the first top level team - in history - to achieve a perfect calendar year, pulling off a total of 14 wins from 14 games. They are officially the number one team in the world, according to the IRB ranking system they are clear by 4.5 points, and have been on top for the last four years. The last time they lost on home turf was in the summer of 2009, and they haven't been beaten at Eden Park since 1994. Not to mention the small fact they are currently world champions. Then there's the brand of rugby they play, unlike any other team in the world, no team has emulated the quality that they possess with each and every player able to play with the ball, and attack.
Taking all this into account they are an undeniable powerhouse in global sport, let alone rugby. This weekend they are going for a world record, 18 consecutive wins on the Test circuit.
The fixture list hasn't made it the easiest of games for their challenge, no Eden Park, no Argentina minnows. Instead they have to cross the Tasmanian Sea to face their age old rivals in the first round of the Rugby Championship and beginning of the Bledisloe Cup. Not to mention they have to do it without the talismanic fly-half of Dan Carter - out though injury. Although perhaps more of a worry for stalwart All Black fans is the absence of Test veteran and world class outside-centre Conrad Smith, always the steady rock on which the All Black machine worked so efficiently. In his place comes the young upstar Fekitoa, rated for his match winning quality, powerful runs and nose for the try line. Another big name missing from the New Zealand roster is the gliding fullback Israel Dagg, replaced by his long term rival Ben Smith. Personally I've always felt Dagg is a little too airy for Test match rugby, and the hard running, side-stepping try scoring machine of Smith is one of the best fullbacks in the world. Upfront the All Blacks are an assured collective, the engine room of Whitelock and Retalick continue their partnership and the back row is one of the most feared outfits in World Rugby, legend Richie McCaw, World Player of the Year Kieran Read and the powerhouse of Jerome Kaino. Across the park the All Blacks ooze quality and the Test proven ability to win games.
Up against them are Australia, who have undergone serious changes since their series defeat to the British and Irish Lions last year, a much improved outfit completing a series white-wash against the French in June, and with a Super Rugby championship side feeding the national side. Seven players in the starting team are from the Super Rugby winners - the Waratahs - including the terrifying attacker (for anyone even New Zealand) or Israel Folau. Although perhaps a very interesting choice is the selection for fly-half, Bernard Foley having been the inform ten all season having been looked over by his team-mate Kurtley Beale. Beale certainly brings a individual attacking threat from the fly-half channel, but for me Foley brings a much more controlling presence to a team - and would have been my pick. Perhaps the player most likely to cause trouble for the New Zealander team it will be Australia's captain Michael Hooper, fast becoming a legend at the break down if anyone is going to be able to disrupt the All Black attack it will be his jackaling skills. Although I've always personally felt ball stripping and turnovers were ineffectual against the All Black team, and the most effective way to frustrate the men from New Zealand was hard nosed ruck contact - the like achieved very well by England. Using powerful back-row players to smash full speed into the rucks and mess the ball up, but the quality which all Australian backrowers seem to possess at turnovers should provide the chance.
However I don't quite see Australia stopping the onslaught of the All Blacks, despite having the Super Rugby champions, and despite the progress they've made, I do feel the All Blacks will claim the win on Saturday, but not by much. I can sense especially down-under that team are beginning to figure out how to cause the All Blacks problems, and with the World Cup just over a year away this could be a crucial year for teams looking to figure out how to defeat the current champions.
Prediction: New Zealand by two scores
Kick Off: 1105 BST
Team Line Ups:
Australia:
- 15 Folau, 14 McCabe, 13 Ashley-Cooper, 12 Toomua, 11 Horne, 10 Beale, 9 White
- 1 Slipper, 2 Charles, 3 Kepu, 4 Carter, 5 Simmons, 6 Fardy, 7 Hooper (C), 8 Palu
- 16 Hanson, 17 Cowan, 18 Alexander, 19 Skelton, 20 HIgginbotham, 21 Phipps, 22 Foley, 23 Kuridrani
New Zealand:
- 15 B Smith, 14 Jane, 13 Fekitoa, 12 Nonu, 11 Savea, 10 Cruden, 9 A Smith
- 1 Crockett, 2 Coles, 3 O Franks, 4 Retallick, 5 Whitelock, 6 Kaino, 7 McCaw, 8 Read
- 16 Mealamu, 17 B Franks, 18 Moody, 19 Luatua, 20 Kane, 21 Perenara, 22 Barrett, 23 Crotty
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