Preview: Wallabies v All Blacks

VENUE & TIME: ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Sat September 11, 8:00pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 162 – New Zealand 112, Australia 45, Draw 5.
LAST TIME: August 7, 2010 (Christchurch) – All Blacks 20-10 Wallabies.

WALKING WOUNDED: The Wallabies have lost in-form winger Drew Mitchell to a minor hamstring injury suffered whilst scoring his crucial 72nd-minute try against the Springboks in Bloemfontein. Peter Hynes and Lachie Turner are the main candidates to take Mitchell's spot on the left wing, with Turner possibly having the edge given he travelled to South Africa with the squad. Hooker Saia Fainga'a will also miss the clash after he was suspended for two matches for his lifting tackle on Flip van der Merwe last weekend, allowing New Zealand-born Huia Edmonds to come onto the bench. With both the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup already secured the All Blacks have made five changes to the side that defeated the Springboks in Soweto last month. Aaron Cruden's inclusion for flyhalf Dan Carter, who is recovering from ankle surgery, is the only forced change. Piri Weepu's elevation ahead of Jimmy Cowan at scrumhalf and the selection of Highlanders prodigy Israel Dagg for the rested Joe Rokocoko are the other alterations to the backline. In the forwards, blindside flanker Victor Vito will start ahead of Jerome Kaino who drops back to the bench, while Owen Franks regains his No.3 jersey.

FORM: For the second straight week the Wallabies squandered an early lead against the Springboks on the highveld, but this time they got away with the result thanks to Kurtley Beale's 48m-sideline penalty on the siren. The Wallabies were simply superb in the first half, scoring four tries in 24 minutes in a blistering display. But after rookie prop James Slipper was penalised for collapsing an attacking scrum in the 38th minute, the Wallabies fell back into their old error-riddled habits as the hosts scored 30-unanswered points to take the lead. Thankfully for Robbie Deans, who will now surely keep his job until the 2011 World Cup, Beale saved the day to break a 47-year losing streak at altitude and give the Wallabies a massive dose of self belief heading into Saturday's clash. An All Blacks victory will extend their unbeaten run in Tests to 15 matches, while they would also become the first side to finish the Tri Nations undefeated since the tournament was expanded to six Tests per team in 2006. But wait, there's more. The Kiwis can also secure their longest ever winning streak over the Wallabies with a win at ANZ Stadium, having already inflicted nine straight losses on Robbie Deans' charges. The All Blacks got out of jail in their 29-22 victory over the 'Boks in Soweto, scoring two tries in the final three minutes to ruin John Smit's 100th Test and secure their 10th Tri Nations title.

WHO'S HOT: After a relatively quiet outing in Pretoria by his own lofty standards, Wallabies openside flanker David Pocock was back to his best in Bloemfontein. While the powerhouse 22-year-old was busy in general play, his work at the breakdown, where he pilfered possession on at least four occasions, was the highlight. The Springboks also had no answer for flyhalf Quade Cooper's long passing game as the back three of Beale, Mitchell and James