Clash of the Also Rans?

Half an hour to kick off and I can't wait! All the hype and build up for this game will finally be over and we will be into the real thing. Fantastic, this extended Tri-Nations competition is shaping up to be a cracker, at least for second and third in any event. Or so All Black fans would have us believe.

This weeks game between the massive South African forward pack, and the inexperienced Wallabies (in the front row only, they surely have one of the classiest back lines in the game) is a difficult game to call, because assessing the relative strength of each side is difficult after what has transpired thus far this season. The build up for the Africans has not been good, beating Scotland (who hasn't?), and then suffering the humiliation of going down at home to France.

The Wallabies on the other hand have won at home against a relatively inexperienced England side (twice) and seen off a plucky Ireland team that tested the All Blacks. The captain of the losing Irish side declaring, in code, that the Aussies were a tougher team to play than the All Blacks. Undoubtedly this provided good motivation for the ensuing twenty point defeat suffered by the Wallabies in Chirstchurch last week. It could be that the Handbag Haka promotions in Australia also provoked the All Blacks into a stronger performance than any of the others they have put together so far this season. Most likely the strength of that performance can be put down to the selectors finally showing their starting 15, with one or two obvious exceptions such as the magnificent mullet man, Jason Eaton.

Twenty minutes and counting to kick off. I will be recording the game to ensure that any hair pulling (as reported during the week, no place for that in today's game to be sure) and any other action can be reviewed by me after the match. Be sure to check the blog for my thoughts on the game, followed by any additional links of interest that I find perusing material on the net. Bring it on!