This is the biggie say All Blacks and Boks

The Springboks are calling it the Philips Tri Nations final, while to the All Blacks it has evolved into the biggest rugby Test of 2005.

Tomorrow night's clash of two teams widely regarded as the world's best at Carisbrook was put into perspective by both coaches today.

New Zealand mentor Graham Henry said the importance of the Test had risen sharply in a year expected to be dominated by the Lions' visit and the season-ending Grand Slam tour.

The Lions -- the All Blacks' chief focus before as the season kicked off -- were comfortably dispatched 3-0 while South Africa's rapid improvement had carried them unbeaten through the Tri Nations and to the verge of usurping New Zealand as the world's No 1 ranked team.

"Games become important as they go along because of circumstances, but you can't pre-judge these things," Henry said.

"This is pivotal, isn't it . . . we can't win the Tri-Nations unless we do the business.

"The big thing is that we're in control of our own destiny. We've got to win the last two games and that's a good challenge."

While the visitors just need to win or draw tomorrow to defend their Tri Nations crown and render next week's All Blacks-Wallabies Test in Auckland a dead rubber, New Zealand must win both Tests to claim their sixth Tri Nations title.

The Springboks are likely to provide a far stiffer challenge than the injury-ravaged Wallabies, a point rammed home by South African coach Jake White.

"I'm reluctant to say it, but this is definitely the final," White said.

"As much as people say the All Blacks have to hold back for next week, I can't see Australia coming to Auckland with all the injuries they've got and being able to beat them. "Whoever wins here, the chances are they'll win the Philips Tri Nations."

Ending New Zealand's 14-Test winning streak at home was one of many factors that added up to making the Test a potential classic, White said.

His team would leave nothing on the field, knowing a lengthy break followed.

"We've got 80 minutes. It could be the best 80 minutes in South Africa's rugby history," he said.

"You can't make it any bigger than it is. To win tomorrow, you win back to back Tri Nations, you go to No 1 in the world, you beat the All Blacks three times in succession.

"No South African side has won here (Carisbrook) since 1921. The more you talk about it, the more you appreciate just how big this fixture is."

It is a far cry from when the teams last met here, in 2003, when All Blacks coach John Mitchell was so confident against the struggling Springboks that he rested more than half his first-choice forward pack. His side still went on to win a tight Test 19-11.

The contrast between the Springboks then and now was enormous.

"They're a more confident beast and they've got an opportunity to emulate what the 1998 side did," Henry said of the unbeaten Springboks' Tri Nations team under Nick Mallett.

"I'm sure they've got a lot of respect from the All Blacks side and the New Zealand public. They've played exceptionally well for two years now."

Dunedin is expected to emerge from a southerly blast to present cold, clear conditions for the test. A sellout appears likely, just, thanks to a steady rate of ticket sales this week.

Of the starting 15s who met in Cape Town three weeks ago -- a match won 22-16 by the Springboks -- there is one enforced change in both camps.

Neither would make a notable difference, according to All Blacks captain Tana Umaga.

Springboks second five-eighth hard man De Wet Barry would slot straight into his team's physical style, Umaga believed, while new All Blacks first five-eighth Leon MacDonald brought the same style as the injured Daniel Carter.

"I think they're similar. They can both take the ball to the line and both are good defenders.

"He's run a lot at first five (at training) in the course of this year," Umaga said of regular fullback MacDonald.

"The major difference could be their goalkicking. (But) We've seen how effective Leon can be at the World Cup."

Like Springboks fullback Percy Montgomery, it will be Umaga's 70th Test tomorrow, lifting him level with Andrew Mehrtens as the fourth most capped All Black.

Send to friend

Add to del.icio.us