All Blacks remain wary of weary Wallabies

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THE SPARK: Quade Cooper's instinctive attacking game could be the key to the Wallabies chances of upsetting the All Blacks.

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Weary they may be, but the All Blacks expect the Wallabies to offer a much greater attacking challenge when they meet for the third time this season at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith – the "professor" of the All Blacks coaching group – reckons the Australians may well have saved their best for last as the curtain goes down on the Tri-Nations this weekend.

Buoyed by their remarkable 41-39 victory over the Springboks in Bloemfontein last weekend – their first in 47 years on the highveld – the Wallabies have returned home with a spring in their jet-lagged step.

And that, reckons Smith, makes them a dangerous foe indeed as the All Blacks look to secure a record 10th straight victory over their trans-Tasman rivals.

"They would have taken lot out of it," said Smith. "They seem to have a good spirit. Certainly in terms of attack they offer a much tougher proposition for our defence than any other challenges we've had this year.

"I think they're playing a lot better on attack now than they did the last couple of times we played. It's going to be a big challenge."

In both their matches in South Africa, the Wallabies got off to rollicking starts. They weren't able to hold on in Pretoria, but seven days later in Bloemfontein they snuck home for a huge victory, despite coughing up a 31-6 lead.

That, in Smith's book, makes them a legitimate threat this week, no matter their travelling travails.

"You can't win at altitude against a desperate Boks team without having grown yourself," added Smith. "That's going to make a difference to them. [But] we've got great spirit, we've got strong leadership and we've had a couple of weeks to refresh and recover.

"The expectations are we'll go out and give our heart and soul as well, so it should be pretty intense."

The battle of the five-eighths has a defining sort of feel about it this week too.

Quade Cooper will face the All Blacks for the first time, and appears to have taken the Aussies to another level with his instinctive attacking game and established combination with halfback Will Genia.

On the other side, rookie 21-year-old Aaron Cruden will get his first start for the All Blacks as he looks to establish himself as a legitimate alternative to the "perfect 10" Dan Carter.

The New Zealanders have plenty of respect for Cooper's abilities, not to mention the confidence that sees him cheekily remind journalists "I've never lost to the All Blacks".

"He's certainly changed the picture, no doubt about that," said Smith of the No 10 who missed both the earlier Bledisloes to suspension.

"I think we've seen the last couple of weeks he backs himself to have a crack," adds skipper Richie McCaw. "He takes reasonably good options most times and he's a real threat. You've got to take his time and space away and not give him nice ball to operate with."

But Smith, not a bad five-eighth in his day, has full faith in the young No 10 who will the black jersey on Saturday night.

"He's composed. He's got an inner confidence," said Smith of the 21-year-old from Manawatu. "He's come through a bit of trauma himself where he's had his battle hard against cancer. I think that's developed a big part of his character. Something like this is a challenge he's going to enjoy rather than be scared of."

Maybe even a defining moment in a young man's transcendent career?

"To actually go out and run the team in your own right is a big thing," adds Smith. "I just think he'll put in a composed performance. The players have confidence in him, they know he's tough mentally and will put his body on the line. You can't ask for  more."

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