Wallabies braced for desperate All Blacks

The All Blacks might be down but they are certainly not out. In fact Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says New Zealand are at their most dangerous heading into Saturday's Tri-Nations clash in Wellington.

"Without a doubt ... they will be totally resolute, they will be desperate to get a result," said Deans, a man who should know as a former All Blacks player and assistant coach, now in charge of the opposition.

He is certain the All Blacks' loss to the Springboks last weekend has made the Wallabies' assignment at the Cake Tin even tougher.

"The one thing you can be sure of is there will be a response from the All Blacks because once again as history shows whenever they are under pressure they respond.

"You are dealing with an experienced group here. There's something like eight have been here since 2003. They aren't going to be comfortable and they are going to want to respond.

"We are anticipating that but we have plans of our own that we are really excited about."

Deans believes the game could be a cracker although he's not sure what shape it will take as the capital's notorious wind kicked up on Friday.

There has been little between the two teams this year with the All Blacks winning arm wrestles in Auckland and Sydney. Expect something similar on Saturday even though there is no silverware on offer, just the Tri-Nations wooden spoon.

"It's going to be a good contest. The contests to date show that there won't be a lot in it," said Deans.

"I think you will see a lot of movement. Conditions will dictate how that is applied, whether it is kicking or carrying but yeah, there will be movement. The points table is not relevant - it's pride and honour and neither side will want to come second. So I don't think either side will play conservatively."

Deans, who has lamented his team's inability to close out close games, felt the side had taken a big step forward with their demolition of the Springboks two weeks ago. He hopes they can carry that into an All Blacks test where his sides trail 5-1 against Graham Henry's teams.

A frustrated Deans shook up his selection to bring in fresh talent and they responded by beating the world champions. The same players have now been given the chance to try to do the same against the All Blacks.

"We're hopeful. Obviously our history in New Zealand isn't that great. But I guess the thing you get with a young group is they aren't burdened with the past and they are very excited about the opportunity.

"I think they showed that in Brisbane. We are hopeful that will have been a fillip for them, that some of that will have galvanised into a deeper set of belief because when you look at the history that has been a contributing factor that lack of belief."

There's certainly no lack of desire in the Australian camp. It seems they can't get enough of tangling with the All Blacks.

The extension of the Tri-Nations means three tests in that competition and a fourth clash awaits at the neutral venue of Tokyo next month, a follow-up to last year's successful money-spinner in Hong Kong.

"We do play them a lot within a year but the excitement doesn't wane," said Wallabies skipper George Smith.

"We still enjoy playing against the All Blacks and the desire to beat them doesn't change."

Chipped in Deans: "There's nothing better than a test against the All Blacks. Some of the public might think that because they are played so often they aren't as excited about observing them. But from a players and coaches perspective I don't think we will ever get sick of it."

- © Fairfax NZ News