KEY POINTS:
The outcome of Saturday's match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies will decide the Tri-Nations title and the holders of the Bledisloe Cup.
Can Australia break the All Blacks' 17-test winning streak at Eden Park on Saturday?
Here is a selection of Your Views:
Jimbob
Phil, worried AB fan (Sydney)
Yes the Wallabies will beat the ABs on Saturday lift both the Bledisloe and Tri-Nations trophies. This will result in such a psychological blow for the ABs that when they meet again in the semis at the RWC the ABs will once again get beaten. The ABs beat the Wallabies over the last three years due to an idiot named Eddie Jones being in charge of the Wobblies. Now they have half decent coaches who have shown the Wallabies how they can beat the ABs but that they 'own' the ABs. It's all in the grey matter. By the way I'm a proud Kiwi living in Sydney and I just hope I'm 100 per cent wrong. Go the ABs.
Kiwi in Adelaide
The ABs by 10+. I'll think the team will be too strong for the Aussies, even though they have a knack of weaseling a win at our expense. The occasion, the emotion and the fact that calculated mongrel will win the day should see the ABS home. Trapped in Adelaide, where they rave on about GayFL, my ears wouldn't be chewed off as bad as East-Coast Kiwis come Monday should the Wannabies pull one out. Again I think too much firepower and Mana will see the Boys come through. Kia Kaha Go the All Blacks!
Adrian (Auckland)
Re: Can the Wallabies win at Eden Park this Saturday?
Of course they can, but they odds say they will not.
To "Gee" (kiwi in Melbourne). Get the hell out of Australia if you can't handle the occasional friendly jibe. You don't deserve to live in a sophisticated metropolis like Melbourne. I bet Aussies are at least friendly overall towards you - not like in NZ where I have had to endure the small-minded barbarousness of Kiwis for the last few years. Simply mention you're Australian in Auckland and you get the 'talk to the hand' attitude. Friendly, cosmopolitan city my ass.
Sione (Auckland)
No they won't. The question is: How good will the AB win be on Saturday? Our ball handling has to improve. I still think the Wallabies are a spent force, don't forget they're coming off one of their worst test records ever and are in a rebuilding phase. Their forwards are useless with the exception of Smith & Elson and why have they not included Jeremy Paul, release him and let him play for us so we can pair him with Mealamu. Their backs are a class act but they seem a little slower, a little unsure, not so much carving up the field anymore as they used to. Larkham, Mortlock, and Gregan look as if this is their last dash before they head off to England or France next year and Latham just shows how much player depth they don't have, they should have never let Matt Rogers go back to the NRL. For goodness sakes leave the guy until October it's not worth it if he gets hurt tomorrow, but I applaud his heart, he's got guts alright. Will they be ready by October? Maybe. Will they be ready by tomorrow? Nope.
Brad, ex-pat (Sydney)
Guys... I'm an ex pat kiwi living in the lions den, Australia. Two things - when the Wallaby's are down their supporters bag them out and when they win you would think they had never lost. AB supporters never give up thick and thin. That aside the build up over here consists of "under arm tactic" AB slagging in the media and plenty of haka images with handbags. No wonder the Aussies shift focus to league when they fail with all the build up. Go the ABs!
Bruce
Australia sure can break the winning streak. They may not have our depth, and their players may be average in some areas, but they're a thinking team. They out-smarted us rather easily in Melbourne, and with more brain power on the field, can again use it to win again.
Steve (Auckland)
Yes NZ have the better players (we are very good at pointing that out to all and sundry) but a champion team will always beat a team of champions. Just because Jerry Collins knows how to swing his forearm does not mean we are assured a victory against Aust. And remember, it's only a game!
Neill R
The last time I read a headline that said "history favours NZ" it was 2001 and NZ had never lost a test against Australia in Dunedin in 115 years. Well, we all know how that finished up - history doesn't mean jack, but those who invoke it, invariably are more worried than they let on. Make no mistake, this will be a very tough challenge for the ABs, but if they do come through it should help their Cup Campaign. If they lose, then it could be another case of Gregan screaming "four more years".
Martin Daly
I was wondering why the Australians, South Africans look so enthusiastic for their countries when they sing their national anthems & the All Blacks don't. If the team could sing our national anthem with the gusto that they sing the haka, like the other teams sing their anthems, it would be so much better. Best wishes & looking forward to the game Saturday night.
American rugby fan
I'll keep it short & trueful. No.
Gee Melbourne
Not a hope in hell! The woeful wallabies were lucky in Melbourne but in Auckland, they don't stand a chance. This time it's the All Blacks who are waiting to ambush this mob. The lead-up this week from the AB's has been a lot more positive with a lot more passion and determination. There is no way they are about to give up the two trophies to these transtasman idiots. I can't wait till Monday to continue the bragging rights to all these loud-mouthed Aussies. The only problem is, all of next week, us Kiwi's in Melbourne will no doubt hear hundreds of excuses why the Wannabies lost. Go the mighty All Blacks.
A Kiwi trapped in Australia
Yes the Wallabies can - what use is sport where the outcome is pre-decided? The question is will they? They are capable but the All Blacks are the better team which is not playing to the best of their abilities (I wouldn't be showing tactics ahead of the cup either). I guess we will only know when we see which team has the most points at the end of the game. But please don't let them win (this or the world cup) - I'm a Kiwi trapped living in Aussie for the next 18 months, I don't want it to be 18 months of "so what about the rugby eh?".
MCAC (Whangarei)
They had better win. There is every reason why we should. We have better players all round the field. Better scrum, better backs (especially the outside three), and certainly better loose forwards. The only question mark is how the referee will handle Gregan and his yapping. Put Gerry Collins into the back line to soften up Gitteau and Mortlock.
