Rugby: Three predictions: All Blacks v Wallabies

McCaw is always in the action which means he has more chances to be penalised. Photo / Getty Images

Three predictions ahead of tonight's Bledisloe Cup encounter between the All Blacks and Wallabies at Eden Park:

There will be tries

The only other time the All Blacks went tryless under Steve Hansen (18-18 v Australia, 2012) they scored six tries in their next outing. Sure that was against lowly rated Scotland in the first match of the 2012 end of year tour but to keep it Australian themed, the All Blacks made the most of their next outing against the Wallabies the following year, winning 47-29.

The All Blacks also average 3.4 tries a game in their history, also the same number under Hansen.

So yes. Surely there will be tries tonight.

The All Blacks will win

1986 was the last time Australia beat the All Blacks at Eden Park. Since then they've played 14 times and lost every time. They have won there more recently however beating Wales in the bronze medal match at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, after losing to Ireland in pool play then the semifinal to the All Blacks. In total the Wallabies have played 27 times at Eden Park dating back to 1925. No Australian has ever won two tests on the ground.

The All Blacks haven't lost a test at Eden Park since 1994 when the French stunned them with a late try. 33 tests since they have gone unbeaten with just one draw, against South Africa in 1994.

The All Blacks will win and the Wallabies will lose. It's just the way it is.

Richie McCaw will be penalised

This isn't because he's a cheater but because it makes more tackles then anyone on the field. He's always in the action which means he has more chances to be penalised.

Join the nzherald.co.nz live blog of tonight's game from 6.45pm