All Blacks: Deans ready for Nonu-Toeava duo

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is expected to name an unchanged side from the one that beat the Springboks in Brisbane. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - Wallabies rugby coach Robbie Deans is bracing for the Ma'a Nonu-Isaia Toeava midfield combination, and for the All Blacks to continue to hurl the ball around in Saturday's Tri-Nations test in Wellington.

Deans is poised to name an unchanged side today from their shock 21-6 win over the Springboks, bar doubts over hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau (ribs) and winger Lachie Turner (ribs) who both trained lightly today but need to negotiate a contact session in the morning.

The All Blacks meanwhile have some tinkering to do, with winger Sitiveni Sivivatu (groin) ruled out and problems with the Dan Carter-Stephen Donald five-eighths combination in their 29-32 defeat to the Tri-Nations champions.

Deans said Saturday's Hamilton test told him little he didn't already know, apart from another potential midfield reshuffle in Wellington.

"It was a good contest; the Springboks were pretty impressive early and the All Blacks were impressive late, essentially," Deans said.

"We saw a combination that we might see again in Nonu and Toeava, but they'll decide that and we'll respond to it.

"They're all players we're familiar with ... obviously it functioned pretty well at the end of the game."

Deans said the lineout would again be a hugely important facet and the Wallabies took eager note of the home side's struggles: "That's essentially where the Springboks denied them the opportunity to play for the first 60 minutes".

Hence, Deans felt the All Blacks will want to give the ball air as they did in the second half in Hamilton, with mixed results as poor handling let them down.

"They'll want to play. They probably felt like they didn't get the chance to play for the first 60min. They'll want to finish this campaign on that note."

But whether the conditions allow an open test match, with the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cups already decided for the year, was another matter.

Australians automatically expect to arrive in Wellington to a howling southerly and horizontal rain, and Deans also appeared braced for a frigid welcome from above.

"It's Westpac Stadium, with the Wellington wind. We haven't seen too many open, free-flowing test matches at that arena, let alone between the Wallabies and All Blacks.

"People will suggest it's a dead rubber but for those that pull on the jerseys it's far from that."

The Wallabies reassembled in Sydney last week with more of a swagger after their impressive dispatch of the Boks.

But Deans said that would mean little if the Wallabies were again dominated by the All Blacks, having lost five straight to coach Graham Henry's side and not won in New Zealand since 2001.

"It's really important for us. We did take a step essentially in our game and our collective understanding and performance. We want to push on from that point.

"We don't want to slide back, or some of the value we took out of that outing will dissipate."

First five-eighth Matt Giteau said the Brisbane win would "mean nothing" if they lose on Saturday as they seek momentum heading into their grand slam bid in November.

And he also expected Nonu to return to No 12 after he was shifted for Luke McAlister and Donald in the past two tests.

"I've played him the majority of the time at 12 and he's always been a handful there. The closer he is the more touches he's going to get, so obviously being a big strong runner the more touches he gets the more dangerous he's going to be."

- NZPA