All Blacks: Hong Kong test a game of numbers

For veterans like Mils Muliaina, today's test is all about beating the Wallabies again and moving closer to the straight-win record. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand Rugby Union condoned a financial setback by staging a second Bledisloe Cup rugby test in Hong Kong, but its flagship team are determined to safeguard their stocks from any similar depreciation.

That's the bottom line expressed by All Black players and management in one of Asia's financial capitals as they complete preparations for tonight's clash with the Wallabies at Hong Kong Stadium (9.30pm NZT).

A fourth duel between the sport's first and second-ranked nations in 2010 has created minimal local interest - the NZRU expects to bank half the unspecified amount generated by the inaugural overseas Bledisloe here two years ago.

But for the players, a well-publicised set of numbers is of more relevance as they open a five-match tour that continues with a third Grand Slam attempt since 2005.

The All Blacks winning sequence is 15 matches - two short of the record mark shared by the 1965-69 vintage and the Springboks (1997-98), unless little Lithuania's 18-match run is held in the same esteem.

Their dominance over Robbie Deans' Wallabies also reached unprecedented double digits in Sydney last month and if they return home unbeaten from Cardiff late next month, Graham Henry's team will be the first All Black side to complete a calendar year unbeaten since the 1989 side won seven in a row.

Combative halfback Jimmy Cowan encapsulated the squad's determination to win, even if Lord Bledisloe's trophy is again on display only.

"First and foremost, there's a lot of personal pride at stake," he said.

"There's been a lot of trust put in us as a group in the last two or three months and we have to justify that.

"I think it's key we get the tour off on a good note to put pressure on the coaches to pick us again next week."

With England at Twickenham looming next weekend, the starting XV is unlikely to change markedly barring injury but competition for places remains intense, especially for the bench.

Rugby followers in Hong Kong gravitate to the party atmosphere of the annual sevens tournament in March but for the connoisseur, tonight's encounter hardly warrants the tag of a "dead rubber".

Henry and Deans emphasised the importance they placed on this stopover en route to Europe by naming their best available line-ups.

The All Blacks feature four changes from the side that staged a remarkable comeback to win 23-22 in Sydney on September 11 - Daniel Carter's restoration will be the most carefully monitored as he confronts rival first five-eighths Quade Cooper for the first time at test level.

The world's premier first five-eighths is confident he's recovered from ankle surgery performed after the Tri-Nations title was secured in Soweto on August 22, though he did doubt his ability to play the entire 80 minutes.

Hooker Keven Mealamu, centre Conrad Smith plus loose forwards Richie McCaw and Kieran Read are also playing their first match since Sydney, and rustiness seems inevitable considering the remainder of the squad were only released sparingly for their provinces.

The All Blacks assembled only three days before departure in Auckland - by contrast, the Wallabies bunkered down for three weeks in Sydney to brainstorm ways of spiking the All Blacks' dominance.

Deans, denied a win against his homeland for 26 months, also had the luxury of selecting his optimum line-up with tighthead prop Ben Alexander finally back from a knee injury suffered in the season opener against Fiji in June.

However, a physically fit playing roster is obviously no guarantee of success - it's the Wallabies mental strength that has resembled an Achilles heel.

In an attempt to address a costly tendency to capitulate in the back end of matches, training sessions have focused on recreating scenarios where the Wallabies are required to defend a lead in the dying minutes - a flaw exposed most recently at Sydney when they conceded two late converted tries.

Deans believed those thought processes would pay dividends and maintained morale was still high.

"Morale is good. They're not doubting each other, which is important. In test rugby you can't afford moments of doubt," he said.

Playmaker Cooper also tried to put a positive spin on the Wallabies' wretched record.

"After a tight loss it gives you a lot more self belief in terms of working towards a goal," he said.

"You have to bond tighter."

- NZPA