Reality may not match expectations.
Xavier Rush insists that Wales could be the All Blacks' most dangerous opponents of the British sides they meet this month.
Rush, now with Cardiff, warns Graham Henry's men that Wales will be the biggest improvers this season.
"I believe we will see
them back to their winning Six Nations form of a couple of years ago. A lot of their guys are coming back from injury and showing good form. And their top sides are performing well.
"They are a dangerous attacking side with enough flair to worry any team.
"I believe they're going to do very well in the autumn internationals and the All Blacks should be wary of them. They have pushed the All Blacks a couple of times when they've met them in recent years and now they're getting back to that sort of standard."
Rush subscribes to the general theory that England have lost their way. "As for the French, on their day they will compete with anybody. For 18 months they've been a pretty dangerous side."
Rush said the South Africans at Rustenburg showed that the All Blacks were beatable, but he believed New Zealand would win the World Cup next year.
"This is a last chance for Graham Henry to put his preparations in place before the World Cup and maybe blood some last players.
"But they shouldn't forget, these will be hard games for the All Blacks, all four of them. They need to take them all seriously."
