Destiny to be decided at Eden Park

The All Blacks hold their destiny in their hands as they head to Eden Park on Saturday.

Sitting three points behind the Springboks on the table, but with South Africa having played all four of their games, Graham Henry's side merely have to win to claim back the Tri Nations title they relinquished to the Boks last year.

Against our trans-Tasman foes, this is always easier said than done but the bookies will no doubt install the All Blacks as short-priced favourites against a side counting the cost of a long injury list.

But it's also a side guided by embattled coach Eddie Jones and skipper George Gregan, who is now said to be on the verge of retirement according to Australian reports.

As Kiwis have found out many times in the past, this is a dangerous combination, even without the spice of Gregan's last test.

It's for this reason the All Blacks are not counting their chickens.

"Australia are a very proud rugby nation and they have their backs to the wall," Henry explained. "They will play out of their skins. Per capita population, they are probably the best sporting nation in the world."

Although the All Blacks camp is playing down their chances, Springboks coach Jake White certainly isn't expecting any surprises on Saturday.

"A nice draw would be good," he joked, "but I don't think it will happen. I don't think a depleted Australian team will be able to do it in Auckland.

"It will be the first time South Africa has shouted for Australia."

Although it was far from a complete All Blacks performance last night, the fact they got over the line in a tight contest, and against a dangerous and confident Springbok side, shows how much this team has grown in recent times.

The words clinical and composed were used at length in the lead-up to the game, and for skipper Tana Umaga, it was these two components that got them over the line at Carisbrook, despite trailing the Boks 27-24 three minutes from fulltime.

"It's about us concentrating and being composed and not chasing the game as individuals," Umaga said.

"That's what got us through in the end because we certainly put them under some pressure. When Keven [Mealamu] crashed over, that was a sign of our great composure."

It might have been easy for feelings to boil over as the penalty count mounted against the home side as French referee Joel Jutge came down hard against the All Blacks and, much to their frustration he allowed the Springboks to continue to play on the edge of the offside law.

That will all be forgotten in the wash this morning and they will head to Eden Park full of confidence and expectation.

After a bruising battle at Carisbrook, they should also head to Eden Park with, at first glance, few injury problems. A cut ear to converted first five-eighths Leon MacDonald is the only obvious battle scar.

It's all part of destiny, you see.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY