KEY POINTS:
Showtime. Sydney has been awash with the cultural significance of the Papal visit, but that will be overtaken tonight as the Bledisloe Cup starts its four-test crusade in the same city.
The Olympic Stadium on the city's outskirts will not be full as people trim their spending in
the tough economic times but there is massive interest in how the All Blacks will fare against the Wallabies.
In terms of world ratings this test is down a peg from those involving the World Cup champion Springboks, but for all sorts of reasons this international has more compelling intrigue.
Top of the list is the first meeting between the rival coaching staff since Graham Henry and Co combined to knock out Robbie Deans' challenge for the All Black post earlier this year.
Neither the All Blacks nor the Wallabies distinguished themselves at the last World Cup when they both disappeared from the tournament within hours of each other at the same quarter-final stage.
The All Blacks retained their staff and have lost one test this season, against the Boks, while the Wallabies claimed Deans as their new leader and are undefeated.
Bragging rights will only be temporary tonight for the victors as the teams have a rematch next week at Eden Park then a lull before tests in Brisbane and Hong Kong.
Winning round one will be huge, the heat on the loser next week in Auckland will be massive, more so if that side is the All Blacks. Looking ahead is irrelevant for both sides, all that counts tonight is getting a result.
The weather in Sydney has been wet, windy and miserable for several days and there is some concern that could continue tonight.
If that occurs, there will be even greater demands on scrum security, the quality of lineout possession, kick-and-chase accuracy, penalty concessions and goalkicking. Referee Craig Joubert will be a key figure and both sides may figure it best to kick out of their territory, rather than risk giving away penalties.
The Wallabies have been getting in their dirty-weather preparation all week in Sydney, the All Blacks got theirs in Wellington before their late arrival and had one look at the ground yesterday.
You imagine that the All Blacks _ despite the Wallabies' scrum improvement against the Boks including their alleged sneaky, late engagements _ will have an edge in the scrum especially with Greg Somerville and Brad Thorn back to anchor the right-hand side.
That scrum has to be the visitors' biggest weapon, the safest stage where they can attack their hosts and make some gains with the mandatory five-metre gap imposed on backlines behind their No 8s.
Once phase play occurs, there will be huge heat on reconstituted test flanker Daniel Braid and his support crew to nullify the scavenging work of stand-in Wallaby skipper George Smith and his mob.
Braid is a strong player on the ground but he will need help and greater accuracy from his tight five as will halfback Andrew Ellis who also needs to sharpen his clearances.
Both Daniel Carter, in his 50th test, and Matt Giteau will look to pepper the opposition back three with their kicking and here the All Blacks look a shade vulnerable.
Anthony Tuitavake is a dynamic free-running spirit but he is a much shorter man than his opposite Lote Tuqiri and will struggle to contain his Wallaby opponent in the air while Sitiveni Sivivatu has seen his form fluctuate this season.
It was surprising that wing Rudi Wulf was ditched when he showed such consistent safety on the tackle and in the air against the Springboks.
It also seemed a strange call to insert Richard Kahui now after Conrad Smith had played four of the five internationals this season and had complemented the explosive potential of Ma'a Nonu.
Smith's error rate had been very low, his defensive organisation very sound, he was rested but the selectors must have wanted Kahui's size for the anticipated duel with Stirling Mortlock. That will not occur now until Eden Park.
Kahui is a player of great potential who could have done with another test other than his debut against England before this mission. He was on the national radar for the World Cup until he broke down and does look as though he could be the All Blacks answer at centre if he stays fit.
This away test may be a judicious introduction for Kahui, one made even more astute because of Mortlock's absence. But his night may be all about chasing kicks and making tackles in a test where error rates and goalkicking rather than attacking brilliance will hold the key to the result.
