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This weekend is the start of the phoney rugby war. Test matches involving six major nations are being played in Sydney, Bloemfontein and Santa Fe - but most combinations are depleted.
Only the Tri-Nations sides are looking anywhere near full-strength, as it will be at Eden Park next
weekend when the All Blacks host a diluted French team.
Club commitments, injury and form have combined to bite into the resources of Wales, England, Ireland, Argentina and France.
Not that it will stop the All Black staff perusing those matches for signs of strategies, game plans and opponents they will face in the Tri-Nations or World Cup.
Ireland and Argentina are drawn in the Pool of Death with hosts France at the World Cup, with the runner-up scheduled to meet the All Blacks in a quarter-final in Cardiff.
While there may be some psychological mileage to be had by either Ireland or the Pumas after their match in Argentina this weekend, they may get more value in ticking off Santa Fe as one of the more uncommon test venues in the world. The All Black staff will also have to be very resourceful in tracking down coverage and details from the match.
That will not apply on Saturday night, but they will be bleary-eyed after the double-header in Sydney and Bloemfontein before welcoming the All Blacks into camp in Auckland on Sunday.
Most intrigue will be on the impact of Matt Giteau as Wallaby halfback. He is very gifted and has all the attributes to handle the job, but it does seem a waste to shift him - especially when the Wallabies are short of midfield prowess.
Coach John Connolly has tried, or so we are led to believe, to shift George Gregan from halfback and the captaincy.
Connolly has made the move now, although his replacement co-captain solution with Phil Waugh and Stirling Mortlock seems a soft compromise which could impact adversely on the talents of George Smith, voted Australian player of the Super 14 series.
Gregan remains a huge loss of experience for the Wallabies to absorb, while you feel the All Blacks would fear Giteau more in midfield, challenging the line and with his greater kicking variety.
Other options may be seen during the next month, such as Scott Staniforth in midfield or Sam Cordingley, if he can prove his fitness, back in at halfback. There will also be hope that Chris Latham can return after injury.
The Springboks have also lost their ace halfback Fourie du Preez through injury but are in near-full battledress. The Luke Watson furore has cooled, as have temperatures around the Afrikaaner stronghold of Bloemfontein.
Ticket sales have been slow because patrons want to watch tests later in the season. Rugby was well supported in an area which had produced Os du Randt and Rassie Erasmus, but spectators were discerning about spending Rand 350 ($68) on a ticket - and there was a general apathy about England's chances with about 35 players unavailable.
England have been lampooned for having a side of plumbers and decorators - and former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick added a "fatties" tag, too, this week.
Coach Brian Ashton had a game plan to suit England, said Fitzpatrick. "But the players need to start putting in the work. It's great playing an expansive game, but you can't afford to have any fatties there. The All Blacks actually look like athletes."
Fitzpatrick said his criticism also applied to Wales, where some of the forwards were also out of shape.
The Springboks are determined to build on the enthusiasm generated by the Bulls and Sharks jousting for the Super 14 title. There were huge expectations about dealing to a third-string England side, one forced to pick a 34-year-old prop, Stuart Turner, for his first start and another of similar vintage on the bench awaiting his first cap.
Coach Jake White has dodged, for now, his problems with meddling officials and maintained his side had to start their season strongly. He wanted them to dish it up to England, and most of the Republic felt that would happen, although Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer had some warnings about the influence of Jonny Wilkinson.
Fixtures
Internationals this weekend:
Australia v Wales
Sydney
South Africa v England
Bloemfontein
Argentina v Ireland
Santa Fe
