Off-field dramas make way for Bledisloe epic

BRISBANE - Throat-slitting, spying and drink spiking -- there's been more drama this week than a Hitchcock film but, finally, the rugby test of the season is here.

Buildup to tonight's (10pm NZT) Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup test has been dominated by peripheral issues, much to All Blacks coach Graham Henry's disgust yesterday as he sought to shift the focus onto the rugby.

Wallabies coach John Connolly provided the ultimate wind-up when he said the final throat-slitting gesture in the All Blacks' Kapa O Pango haka was "murderous" and had no place in rugby, prompting Henry to slam the Wallabies' "arrogance" at poking their noses in.

Earlier the All Blacks coaches claimed spying was all too common in the international game and stationed security guards at their training ground, after they had queried where Wallabies' assistant coach and noted lineout code-cracker Scott Johnson was allowed to sit at the match venues.

It prompted some welcome comedy as Johnson reminded the All Blacks not to take themselves too seriously when he donned a camouflage t-shirt for the cameras with the words: "Can I sit here?" and "Paranoia is curable".

Then, finally, there was some more mirth as All Blacks lock Ali Williams revealed fears his drink had been spiked at an Auckland bar nearly a month ago. No drugs were found in his system after he was blood tested.

Some might say: enough already, bring on the game.

The fireworks are sure to start at the first scrum when the grizzled All Blacks powerhouses Tony Woodcock and Carl Hayman clunk heads with test rookies Rodney 'Rodzilla' Blake and Greg Holmes.

The All Blacks' recent dominance of world rugby has been anchored by their outstanding scrum, highlighted in their 32-12 win in Christchurch on July 8, and a huge early shove will score big psychological points.

The Wallabies named the slimmed-down 126kg Blake at tighthead prop for his bulk and sound scrummaging, but even he knows the size of his task as he predicted the first scrum would be "World War Three".

"We said before the last game that they were the best scrum in the world... it wasn't a throwaway line, they really are the best in the world," forwards coach Michael Foley said this week.

"We've worked very hard in that area this week, we'll see how it goes."

After a regular diet of ho-hum mid-winter fare for All Blacks fans at home, a hard and fast Suncorp Stadium and the forecast fine, warm weather will be just the ticket.

Both backlines are class, the Dan Carter-Stephen Larkham duel of the playmakers will be a key to the match and the clash of Rico Gear and Lote Tuqiri sees perhaps the best two wingers of the past year.

Both sides will want to fling the ball around and give their speedsters some room, the clinical All Blacks waiting for any Wallabies error to pounce on the ball and indulge in their specialty -- long-range tries from turnovers.

"Sometimes it's good to get away at this time of year so you can chuck the ball around. It lets us play our gameplan a bit more, guys are confident to chuck the passes," All Blacks second five-eighth Aaron Mauger said.

Connolly predicted at least 50 points being scored, and a close finish seems likely.

The All Blacks are clear favourites on current form and can retain the Bledisloe Cup with a match to spare tonight at an imposing stadium packed with 52,500 people.

But the Wallabies are gaining ground fast from Christchurch and the All Blacks were well aware after the home side's 49-0 hiding of a poor South African side here a fortnight ago.

"A different approach from a different coach has really freshened things up. (Former coach) Eddie Jones was there for a long time and I think the guys just stopped responding to him," Mauger said.

"When you get a guy that's fresh and new you respond in a positive way, and I think they're a bit more physical in the forwards. They seem like they're enjoying it a lot more this year."

- NZPA