All Blacks coach Graham Henry is expected to stand down from the job after the World Cup. Photo / Getty Images
Can Australia break the All Blacks' 17-test winning streak at Eden Park on Saturday?
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The All Blacks have squeezed out sentimentality as six key players, and possibly the coach, prepare for what may well be their last rugby test on New Zealand soil.
Byron Kelleher, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman and Anton Oliver, who will start in Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations
decider against Australia, along with reserve Aaron Mauger, have signed with French or English clubs beyond the World Cup.
All have been All Blacks for at least six years while the less-experienced Luke McAlister, 23, is also set to leave for England, with pen expected to hit paper within the next two weeks.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry is also a chance of making the last of countless appearances at Eden Park.
Henry reiterated that had not made plans beyond the World Cup but is widely expected to stand down from his post after the tournament.
"I've got no options at all," said Henry, who has been linked with a return to Wales, possibly to coach in Cardiff.
He said departing players or coaches had not been a conversation topic this week.
"I'm sure it's gone through the people's minds who are involved but it's not something we've dwelled on," Henry said.
"I didn't know I was retiring. I haven't thought about that either.
"This game is a big game ... and people are in that frame of mind. They're focused on the performance and trying to do that properly."
When pressed, Henry allowed himself to reflect on a ground where he began coaching Auckland in the early 1990s and maintained his success when taking over the Blues in the early days of professionalism.
"I enjoy walking out there and occasionally reminiscing but quite frankly we've got a big game on Saturday and that occupies 95 per cent of your mind space most of the time," he said.
"There will be a time when you probably will look back and think about Eden Park and what it meant."
He realised the ground had personal meaning when he returned to Auckland in 2002 after nearly four years of coaching Wales and the British and Irish Lions.
"I walked out here after four years away and thought, 'this is home'," he said.
"You get sentimental occasionally but when you're involved in the heat of the battle, sentiment goes, you're concentrating on the task."
When Wallabies greats George Gregan and Stephen Larkham played their last home tests, against South Africa two weeks ago, they were honoured before and after the test in emotional scenes.
The All Blacks didn't share that attitude.
Richie McCaw knew Canterbury teammates Jack and Mauger well and reckoned they would probably have given their departures a fleeting thought this week.
"But this is a big match. You can't get too carried away with those sort of sentimental things," he said.
"The day after the game you might think about it a little bit but before, we have to make sure we do it right."
- NZPA
