KEY POINTS:
Captain, bludgeoning runner, heavy tackler, great decoy. Significant attributes and reasons why Stirling Mortlock will be a massive threat to the All Blacks in tomorrow's test if his side can create enough possession to get their Wallaby skipper heavily involved in the game.
The seasoned centre is
a physical menace to the All Blacks defensive line which has got a little lighter in midfield but is no less adept.
However, Mortlock will fancy challenging the tackling duties and communication of the new midfield pairing of Daniel Carter and Conrad Smith.
The Wallabies base a great deal on Mortlock's ability to either get them across the gainline from first phase or to wait until the defensive line is stretched after several other forays and then inject him into the attack.
He is also a lightning rod for the Wallabies' defensive enthusiasm when he chooses a massive spot hit or blindside collect on one of the All Black backs.
Mortlock does have his weaknesses though, he can snatch at the ball on attack, he does leave gaps when he pushes up out of the line and does appear to become more anxious than calm when things go awry.
In the Brisbane Bledisloe decider, Matt Giteau was a mixed offering, his tactics and tactical kicking at odds with some of his other masterful touches.
Given plenty of ball this guy will challenge any defensive screens with his sackload of running, passing or kicking choices. He can dazzle, he can mesmerise but he has to learn to balance those gifts with a shade more patience.
The weight and quality of possession the Wallabies can muster will determine his anxiety levels and whether Giteau pushes too hard, too often to make something happen.
At best he's a sinewy gliding runner who can quickly sum up overlaps and how to distribute possession to those areas. Giteau is small but, like Daniel Carter, kilo for kilo an extremely tough and durable competitor who usually carries the burden of goalkicking well.
He might fancy his chances of testing the line around Stephen Donald who defends strongly but could also be a shade uncertain about his defensive responsibility in his first test start.
Giteau has that ability to ignite a play against any sloppy defenders while he will surely bomb Hosea Gear's wing to test the debutant's nerve.
The Wallabies have been involved in long intensive training camps for a month, honing their fitness and strategies for the neutral venue start to northern hemisphere campaigns for both sides.
Hooker Stephen Moore and the squad's technical advisers will have been working extra hard on nailing the side's lineout and scrum work.
Moore has been sound in both departments with the scrum suggesting it has made advances since some of their recent pastings.
But the training ground is just that, training. Nothing can quite replicate the pressure and intensity which is generated in a match and certainly a test match with the stakes on offer in Hong Kong.
Moore has great lineout targets in Sharpe, Chisholm, Smith and Co but the All Blacks will be out to unsettle any match rust in his throwing arm.
It will be much the same in the scrum.
Moore has anchored a more stable unit this season, he is calm enough to reset the hit if he feels the timing is not right but it will be a question of how much the side has been able to replicate match conditions or test themselves with any live scummaging sessions rather than gym or machine work.
Hong Kong, 9.30pm tomorrow
WALLABIES
A. Ashley-Cooper
Peter Hynes
Ryan Cross
S. Mortlock (c)
Drew Mitchell
Matt Giteau
Luke Burgess
Richard Brown
George Smith
Dean Mumm
Nathan Sharpe
Mark Chisholm
Al Baxter
Stephen Moore
Benn Robinson
ALL BLACKS
Isaia Toeava
Hosea Gear
Conrad Smith
Dan Carter
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Stephen Donald
Jimmy Cowan
Rodney So'oialo
Richie McCaw (c)
Jerome Kaino
Ali Williams
Brad Thorn
Neemia Tialata
Andrew Hore
Tony Woodcock
Wallabies: Adam Freier, Matt Dunning, Phil Waugh, David Pocock, Sam Cordingley, Berrick Barnes, Lachie Turner.
All Blacks: Keven Mealamu, Greg Somerville, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Ma'a Nonu, Cory Jane.
