Coach Steve Hansen threw up the World Cup conclusion as a reason to respect what the Wallabies would bring tonight. France had been well beaten in pool play but were very difficult in the final.
The outcome is guesswork, which is why the TAB lures punters to use its service. The Wallabies have given themselves a chance with a changed side but the All Blacks will raise their standards, too, while the psychology swirls around both sides.
Trumpeting success is a national pastime across the Tasman and the shorter forms of the media love to ramp up and piggyback sporting achievements.
Rugby has much more prominence in Australia and in their media than it had 20 years ago but a lack of success in recent seasons and, in particular, against the All Blacks, has affected some of the coverage.
They have shelved the puerile sheep jokes and crowing they used at the height of their jingoistic 90s, and offered upturned hands as an answer to why they have been unable to crack more consistent results against the All Blacks.
The blowtorch is well alight and hovering under Robbie Deans as the xenophobic underbelly stirs some more. That was on the march after the loss to Scotland but then sheathed as the Wallabies claimed an undefeated series win against Wales. Now the mob is stirring again.
Four years of filing out through New Zealand customs without declaring a Bledisloe Cup has been an ongoing sore point. The closest they got was the 22-16 defeat at Eden Park in 2009, but the six times they've played here under Deans' command, they have lost the lot.
If you think that run will change tonight, swap your roulette colours-and leave more of your money in the Kiwi economy.
