Rugby: Bledisloe warmup for World Cup final?

By Wynne Gray

In equalling their best test-winning sequence, the Wallabies have set up a compelling Tri-Nations test with the All Blacks on Saturday at Eden Park.

The combatants have both given the Springboks a significant beating in the opening matches with the Wallabies 32-6 victory pushing their unbeaten run out to 10 to match the mark set by the 1991 World Cup-winning squad.

There will be a wary curiosity between the Bledisloe Cup rivals with neither certain how good the other is because of the Springboks' failings.

However the teams' early season form places them as favourites to push through at the World Cup later this year, perhaps to a tournament showdown at Cardiff as they are on opposite sides of the draw.

So Saturday night's test offers a snapshot of that possibility and an important edge for the victor as the Tri-Nations tournament reaches halfway.

The series has shown how much the Springboks have been affected by injury and lack of backline resources while there are also murmurs of friction between coach Nick Mallett and administrators.

The injury toll was greater after Brisbane with centre Pieter Muller tearing a knee ligament and now in some doubt for the World Cup while prop Os du Randt has a hip injury which could keep him out of rugby for another three weeks.

The only spark for the Springboks was that first five eighths Henry Honiball survived his return game for Natal in the republic and should be fit for the domestic leg of the Tri-Nations.

Everything went well for the Wallabies. They grabbed a bonus point for their four tries, the kept the Springboks tryless, had no injuries and discovered that Tim Horan is more than a makeshift first five-eighths replacement for the injured Stephen Larkham.

Former Springbok turned Wallaby Tiaan Strauss and lock John Welborn who also played in the republic, were surprised at the decline of the South Africans.

"They definitely missed their playmakers in providing their penetration. They did not look dangerous on any occasion," Strauss said.

"It was interesting watching a couple of my old arrogant team-mates from Natal...." Welborn observed. "I have never seen blokes run away quicker after a game. I was looking round to shake their hands and they had simply disappeared."

There was no absence of Wallaby defence, a large component of their win and a factor which has been a strong part of the All Black wins against Samoa, France and the Boks.

However veteran Wallaby prop Dan Crowley thought his scrum had been a bit "gun-shy" perhaps as a reaction to seeing how the Boks had troubled the very good All Black frontrow.

While the odds for Saturday will be fairly even, Welsh referee Derek Bevan may have more of an influence on the outcome than either Peter Marshall or Paddy O'Brien had on the initial two games.