Mercifully free of the Australian affliction of talk-ing more than performing, the All Blacks haven't made any grandiose statements about this year being the one where they want their forwards to become the dominant pack in world rugby.

The Australians may be on a global downer in many sports but have always rated highly for their nickname selections.

If ever a test had lived up to its hype it was this one; a rollercoaster of a thing described variously as the "greatest ever played" and the "match made in heaven".

Controversial star James O'Connor says it's easy for him to buy into the Wallabies culture set by new coach Ewen McKenzie.

A change of coach and the arrival of new faces has filled the Wallabies with optimism ahead of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup clash. But the All Blacks are viewing things a little differently.

Anyone can see Will Genia is the key to the Wallabies' impetus.

All rugby eyes are on Hamilton tonight as a tasty decider and teaser towards the resumption of transtasman sporting combat.

Did Deans get it wrong in rugby terms, or was there more to it than mere footballing matters?

While his Wallaby side went through their usual parabolic form graph, Deans ploughed on. He had a job to do, writes Wynne Gray.

A return to New Zealand just doesn't feel like it would be the right for Robbie Deans or the right thing for New Zealand rugby, writes Gregor Paul.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has stood down from the role effective immediately, the Australian Rugby Union has announced.

Coaching change is coming for the Wallabies - maybe even as early as this week - as it's believed the Australian Rugby Union have already interviewed Jake White and Ewen McKenzie about taking over from Robbie Deans.

Wallaby legend Mark Ella remains exasperated by the present side.

Subplots regularly threaten to overpower the main act in Australian rugby.

The remarkable George Smith will start his 111th and final test for the Wallabies in Saturday's series-deciding test against the Lions.

Wallabies skipper James Horwill has been cleared to play in Saturday's series-deciding third Test against the British and Irish Lions.

British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has been ruled out of the third and deciding test against the Wallabies in Sydney.

Brian O'Driscoll's words seemed to haunt the ground and die in the throats of the Lions' supporters.

The Wallabies scored the only try of a belting second test with the Lions as the tourists watched their chance of cracking 16 years of touring torture disappear last night in Melbourne.

Not for the first time Folau was attempting to prove to new team-mates at a pre-season training session that he had the skills to play their code of "footie".

The lingering whiff of the 38-21 loss to England last December still festers among the All Blacks.