It won't be an ambush though like the last loss to the Wobblies, the All Blacks will be arriving at the ground with eyes wide open.  They have been improving each game too, and their last serious hit out was the slow strangulation of the South Africans in South Africa.  If they carry that form and attitude into this game, then it will be another solid win for the Men in Black...

The blouses
Aussie Caps 248 v All Black caps 214

Well to start, the Aussies have shifted 70 test veteran Mortlock into 12, a move that might reduce his effectiveness, given that he will be closer to the fatties, meaning less one on one changes to use his strength for those freakish tries of his that he can score - and all to frequently against the All Blacks!  He's replaced by relative rookie Ryan Cross at 13, who has just seven tests under his belt.  This probably give the All Blacks a slight edge here, with Nonu and Smith forming a nice combination in the midfield, both now with plenty of experience in the big games, with 20 and 27 tests respectively.

The back threes are probably break even, out of sorts Sivivatu paired with centre come wing Kahui, backed up by currently the best fullback in the world Muliaina.  The Aussies have rookie Hynes with, gulp, perhaps the currently best wing in the world Tuqiri, and Ashley-Cooper at fullback.  Could depend on Sivivatu - if he repeats his form from the All Black loss to the Aussies though, it would be a points decision to the Men in Black.

The All Blacks get a decision at the halves too, Cowan and Carter a better combination that journeyman Cordingly and Giteau.  Although as we know, give Giteau an inch, and in typical convict fashion, he'll take a mile.  It's pretty much up to the All Black forwards though to control Gits, by giving the Wobbly eight a good thumping - no front foot ball, and half the battle is won.

The packs
Aussie Caps 332 v All Black caps 340

On paper, the All Black pack should, should, I say again, on paper, should level this Aussie eight.  Al Baxter, not the flashest tighthead prop in the world, but with 59 tests under his belt, knows how to cheat and drop the scrum and in general make up for a lack of ability with a ton of cunning.  Lets just hope that the Ref doesn't get the wool pulled over his eyes with the antics of the worlds most capped worst prop!  joining him in a front row that should be beaten are a couple of players that are of test quality, Moore and Robinson.  Robinson I think is developing nicely into a classy test prop - the Aussies have unearthed a decent talent here, and Moore too is a never say die tough guy.  They are against a pretty decent trio though.  Somerville at tighthead, who is still fine in the set piece (lets not talk about his defence or ball skills, as there is not a lot to talk about there), Hore, who has grown in leaps and bounds this season, and Woodcock, generally regarded as the best loosehead prop in the world.  A tough trio, who should win the battle of the scrum for the Kiwis.

The locking duos are pretty equal in ability, Thorn the engine room dynamo, and Williams the lineout king.  The Aussies have Sharpe in the Williams job - even more so if you ask our Aussie friends, who think that he should be wearing a 13 on his back, as opposed to the four or five he usually wears!  The other lock that the Aussies have, the big munter James Horwill is another goody unearthed by Australia.  This guy is going to be around for a very long time I think, and be a real pain in the arse for many test sides as the years progress.  Combine Horwill with Robinson and Moore, and you have three-fifths of a decent tight five, but I digress.  The locking department, both packs well served.

The loosies, as per usual, it will depend on the work of the tight five to give whichever trio the advantage.  The Wobblies are more used to working off the back foot, so even if the All Black tight five get the edge, they will still be effective.  However, if the Wobblies get the upper hand (stranger things have happened), then Palu and Elsom could run wild.  However, the All Blacks trio of So'oilao, McCaw and Kaino have formed a trio that is getting better and better by the game (now that they are playing in their rightful positions), and will be hard to stop themselves, regardless of the tight forwards efforts.  Experience wise the Wobblies might have a slight edge, but I think this comparison favours the All Blacks by a shade.

The reserves
Aussie Caps 181 v All Black caps 122

Five forwards, two openside flankers on the bench for the Wobblies.  If that is not the biggest doffing of the cap to McCaw in the history of the game, I don't know what is!   Also opens the Wobblies up for a world of pain should their backs suffer a few injuries early.  Their front row bench men scare no one though, Pudding Dunning, who offers nothing but an extra drop goal option, and Adam Frier, who has not acted since the Lord of the Rings trilogy - hobbits not being in demand at the moment.  On the other hand, the All Blacks, with prop John Afoa on the bench, increase their on field presence when he makes the field, and despite his throwing yips, Kevin Mealamu also ups the tempo when he arrives on the paddock.  Weepu also will add to the equation when he hits the paddock, as will Toeava, wherever he might be put, from 12 though to 15.  The other subs, Thomson, Donald and Boric are more injury replacements, than impact players.

The verdict

All Blacks should take this match out, and comfortably.  But then, that was also the thought from the first Bledisloe test, where the All Blacks were handed their arse on a platter!  Anyway, the tight five do their job, it should flow from there, and the win should come after 80 minutes.  Mortlock at 12 will be an interesting variation in the Aussies game plan, will it work, wait for Saturday!

Australian team Stats:
15  Adam Ashley-Cooper (ACT Brumbies)  :  24 years  :  19 tests  :  1.82m  :  98kg
14  Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds)  :  26 years  :  8 tests  :  1.80m  :  92kg
13  Ryan Cross (Western Force)  :  28 years  :  7 tests  :  1.91m  :  99kg
12  Stirling Mortlock (ACT Brumbies)  :  31 years  :  70 tests  :  1.91m  :  100kg 
11  Lote Tuqiri (NSW Waratahs)  :  28 years  :  65 tests  :  1.91m  :  103kg
10  Matt Giteau (Western Force)  :  25 years  :  59 tests  :  1.78m  :  85kg
9  Sam Cordingley (Queensland Reds)  :  32 years  :  20 tests  :  1.78m  :  87kg
Backline tests:  248, average 35.2
8  Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)  :  25 years  :  24 tests  :  1.94m  :  120kg
7  George Smith (ACT Brumbies, captain)  :  28 years  :  91 tests  :  1.80m  :  103kg
6  Rocky Elsom (NSW Waratahs)  :  28 years  :  39 tests  :  1.97m  :  106kg
5  Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)  :  30 years  :  68 tests  :  2.00  :  115kg
4  James Horwill (Queensland Reds)  :  23 years  :  9 tests  :  2.00m  :  115kg
3  Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs)  :  31 years  :  59 tests  :  1.90m  :  116kg
2  Stephen Moore (Queensland Reds)  :  25 years  :  28 tests  :  1.86m  :  112kg
1  Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)  :  24 years  :  14 tests  :  1.83m  :  113kg
Forward pack tests:  332 tests, average 41.5.
16  Adam Frier (NSW Waratahs)  :  28 years  :  23 tests  :  1.75m  :  98kg
17  Matt Dunning (NSW Waratahs)  :  29 years  :  41 tests  :  1.82m  :  115kg
18  Hugh McMeniman (NSW Waratahs)  :  28 years  :  16 tests  :  2:00m  :  114kg
19  Phil Waugh (NSW Waratahs)  :  28 years  :  74 tests  :  1.75m  :  100kg    
20  Richard Brown (Western Force)  :  32 years  :  new cap  :  1.89m  :  106kg
21  Brett Sheehan (NSW Waratahs)  :  28 years  :  3 tests  :  1.73m  :  90kg
22  Drew Mitchell (Western Force)  :  24 years  :  24 tests  :  1.82m  :  95kg
Reserve tests:  181 tests, average 22.6.
Total tests:  761, average 34.5

All Black team stats:
1  Tony Woodcock (North Harbour, Blues) : 27 years : 44 tests : 1.84m : 118kg
2  Andrew Hore (Taranaki, Hurricanes) : 29 years : 34 tests : 1.83m : 111kg
3  Greg Somerville (Canterbury, Crusaders) : 24 years : 64 tests : 1.83m : 126kg
4  Ali Williams (Tasman, Crusaders) : 27 years : 55 tests ; 2.02m : 112kg
5  Brad Thorn (Tasman, Crusaders) : 33 years : 19 tests : 1.95m : 113kg
7  Rodney So’oialo (Wellington, Hurricanes) : 28 years : 50 tests : 1.90m : 107kg
7  Richie McCaw (Canterbury, Crusaders, captain) : 27 years : 64 tests : 1.87m : 106kg
8  Jerome Kaino (Auckland, Blues) : 25 years : 10 tests : 1.96m : 109kg
Forward pack tests:  340 tests, average 42.5.
9  Jimmy Cowan (Southland, Highlanders) : 26 years : 16 tests : 1.82m : 91kg
10  Dan Carter (Canterbury, Crusaders) : 26 years : 53 tests : 1:78m : 91kg
12  Ma’a Nonu (Wellington, Hurricanes) : 26 years : 27 tests : 1.82m : 102kg
11  Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato, Chiefs) : 26 years : 29 tests : 1.85m : 100kg
13  Conrad Smith (Wellington, Hurricanes) : 26 years : 20 tests : 1.86m : 95kg
14  Richard Kahui (Waikato, Chiefs) : 23 years ; 5 tests : 1.86m : 95kg
15  Mils Muliaina  (Waikato, Chiefs) : 27 years : 64 tests : 1.83m : 93kg
Backline tests:  214, average 30.5.
16  Keven Mealamu (Auckland, Blues) : 29 years : 59 tests : 1.81m : 106kg
17  John Afoa (Auckland, Blues) : 24 years : 8 tests : 1.83m : 126kg
18  Anthony Boric (North Harbour, Blues) : 24 years : 6 tests : 2.00m : 110kg
19  Adam Thomson (Otago, Hurricanes) : 26 years : 7 tests : 1.96m : 112kg
20  Piri Weepu (Wellington, Hurricanes) : 24 years : 20 tests : 1.78m : 95kg
21  Stephen Donald (Waikato, Chiefs) : 24 years : 5 tests : 1.90m : 98kg
22  Isaia Toeava (Auckland, Blues) : 22 years : 17 tests : 1.81m : 92kg
Reserve tests:  122 tests, average 17.4.
Total tests:  676, average 30.7.