Wales Online's Delme Parfitt looks at Gavin Henson's chances of making the Wales squad.

"Whatever uncertainty surrounds Warren Gatland’s Six Nations squad announcement later today, one thing is definite – Gavin Henson will be one of the main headlines to emerge from it.

If he’s included it’s a story. If not, it’s a story. T’was ever thus.

And, as per normal, Henson will polarise opinion from Chepstow to Anglesey.

There are those who insist that the lack of guile in Wales’ current back line dictates the player’s reputation should hold sway.

Sure, they will argue, he’s had just three games back for the Blues – two at full-back – but if he improves with every game then the skill and game-awareness we all know he possesses are too valuable to ignore."

The New Zealand Herald's Wynne Gray calls for Piri Weepu to make a big impact in the final Tri-Nations Test.

"The kilos have come off, the spare tyre has deflated and certainly some centimetres have evaporated from the posterior.

It's been a tough haul for Piri Weepu, who was getting back into real trim late last year then snapped his ankle. Surgery and the convalescence bit into his fitness and frame.

Once his bones had recovered, Weepu had to get his head around finding the balance between intake and output if he wanted to make the World Cup squad.

He had all the skills the selectors wanted and more, he "saw" the game better than most in the squad and that's what they wanted. But they also needed the fit-version Weepu to help deliver those abilities."

Liam Messam is just one of a number of players who will be hoping to catch the eye in Port Elizabeth on Saturday © Getty Images

Duncan Johnstone of the Dominion Post previews Saturday's meeting between South Africa and New Zealand in Port Elizabeth.

"All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan takes a look at the backline outside him, shakes his head in wonder, and declares anything could happen in tomorrow's Tri-Nations test with the Springboks.

"The same could be said of the game. It's one of those tests that is hard to get a handle on.

"An experienced Springboks side hoping it has shaken the rust out of its system and desperate for a victory against a makeshift All Blacks team full of returning players believing they can claim a famous win that might elevate them into World Cup status.

"Yes, there's a lot of shadow boxing going on with rugby's global showpiece just around the corner. But this game has a real edge to it."

Rocky Elsom and John Smit will lead out Australia and South Africa in Durban on Saturday, both under increasing pressure in their stewardships of the national teams, according to Jamie Pandaram in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Two captains with nowhere to hide. Uncomfortable murmuring in Australia and South Africa has now become a roar not even the gavels of the ARU or SARU can bring to order.

"Rocky Elsom has failed to win over critics after two losses from three Tests this year. With what appears to be, from the outside, an aloof attitude, questions linger about his leadership qualities and his form.

"Advertisement: Story continues below John Smit has fewer doubters in the leadership stakes, but is feeling similar heat over his place in the team. Smit and Danie Rossouw are the only survivors from the side hammered by the All Blacks a fortnight ago."

Jim Tucker, writing for the Courier Mail, looks forward to the clash between the hard-hitting Butch James and the mercurial Quade Cooper ahead of Saturday's Tri-Nations clash.

"Reckless tackle merchant Butch James has been reactivated by the Springboks to further rattle Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper, who will have to keep his wits and his head intact to mastermind a Tri-Nations rally in Durban.

The abrasive James is fresh back from a four-week suspension for a high tackle so the "reformed" tag is about as meaningful as the one that has been discarded again and again for NRL bad boy Todd Carney.

The Springboks are acutely aware that caging Cooper is the surest route to winning this Test on Sunday morning (Qld time) and rival five-eighth James will make his presence felt like a heat-seeking missile.

It won't merely be giving Cooper a few welcoming jolts but securing that No.10 channel from invaders like Digby Ioane and James O'Connor sniffing for passes."

The Dominion Post's Greg Growden reflects on the Tri-Nations clash between New Zealand and Australia.

"The body language said it all. An hour after the collapse of yet another Wallabies Bledisloe Cup campaign, Robbie Deans and several of his players had to confront the media.

Seated in a row on a raised stage were Digby Ioane, James Horwill, Rocky Elsom, Deans, Quade Cooper and Will Genia.

Ioane was slumped in his seat. Horwill wasn't in the mood for any nonsense. Cooper looked dazed. Genia appeared puzzled. Elsom's shoulders were drooped. And Deans had that miserable Hangdog Harry look as if to say how much more of this All Blacks- inflicted torture could he endure. The answers all had an edge. And it revolved around how the Wallabies were once more infuriated they had wasted the moment.

The prematch vibes had been so encouraging. The Wallabies had arrived in Auckland, not exactly boasting they were about to end a 25-year Eden Park drought, but with a bounce to their step."

Duncan Johnstone, writing for the Dominion Post, provides his take on New Zealand's squad to face the Wallabies on Saturday.

"Graham Henry has responded to a heavyweight challenge by naming close to his full-strength team for Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup battle - gosh, he might just have afforded the Wallabies some respect.

Deep down it's more about fine-tuning his preferred lineup as time ticks away on this massive season but there's no doubt there's a need to get something close to a top lineup out to handle the worthy - and lippy - challenge from the Aussies.

This is largely built around about experience and combinations although some examinations continue in the outside backs where Sitiveni Sivivatu gets another chance to impress and Hosea Gear, the top wing by the end of last year, gets a belated start now he's overcome his hamstring twinge.

Of course, there's still Tony Woodcock to return and always a debate over the rich halfbacks stocks where Piri Weepu gets the starting jersey this year. But make no mistake - this is the backbone of the side that will carry New Zealand's World Cup hopes through the tournament that starts on September 9."

The Australian's Wayne Smith vents his spleen over the Springboks decision to leave 21 players in South Africa prior to their tour of the southern hemisphere and asks SANZAR to investigate the matter.

"The real question, now that the farcical exercise with the Springboks-Lite has mercifully run its course, is what Rassie Erasmus has been up to in Rustenburg for the past fortnight with the 21 "injured" South African players.

Just how blatant a slap in the face South Africa delivered to its two SANZAR partners by sending its B team to Australia and New Zealand will only be known when the Springbok side to play the Wallabies in Durban on August 14 is announced.

But irrespective of whether a handful of top players are still missing because of injury, the fact is South Africa had planned months ago to fob off its second-stringers on Australian and New Zealand crowds and reserve its best side for its own spectators.

The ploy is being touted in some quarters as a masterstroke, designed to deliver the Springboks to the World Cup fresh, fit and ready to defend the title they won in 2007. That may be, but it is also rude, discourteous and utterly insulting to the two other nations contesting the Tri-Nations series and should never be allowed to happen again."

Former Wallabies captain Andrew Slack, writing for The New Zealand Herald, looks back at the historic rivalry between Australia and New Zealand.

"Australia's relationship with the All Blacks might be best evaluated by keeping Greg Martin and Eddie Stokes in mind.

Former Wallaby fullback Martin was the motivating force behind a Golden Oldies Wallabies and All Blacks match at Ballymore this year that raised more than $500,000 for the Christchurch earthquake appeal.

While the public response in Australia was due in large degree to a natural desire to help out however possible, there's no question the size of the reaction was in some part due to the enormous respect, and indeed awe, that is reserved here for that symbol of New Zealand drive, determination, perseverance and excellence - the All Black jersey."

Both the All Blacks and Australia will hope to put down a marker ahead of the forthcoming World Cup on Saturday © Getty Images

The Dominion Post's Duncan Johnstone casts his eye ahead to Saturday's Tri-Nations clash.

"Saturday's Bledisloe Cup test is the All Blacks' most important assignment before the Rugby World Cup.

The match venue alone is enough to justify that sort of status.

With the test, that doubles as a Tri-Nations assignment, being played at World Cup headquarters, it is imperative that the All Blacks maintain their impressive record at Eden Park.

To have the Wallabies waltz across the Tasman and claim victory at HQ on the eve of the tournament would be a huge psychological lift for Robbie Deans' side and, equally, a bitter blow to the All Blacks.

There is no doubt there's a swagger to the Aussies at the moment on the back of the Queensland Reds' Super Rugby triumph.

That was tempered somewhat by the sloppy loss of the back-up Wallabies to Samoa. But they have a spring back in their step after demolishing the B Boks in Sydney although they will have noted that the All Blacks did an even better job on the South Africans in Wellington last week."

Peter de Villiers will have to pacify angry South African fans in their next match in the Tri-Nations © Getty Images

Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick, writing for the New Zealand Herald, reflects on the Springboks poor showing in the Tri-Nations.

"After a faltering start against Samoa, the Wallabies bounced back last Saturday with a very convincing 39-20 win over a second-rate Springboks side.

"Expect to see a very different Springboks side when these two teams meet in Port Elizabeth in three weeks.

Our victory over the under-strength South Africans in Wellington last night was extremely important for this All Blacks side, but for the Boks, their real test comes in their two home Tri Nations matches, which start against Australia in Durban on August 14 (NZ time).

They were awful for the second test in a row and they have just two games to get it right before the World Cup.

The Springboks have embarked on a different route to the World Cup than Graham Henry's All Blacks. Leaving a stack of players at home for the past two games, allegedly because they are injured, is not how I would lead a team into the biggest event on the rugby calendar."

Richard Loe, writing for the New Zealand Herald, reflects on the Tri-Nations clash between New Zealand and South Africa.

"Watching the game last night - in what felt like a freezer in Wellington - I think the All Blacks coaches would have seen a few more of the ingredients they need for their World Cup starting team; mainly form players and high work rates. Last week they went through the motions too much against Fiji - they needed to step up, and did. Every time anyone goes out this year in a Tri Nations test they are on trial.

A concern for me was Ali Williams. I think he had another average game. You look at the past few weeks; he was going well then played poorly against the Reds and Fiji. By his standards I'd suggest the Springboks test was another poor one, compared to what he's been capable of in the past."

Australia's David Pocock puts his foot down during training © Getty Images

Matt Burke picks through the wreckage of Australia's loss to Samoa and offers some pointers for the Tri-Nations in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The Wallabies are again favourites to win in Sydney against an under-strength - or perceived under-strength - team, this time the Springboks. Let's hope they have learnt the lesson of taking the points when they are on offer and playing field position to build pressure.

"It's interesting to hear the calls of ''run it'' from the crowd when you are at the ground. This is fool's gold. Sometimes it is easier to play without the ball to build pressure. I am not advocating kicking aimlessly, but if you are getting knocked back phase after phase, the better option might be kicking strategically."

The Independent's Mike Greenaway reports from the Springboks' low-key arrival in Australia.

"It was an almost eerily subdued arrival for the Springboks in Sydney on Sunday, with barely a soul acknowledging their presence at the arrivals hall when in previous years the full-strength Boks have been accustomed to being trumpeted onto the bus to the tune of Sarie Marais by a Cape-style band, while thronged by autograph-hunting, homesick green-and-gold clad expats.

Maybe the day lost to the recalcitrant Engine No 3 on Friday’s QF 64 spoiled the planning party, and the total no-show of Aussie reporters (not one – never mind the usual TV crews) at the arrivals press opportunity was mostly because of the Test match against Samoa that had ended not long before the Boks landed at about 8pm local time.

“Where is everybody?” captain John Smit smiled rhetorically. “Ah well, I guess they are not excepting too much from us but for the life of me I don’t know why. But I reckon we can be very assured that this loss to Samoa we have just heard about is going to shake things up a bit this week and I think we might see the heat being taken off us being the ones accused of fielding a second-strong side ...”

The New Zealand Herald's Wynne Gray argues that the rugby watching public should not be surprised by the Springboks recent move to withdraw 21 players from their away ties in the Tri-Nations

"Don't blame the Boks. In late 2002 when the All Blacks toured Europe, they left 21 senior players behind to rest and recuperate for the next World Cup.

"Now the Boks are doing something similar, settling on 21 as the number of players to leave behind for the Tri-Nations tests in Australia and New Zealand.

"No one should be surprised. "

The New Zealand Herald's Chris Rattue believes that the Springboks may turn up at this year's Rugby World Cup with a game plan you could write on the "back of a postage stamp".

"Peter de Villiers didn't look like a happy man in the stands as the Crusaders pummelled the Stormers at Newlands on Sunday.

"Away from the public glare though, the Springboks coach might have afforded himself a wee smile because the Super 15 semifinal provided further confirmation that the world champions don't have what it takes to compete with New Zealand and Australia's attacking game.

"Knowing he doesn't have the players to attack, de Villiers can get back to basics, which in South Africa involves trench warfare, lineout supremacy, field position, bombs, kicking the goals and letting opponents make the mistakes. This is a formula by which they are more than capable of defending their title."

As the Crusaders prepare for Saturday's Super 15 final, former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer has labelled some of their key players "serial infringers" of the laws of the game. Peter Bills writes for the New Zealand Herald.

"The World Cup-winning coach singled out Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Owen Franks and Hurricane Conrad Smith for special mention.

Dwyer praised the Crusaders, per se, for making it to Saturday's Super 15 final against the Reds in Brisbane. "Their technique is beyond reproach which is what makes them the great side they are."

But he slammed certain players, particularly All Black captain McCaw. "You only have to watch what Richie does in a match. He would be guilty six times of obstruction in every game. He knocks players away from the ruck so his players can get in first to the ball. They are very good at it.

"For a variety of offences, players like Kieran Read, Owen Franks, Wayne Crockett and Conrad Smith [of the Hurricanes] are all serial infringers. The amount of infringements New Zealand props get away with is incredible."

Peter Bills writes of his concern at dwindling attendances in the southern hemisphere in The Independent.

"It is a comment on the realities of trying to get spectators out to rugby union Test matches in Australia, where rival sports such as rugby league and AFL continue to take a huge chunk of the sporting market. This is a problem of long standing in Australia and it has got worse for the union authorities in recent times.

"Admittedly, the venue, Stadium ANZ way out in Sydney’s western suburbs and the site of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, does not help. It is not popular, is a long way from the city and has no local identity or character even when you get there.

"Even so, rugby union bosses in northern hemisphere countries like England, Ireland, Wales etc. would be horrified at the idea of offering so heavily discounted tickets for any international matches. The authorities at places like Twickenham rarely do it for any major game, yet the crowds continue to pour in."

Australia are set to fight against lost Tri-Nations revenue © Getty Images

Greg Growden reports on Australia's attempt to recoup some of the losses attributed to the staging of the Rugby World Cup in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Australia will start a high-level campaign this week to retrieve some of the $16 million lost due to the staging of this year's World Cup.

"Australian Rugby Union officials will push their case for better compensation at an International Rugby Board meeting in London, and even call for the World Cup to be staged later in the year so major rugby nations do not suffer losses every four years when the tournament is staged.

"The ARU recently revealed the 10 tier-one nations would forfeit about $75 million due to the closure of the June and November Test windows this season. In its annual report, the ARU predicted it would lose about $16m in net revenue."

Dylan Cleaver of the New Zealand Herald takes a look back at this year's Tri-Nations and dishes out some awards.

"Captain Courageous, his slimline teammate - and the odd incendiary comment. It had it all.

"Best player: No prizes for guessing this one - Richie McCaw. The next four in line would have been All Blacks as well, with Kieran Read, Brad Thorn and Keven Mealamu all outstanding. Wallaby David Pocock was the closest foreigner, though he blotted his copybook with an ordinary night in Sydney.

"Surprise package: Looking like something out of a Jenny Craig commercial, Piri Weepu wasn't just thinner, he looked a different player. Snappy and direct, he also hoofed over kicks when required."

The Irish Times' Gerry Thornley has been watching the Tri-Nations from afar and he has been impressed with what he has seen.

"As well as making sharper decisions about tackling low or smothering the ball, counter-rucking or filling a defensive line, every All Black has to be prepared to stand in at scrumhalf, first receiver or anywhere else in an attacking line. It helps too when every player from one to 15 can take and give a pass, or even break a defensive line with footwork such as Keven Mealamu’s or handling like Brad Thorn’s. Where John Hart, John Mitchell were run out of town for World Cup “failures”, Henry and co were given a second four-year cycle and interestingly, the word rotation has been removed from the All Blacks’ lexicon. You wonder how long more the phenomenal Thorn, Mealamu and their other veterans can keep going, and those of a more pessimistic bent in New Zealand will fear they may have peaked too soon again.

"An ageing South Africa appear to have peaked two years too early, but no less than the over-reaction in the New Zealand media to the All Blacks’ losing three times to the Springboks in 2009 (two away, and one a thriller at home) the Boks were always unlikely to repeat those feats. Why? Because in the expanded nine-match itinerary, it was their turn to play two of three meetings with the All Blacks away from home. The Boks were also obliged to play those two first up, followed by a trek to Australia, and have had to do without the incomparable Fourie du Preez for the entire tournament, as well as Heinrich Brussow, Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira, as well as being without Bakkies Botha and Juan Smith. In the circumstances, they unearthed some new talent, while Victor Matfield remained simply sensational."

Spiros Zavros believes New Zealand and Australia provided a template for how rugby should be played in Saturday's epic Test, writing in Rugby Heaven.

"Saturday night's epic Test between the Wallabies and the All Blacks was watched by 70,288 spectators, including several IRB heavyweights, the chairman Bernard Lapasset, vice-chairman Bill Beaumont, chief executive Mike Miller and the boss of the referees, Paddy O'Brien. What they and the vast roaring crowd saw was 21st century rugby at its best.

"The Test was everything the World Cup 2007 final between England and South Africa should have been, but was not. That final was a static match where both teams played for field position and penalties. On Saturday night, the ball was in play for long periods, with the All Blacks five times establishing seven phases of play, and the Wallabies once. There were only 33 kicks, and many of them had a scoring intent. There were five scrum resets, 14 lineouts, and 27 turnovers (12 to the Wallabies, 15 to the All Blacks). There was a thrilling unpredictability about the play, which is the glory of rugby.

"Australia and New Zealand have led the way (remember the ELVs?) to write a set of laws and a way of interpreting them that allowed for the thrilling spectacle at ANZ Stadium. For years, forces in the IRB resisted these efforts. There is some justice, therefore, that the Wallabies (No.2 in the rankings) and the All Blacks (No.1) lead the world in running rugby."

Out in front: The All Blacks celebrate victory © Getty Images

Brian Moore believes that the difference in quality between the northern and southern hemispheres was again apparent this weekend in The Daily Telegraph.

"What the Tri-Nations has again shown is that the northern hemisphere, in terms of pace, basic skills and rugby nous, is a step behind. The reasons for the shortfall in England were apparent over the Aviva Premiership games.

"Leicester and Wasps, hitherto the best exponents of English clubs that can play with momentum, are both struggling. They will get better, but the habitual dynamism is largely absent. Though Exeter Chiefs deserve credit for spirited effort, the Leicester coach Richard Cockerill knows that his side’s failure to play on the front foot was partially responsible for the liberties taken by Exeter.

"As for Gloucester; they won and that is about all you can say. The Bath v London Irish game was strewn with negative defence and the refusal of both sides to heed any of the breakdown laws. Those complaining of a whistle-happy referee should look to their own side and ask whether they have read the law book recently."

Writing in The Independent, former England coach Brian Ashton hails the rugby being played by the Wallabies.

"They are playing a challenging brand of rugby that is confrontational in all the right ways: quick-thinking, ambitious, unfailingly positive. Judging by the number of quick throws they take, they must spend less time practising line-outs than anyone in the international game. As for their scrum, the subject of much derisive comment when England toured down there in June... well, it has improved out of all recognition in the space of a few weeks. Benn Robinson's return at loose-head prop has made a big difference, and with the hooker Stephen Moore back in business alongside him, they are far more combative in this department.

"Together with the lock Mark Chisholm, these individuals have brought a different level of physicality to the Wallaby act up front. They were certainly prepared to mix it with the Boks in the loose – never the easiest way of spending an afternoon – and with two or three key forwards still working through their rehabilitation after serious injury, there is surely more to come."

www.sportbusiness.com says that the addition of Argentina to rugby union's Tri Nations competition from 2012 is set to increase the value of the tournament to $213.1 million.

"According to a study commissioned by MasterCard to the Centre for the International Business of Sport (CIBS), the 2010 edition will contribute $174.3 million to the sport and leisure economy across the Southern Hemisphere.

"Sydney will benefit from the largest single impact, from hosting Australia-New Zealand, pocketing $28 million, ahead of Johannesburg and Christchurch, with $19.6 million and $12 million respectively.

“The MasterCard study highlights that Rugby is clearly booming and providing a considerable economic boost to the Southern Hemisphere,” said Dr. Anna Semens, research fellow at CIBS and MasterCard’s advisor on the business of rugby."

Rupert Guinness talks to All Black fly-half Aaron Cruden about his first Test start and battle with cancer in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Aaron Cruden will cut a small figure in the All Blacks line-up as they run onto the field at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night to play the Wallabies.

"Cruden, 21, the replacement at five-eighth for the sidelined Dan Carter, weighs 82 kilograms and is 178 centimetres. But All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is quick to remind you: ''He is not the biggest guy in the world but he is a gutsy tackler and will get in and make tackles.''

"McCaw's comment underlines Cruden's courage to battle against the odds and his ability to take on bigger players with ball in hand. And, on the way to his first starting cap for the All Blacks, Cruden has already overcome a foe mightier than he will meet on any field."

David Pocock got through plenty of work against South Africa © Getty Images

Wynne Gray is looking forward to David Pocock and Richie McCaw going head-to-head in Sydney on Saturday in The New Zealand Herald.

"About a year ago, David Pocock replaced the superb but tiring George Smith as the Wallabies' premier openside flanker.

"That ascension had only been a matter of when, once Pocock was nabbed five years ago by former All Black coach and looseforward John Mitchell for his Super 14 debut. Pocock is still only 22, but yesterday in Bloemfontein, he backed up his work from the week before with another stunning display in the Wallabies' edgy 41-39 victory.

"While most inspection would have been on Kurtley Beale's mishaps-to-messiah contribution in the second half, the Wallabies would have been buried without Pocock."

The most experienced side in South African rugby history may need an overahul before World Cup according the Sydney Morning Herald.

"It was the Springboks' fifth defeat in six matches and condemned them to last place in the tournament behind New Zealand and Australia.

"Most worrying for the Springboks was the way a young Wallabies team ripped their defence apart in scoring four tries within 17 minutes in the first half. Australia added another try in the second half.

"South Africa conceded 22 tries during their campaign, the most they have given up since the Tri Nations started in 1996, and twice as many as they conceded in each of the previous two seasons.

"For a team which prides itself on aggressive defence - an attribute which was a key factor when they won the World Cup in 2007 - it raised uncomfortable questions about the wisdom of keeping together the core of that team."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Greg Growden reports on Australia's dramatic Tri-Nations triumph over South Africa in Bloemfontein.

"A spectacular Kurtley Beale penalty goal on fulltime has enabled the Wallabies to enjoy one of their greatest moments on South African soil when they won at altitude for the first time in 47 years when beating the Springboks 41-39 in Bloemfontein this morning.

"This was an unbelievable Test which involved all possible emotions, but thankfully the Wallabies were able to survive in the most dramatic of circumstances to ensure they won the Nelson Mandela Plate while consigning the Springboks to last place in the Tri Nations.

"...This was the chance for Beale to redeem himself after making several major blunders in the second half that helped the Springboks to get back in the game.

Earlier, Beale threw a pass over the head of five-eighth Cooper near his own goal line and it went dead, the Springboks scored off the ensuing scrum to make it 31-30 after 54 minutes. But Beale was up to the pressure, kicking it through the posts from just inside the Springboks half, leading to scenes of ecstasy from the delighted Wallabies."

Ex-England centre Will Greenwood believes the style of rugby being played in this season's Tri-Nations could revolutionise the game, in The Telegraph.

"The reason for my optimism is the quality of rugby played in the recent Tri-Nations tournament. It was breathless stuff – literally. I have never seen rugby played at such pace for such a sustained period of time. Players were moving the ball from all parts of the field, preferring to run rather than kick, daring the defence to stop them if they could. Props were flinging passes that three-quarters would have been proud of, backs were rucking and taking contact.

"This was rugby turned on its head and it sent out a message to teams such as England: play static rugby, dither with the ball at the back of a ruck or maul, try to slow things down, and you will be punished. England will have a lot to think about. They have been trying to move to a more liberated, quick game, the second Test v Australia was exceptional but it can now not be the exception.

"After this last Tri-Nations, they will have little choice but to be even braver in how they play or they will be blown apart. It really will be do-or-die stuff for the team and management, such was the quality of rugby on offer in the Tri-Nations.

"I was getting text messages from friends, both rugby fans and sometime viewers, who could not believe what they were seeing. They all talked about the spectacle of what was going on. This was a style of rugby that could draw people away from football, from Twenty20 cricket, from anything that sold itself as fast, sexy and exciting. Rugby was suddenly seat-of-your-pants stuff that you didn’t have to be a purist to understand."

Springbok wing JP Pietersen is grounded by a combination of Nathan Sharpe and Quade Cooper in Pretoria © Getty Images

Writing on Rugby Heaven, Spiro Zavos analyses Australia's shortcomings in Saturday's Tri-Nations defeat in Pretoria.

"The South African mentality is big on abrasive obstinacy as a dominant characteristic. We saw this in the determined manner in which the Springboks fought their way back into the Test at Pretoria after giving up 14 points in the opening minutes. And also in the way Victor Matfield played out the full 80 minutes of his 100th Test.

"John Smit, who achieved 100 Tests a week earlier, missed a tackle on the last play of the Test that led to the All Blacks scoring their winning try. This time the obstinacy was rewarded with Matfield stealing some crucial lineouts from Wallabies throws near the Springboks try line near the end of the match....

"While the Springboks might have one too many Test veterans, the Wallabies suffer from a lack of them, and the rugby nous they bring. In Pretoria, the Wallabies failed to capitalise on their brilliant start. It is inconceivable that the lead would have been blown had Gregan, Stephen Larkham and George Smith been playing. No one in the Wallabies back line (or the captain Rocky Elsom) seemed to have a clue about entrenching the opening surge."

Peter Bills of the New Zealand Herald reports on Bob Dwyer's savage criticism of Australia head coach Robbie Deans.

"Mark it down as the time in history when Australian rugby's love affair with Robbie Deans finally died.

"The fall-out from the latest defeat of Deans' Wallabies in this season's Tri-Nations, began to get serious yesterday. Media men dipped pens into their pots of acid and began furiously to scrawl their invective.

"But none matched the words of former Australian coach Bob Dwyer, who condemned Deans as "pig-headed, blinkered and bloody minded". All of which represented a decent serve, in anyone's language ...

"Dwyer, writing on his website www.bobdwyerrugby.com, savaged the New Zealander who is now under fierce pressure as Wallaby coach. He wrote "Selection plays a vital role in the fortunes of a team. The Springboks have belatedly begun to understand that simple fact but not so the Wallabies."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Wynne Gray argues that the Wallabies should have made better use of their bench in Saturday's Tri-Nations defeat by the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld.

"Coaches often talk about test rugby being a 22-man game. The substitute laws and pace of the game have allowed that luxury for more than a decade.

"Using that expanded roster has become more prevalent as coaches have learned to trust their bench. The All Blacks have been comfortable using halfbacks Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu and the Franks brothers at prop for half a game during the latest Tri-Nations.

"When they claimed the trophy in dramatic fashion on the Highveld in Soweto, they used five of their bench, Weepu, Sam Whitelock, Israel Dagg, John Afoa and Victor Vito, for varying cameos - a mix of forwards and backs.

"In contrast, the Wallabies used a quartet of forward replacements and none of the backs as they slid yesterday from a 21-7 lead at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria to a 44-31 defeat to the Boks."

Greg Growden of the Sydney Morning Herald reflects on Australia's defeat by South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday.

"The Wallabies have tried every method to end their losing ways, but captain Rocky Elsom opted to jolt his teammates with a no-holds-barred dressing-room speech after their implosion against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night.

"Elsom and coach Robbie Deans had every right to talk tough after the Wallabies drifted out of the Test, wasting leads of 21-7 and 28-17 to hand the Springboks their first Tri Nations victory of the year.

"After a madcap start, which comprised five tries in the first 14 minutes, including three from the tourists, the Wallabies were unable to take advantage of their early superiority and were outscored 37 points to 10 in the final hour of play."

Springboks scrum-half Francois Hougaard spins the ball during the latest Tri-Nations clash in Pretoria © Getty Images

South Africa and Australia came close to producing a new version of rugby in Pretoria according to Peter Bills in the New Zealand Herald.

"It was essentially rugby sevens played with 15 men a side - an interesting hybrid model which, alas, I don't think has a future.

"Neither, for that matter, does either of these teams if they continue to play the game in such a dumb fashion.

"Yes, it was entertaining enough if you just want the vicarious pleasure of watching players dive over the whitewash. But for any serious observers of the game it was close to a joke at times. "Surreal" was how one leading world rugby official called it, and he was right on the money.

"Not to put too fine a point on it, it was a kind of rugby diarrhoea.

"Tries spewed out at regular intervals, with no-one on the field apparently able to control the flow."

Zelim Nel throws the spotlight on the Springboks' conditioning as they prepare to face the Wallabies in The Cape Argus.

"The Wallabies are banking on superior conditioning to lift them to their first win on the Highveld in almost 50 years when they square up against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon.

"Australia have never won in Pretoria and, in 37 matches played in South Africa, they have only beaten the Boks eight times. Six of those wins came at coastal venues, while the most recent Highveld victory - dating back to Johannesburg in 1963 - came three decades after Australia's first such win in Bloemfontein in 1933."

Spiro Zavos believes that the Wallabies can kick the Springboks while they are down this weekend in Bloemfontein in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Some New Zealand newspapers carried the remarkable photograph of Ma'a Nonu bursting through the Springboks defence to set up the All Blacks' last try in their thrilling 29-22 victory in Johannesburg. Remarkable because Nonu is running with one of his boots left in the despairing grasp of John Smit. There is a metaphor here. The Springboks were given the order of the boot by the All Blacks, who scored their first victory in Johannesburg since 1992, and their first ever Tri Nations win there.

"Despite the closeness of the scoreline and the fact that the All Blacks scored 12 points in the last five minutes of play, the home side was really thrashed all over the field. The Springboks scrum was under pressure most of the game, even though it won a penalty when Smit went up early. The famed lineout dominance has gone with penalties conceded for crooked throws and taking too long to throw in. The All Blacks missed five chances of scoring tries and scored three while the Springboks took their only chance which came from a couple of barging runs near the try line following a tap kick."

Richie McCaw celebrates his late try against South Africa © Getty Images

Gavin Rich is rapidly losing patience with the denial emanating from the Springbok camp after another defeat on Supersport.

"If the Springboks are going to be in with any chance of retaining the World Cup next year, the current trend of living in denial is going to have to be brought to an immediate halt.

"When the team was in Australasia, four yellow cards in three matches was not considered enough reason to believe the team had a discipline problem. The Boks lost all three matches overseas by double figure margins, and yet when the Springbok coach was asked about it, he never came out with any kind of comment suggesting he acknowledged that there was a problem much less had any idea of how to fix it.

“When I watch the game again on video I cannot understand how we lost”, was not confidence inspiring stuff.

"When the Boks returned home all we heard from the coach and his assistants was that there were small things that had gone wrong on tour and that no radical change of approach was necessary. All it required, or so they said, was a few minor adjustments and that it was complacency that had tripped the team up in the away matches against New Zealand and Australia."

Peter Bills hails the All Blacks' gameplan as the deciding factor in their Tri-Nations triumph in The Irish Independent.

"So, did the All Blacks get out of jail in Johannesburg? Behind for 77 minutes of a compelling Test match and at times smashed back by the Springboks' immense physicality and terrific defence, were they lucky to turn the game on its head with two tries in the last three minutes?

"Not in my book. This match wasn't won in front of 94,000 delirious South African fans who thought they had the old Kiwi skewered and on the braai midway through the second half when the Boks led 22-14.

"It was won last year in the northern hemisphere and earlier this year when the Tri Nations began. As someone once said, you triumphed the moment you decided to become someone."

Chris Rattue hails the performance of New Zealand after they wrapped up the Tri-Nations title in Soweto, and he wasn't at all impressed with the Springboks, in The New Zealand Herald.

"Rugby has rarely been better to watch, if ever, and this re-built All Black team is already among the best ever.

"The All Blacks were magnificent, nullifying South Africa's famed home advantage and finishing them off with two late tries that should rank high in any memory that can cope with the cluttered modern day test schedule. As for the Springboks, they are in even bigger trouble than we thought.

"If that's the best the world champs can come up with in a home colosseum while celebrating John Smit's century of tests, then they are indeed one large tank skidding out of control down one very steep hill."

Are the All Blacks in a class of their own? © Getty Images

Marc Hinton hails the All Blacks' Tri-Nations victory and their emergence as one of the great sides on stuff.co.nz.

" Does it get any better? The Springbok sweep is completed, but more to the point the All Blacks have shown in Soweto overnight that they are on course to go down as one of the great sides of this generation.

"Their 29-22 victory over the Springboks achieved all sorts of landmarks - their 10th Tri-Nations title in 15 years, their 14th straight test victory in a run that shows no sign of abating and, importantly, their third win in as many outings against the Boks in 2010.

"The horrors of 2009 are now not only avenged, they're a distant memory. The Springboks have been swept, now just the Australians await. Surely the wobbling Wallabies are just another statistic waiting to be hoovered up by this hungry side of Graham Henry's."

Kevin McCallum reflects on a cruel loss for Springbok legend John Smit in his 100th Test match in The Tribune.

"John Smit dropped to one knee exhausted and disbelieving as referee Nigel Owens blew the whistle to bring an end to a match that was so close to being the ultimate 100th anniversary party for the Springbok captain.

"A last-minute try by Israel Dagg gave the All Blacks a 29-22 win, wrapping up yet another Vodacom Tri-nations series win, but it was cruel on a Springbok team that had scrapped every inch of the way, fading in the last quarter.

"It was cruel on Smit, who has been an immense statesman for his country. Even his opposite number, Richie McCaw, who also scored a try a try three minutes from time to put the All Blacks level, felt it was harsh."

Sean Fitzpatrick maintains that the All Blacks and Springboks need each other, despite the recent SANZAR wrangling, in The New Zealand Herald.

"My response to the Springboks pulling out of Sanzar is - don't do it. The All Blacks and the Springboks need each other, perhaps more than either would like to admit.

"In my view, it's still the best rivalry in world rugby. I have magical memories from my youth of sitting in front of the TV with my family in the dead of night, tingling with excitement at the prospect of watching the All Blacks take on the auld enemy.

"My heroes the All Blacks, playing South Africa on the TV in the wee small hours of the morning - pure rugby heaven for a young lad. Playing the Boks has always been the ultimate challenge for any All Black and that remains the case. Playing them in New Zealand is a tough proposition, but fronting up in South Africa is another level altogether."

Referee Craig Joubert shows Australia's Drew Mitchell a red card in this year's Tri-Nations © Getty Images

Statistics from the first five games of this year's Tri-Nations competition show a difference in the ratio of penalties per yellow card. The New Zealand Herald reports.

"It's official.

"The All Blacks are treated differently by referees from either of their Tri-Nations opponents.

"The statistics from the first five games of this year's competition show a staggering difference in the ratio of penalties per yellow card. Suspicions are rife in South African rugby that the All Blacks get a special deal, are favoured whether subconsciously or consciously by referees.

"Now, the figures seem to prove the point. South Africa are the most regularly penalised, conceding six penalties per yellow card. The Australians' figure is remarkably similar - just seven a card.

"But by the same calculations, the New Zealand tally is incredible. Official figures show they incur 43 penalties a yellow card, more than seven times the figure of the Springboks."

Springboks vice-captain Victor Matfield has accused the All Blacks of dodgy tactics ahead of Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby test in Soweto. The Sydney Morning Herald's David Long reports.

"In South Africa's first media conference of any substance Matfield accused the All Blacks of jumping the gun at lineouts.

The 98-test veteran believes in the two tests against the All Blacks this year, the ball was thrown into the lineout too soon and he has put the onus on Welsh referee Nigel Owens to stamp out this practice.

"It's one area where we would like to put them under pressure. If we can just get them to form the lineout and don't throw it quickly in," Matfield said.

"Firstly it's our aim to stop them throwing it in without us getting there.

"If we can get that hopefully we can put some pressure on their lineout."

It's a tactic that hasn't been mentioned before but it's obviously something the Springboks have spent time looking at over their three weeks of down time."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Wynne Grey thinks that South African should think long and hard before considering cutting their ties with their southern hemsiphere cousins.

"You wonder what P Divvy thinks about Saru's idea, as espoused by Marais, that South Africa will bail out of Super rugby. Where will they go? Will they be content to stay with the Currie Cup and tests matches?

"Heading north seems unlikely. A Seven Nations series would dilute some of the emotional content in that series, while the Heineken Cup, Guinness Premiership, Magner's League, Top 14, the West Harrogate Workingman's championship or the Brass Monkey's Cup are congested enough already.

"Besides, what would P Divvy make of referees in that part of the globe having a regular influence on South African sides? Goodness knows, but anyone who comes out with comments like: "I'm a God-given talent, I'm the best I can ever be. So what you think doesn't bother me. I know what I am and I don't give a damn," has got to be good for the opposition."

The Springboks have had little to cheer about in 2010 © Getty Images

Gavin Rich ponders the step up in class shown by New Zealand's players this season, and the flat performances of their Springbok counterparts on Supersport.

"If anyone was trying to justify the all-pervading depression that fell on many South African rugby followers at the end of the away leg of the Tri-Nations, All Black coach Graham Henry summed up why they were feeling that when he arrived in the country at the weekend.

“It has been going well so far, because there was a feeling in New Zealand after the Super 14 final that we would not be able to match the Springboks,” said Henry.

"Yes, and that was only two and a half months ago. Henry's words are a reminder that the South African expectations were not based on false hope and were completely justified. This was not a year when the Springboks should have been so emphatically outplayed away from home."

Greg Growden believes that Wallabies boss Robbie Deans is struggling against the weight of history as he looks to inpire a victory on the high veldt in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"When the Wallabies return to training today, they will probably insist they are not scarred by their nine-Test losing streak to the All Blacks and will revive their winning form by defeating the South Africans on the Highveld for the first time since 1963.

"This is an admirable chest-beating venture aimed at buoying the troops, but one that is sounding somewhat hollow. Player injuries and unavailabilities aside, the losses are mounting up and the Wallabies are hardly the flavour of the month.

"There is justifiable concern the Wallabies are struggling to overcome a losers' mentality, and if it is not addressed within the next year, the 2011 World Cup campaign could be as agonising as this season has been so far."

Richard Loe believes that a few All Black barbs have found their mark in recent weeks as they prepare for a Soweto showdown with the Springboks in The Herald on Sunday.

"The All Blacks have been clever in their build-up to next weekend's test match against the Boks in Soweto - and they need to be.

"The Boks will come at them very hard in front of 90,000 fans.The All Blacks in the two tests in New Zealand didn't just surprise the Springboks, they shattered the image of them being the best team in the world, put a question mark next to the future of many players and will have made them question their whole approach to the game, only a year or so out from the World Cup.

"Their response will be physical, committed and almost desperate. But will it be enough? After the first test in New Zealand, most of us thought (I certainly did) the Boks would come back hard in the second test."

Wynne Gray predicts a potent atmosphere as the All Blacks take on the Springboks in Soweto next weekend in The New Zealand Herald.

"The Springboks against the All Blacks in Soweto. The nerves churn and the blood rises just imagining the atmosphere next Sunday if more than 94,000 cram into the National Stadium to watch the old rivals.

"One of our satellite sports is baiting South Africans, but one thing we should never do is chip them about the way they support their national teams. They do atmosphere as well as any rugby nation round the globe.

"Next week that may rise to a new level as the Springboks arrive for the first of their three Tri-Nations tests at home with revered captain John Smit set for his 100th Springbok cap."

Rupert Guinness gets the thoughts of former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and Reds boss Ewen McKenzie about the Springboks' woes in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has warned against writing off the world champion Springboks despite their Tri Nations form slump.

"And Reds coach and former World Cup-winning Wallabies prop Ewen McKenzie says the extent of the Springboks' ills won't be known until after they face New Zealand in Johannesburg next Saturday.

"The Springboks lost their first three away Tri Nations Tests - 32-12 and 31-17 to the All Blacks in New Zealand and 30-13 to Australia in Brisbane on July 24. Jones believes their decline is temporary and that they are more focused on the World Cup next year."

Wynne Gray calls for Peter De Villiers, and his now famous outbursts, to remain in place throught to the 2011 Rugby World Cup in The New Zealand Herald.

"The squeaky helium tones of Peter de Villiers will not be back in town until next year, as long as he makes the World Cup cut. In the meantime, though, his vocal gems are sure to bounce around the globe as other nations marvel at some of his sayings and wonder about his coaching connection to the Springboks.

"Let's hope he stays in charge to the end of next year because without him, the Boks would be a much more dangerous beast.

"This week, old P Divvy escaped the wrath of Sanzar when he was cleared of misconduct for comments implying some sort of conspiracy between referees to bolster interest in the 2011 World Cup. A South African judicial official ruled that he had not breached the code of conduct."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Mark Ella gives his thoughts on Saturday's Tri-Nations clash between New Zealand and Australia.

"In many ways Saturday's Bledisloe Cup went according to plan with a much better performance from the Wallabies in Christchurch and a result that went the All Blacks' way.

"The Wallabies were gallant in defeat but, no matter how much pride they recovered after a lacklustre performance in Melbourne one week ago, the fact is they continue to come second to an All Black side that refuses to give them an inch.

"The Wallabies had the greater run of play for much of the game, dominating possession, making the New Zealanders defend for much of the match but, as usual, the All Blacks were up to the task.

"Unfortunately, much of the Wallabies' attack, especially in the first half, was sideways even though they controlled the football and didn't allow the All Blacks' defence to fluster them."

The All Blacks secured the Bledisloe Coup but not the Tri Nations Cup - not yet, at least - after they tackled a resurgent Wallabies to a standstill at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.The Australian's Wayne Smith reports.

"New Zealand might have scored two tries to one, but they all came within the first 14 minutes of the match and thereafter defence ruled, the All Blacks' defence in particular.

"With flanker David Pocock yet again turning in an awesome performance, playing the last quarter with one arm virtually dangling by his side, the vastly improved Wallabies dominated possession throughout but rarely looked capable of breaching the solid black wall.

"How the Wallabies cried out for the individual line-breaking ability of suspended five-eighth Quade Cooper but, for those who are prepared to sacrifice all for World Cup success, it might be no bad thing to limit how much exposure the All Blacks are given to the Reds magician."

Frowns all around: Are the Aussies heading for a crisis? © Getty Images

Peter Bills airs his concerns for Australian rugby, not only on the pitch but off it, in The Irish Independent.

"Without wishing to put too fine a point on it – something the Aussies never like doing – a brutal fact has to be recorded: Australian rugby is in the soup.

"It has nothing to do with last weekend’s defeat for the Wallabies at the hands of the all-conquering All Blacks. Fact is, they are likely to get another belting when they meet again in the Tri Nations/Bledisloe Cup match in Christchurch on Saturday.

"If the Wallabies lose this weekend, it will be a ninth successive loss to the All Blacks, their fiercest rivals. Yet not even that stark, sorry statistic represents the depth of Australian rugby’s travails.

"A marketing survey recently released in Sydney revealed that Australian Rugby Union’s (ARU) share of the sporting market has nearly halved in six years despite spending an alarming AUS$23m on the game. It has slipped to a perilous 13.7pc of the sporting interest market and is only the fourth most watched sport in the country."

Wallabies legend Mark Ella believes that Robbie Deans must develop combinations in his backline if he is to counter the All Blacks in The New Zealand Herald.

"So far in this season's Tri-Nations matches it has been noticeable that the senior players within the All Blacks group have been in outstanding form and the likes of McCaw, Kieran Read, Keven Mealamu, Brad Thorn, Tony Woodcock and Mils Muliaina are getting better with age.

"The one aspect of the game that is worrying from an Australian perspective is the lack of combination within the Wallabies backline.

"The Wallabies have a team of utility players who, apart from halfback Will Genia, are too accustomed at playing in different positions week in week out."

Another fine mess: Drew Mitchell gets his marching orders © Getty Images

Brenden Nel wades into the refereeing debate, and calls for greater consistency at the top, on Supersport.

"Consistency. It is a wonderful word. One too often misinterpreted by referees across the world when it comes to this wonderful game.It is all you can ask for from a referee because, as they always remind us, they are only human.

"It is something now we need desperately from the International Rugby Board’s boss Paddy O’Brien when it comes to refereeing standards across the world. This week’s swift and harsh punishment for touch judge Cobus Wessels may have been welcomed after the fact by Australia, but to us here in South Africa it only served to highlight the gross lop-sided action by the IRB bosses when it came to refereeing indiscretions.

"But before we get into that, let me state this clearly. This is not an attack on referees. They are some of the best people in rugby, fit with sharp minds and who constantly bear the brunt of a losing team as the blame for everything that goes wrong."

Can Soccer City inspire the Springboks? © Getty Images

Brenden Nel calls for the Springboks to build some momentum and restore some pride between now and the end of the season on Supersport.

" Now that the Springboks can do absolutely nothing to stop the All Blacks from winning back the Tri-Nations title, it is time rather to turn our attentions to restoring pride in the national jersey and creating some momentum ahead of next year’s World Cup.

"The next three home Tri-Nations games will be crucial for the Springboks, not only because they are on home soil, but because it will test the reaction of a management team currently under pressure to come up with a counter to not only the All Black supremacy, but their own playing woes on the field.

"You don’t have to be an expert to expect the Boks to do well in these three test matches. They are, by far, a different animal at home, and all three tests are at altitude, with the Wallabies having a very poor record, having not won at altitude since 1992."

Chris Rattue joins the chorus of dissenting voices following Drew Mitchell's sending off against the All Blacks in The New Zealand Herald.

"Thank you, YouTube. Finally, we get to see what Wallaby winger Drew Mitchell was yellow-carded for in the Melbourne test. It turns out to be the phantom tackle.

"The initial Fox Sports-provided pictures broadcast by Sky in New Zealand didn't show the incident but a clip on the internet answers the riddle. The verdict: rugby is stark raving bonkers to send blokes off in test matches for such innocuous incidents.

"The Wallaby pack may be soft, but the game is getting even softer. Mitchell perhaps got what he deserved - under the dubious current rules - when he prevented Conrad Smith from taking a quick lineout throw later on and was red-carded for a second yellow card offence."

Toby Robson takes a look at the contrasting body language shown by the All Blacks and Wallabies in training on Tuesday in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Body language experts weren't needed in Christchurch yesterday.

"Five days before kick-off, two contrasting practice runs unfolded as the All Blacks and the Wallabies began preparations in earnest for their Bledisloe Cup rematch.

"At AMI Stadium the mood was light. Even the most carefree passes stuck as the All Blacks backs went through their counter-attack drills at the match venue. Players and coaches wore the relaxed, self-assured smiles of a team on a 12-Test winning streak and with fresh memories of a 49-28 drubbing of their trans-Tasman neighbours."

Spiro Zavos ponders Robbie Deans' legacy in New Zealand rugby as he looks to plot their downfall as coach of Australia in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Hoist by his own petard. Wallabies coach Robbie Deans endured the acute pain on Saturday night during the Bledisloe Cup Test at Melbourne of seeing several players he developed into stars when he coached the Crusaders destroy his team. But would the Franks brothers, Brad Thorn, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read or Daniel Carter have been the great players they have become if they had been developed by Australian Super rugby coaches? They might not have.

"Deans cleverly played Thorn as a second-rower, rather than as a loose forward. And in doing so he maintained the Crusaders' tactic (now standard practice around the world, except in some Australian sides) of having a scrummaging, hard-yards second-rower (Todd Blackadder before Thorn) to complement a taller, jumping partner. Deans, though, spent hours getting Thorn's jumping right by practising with him, having Thorn catch an old boot. On Saturday night Thorn won his one lineout throw and made important passes in both of Cory Jane's tries.

"When Carter first came into the Crusaders squad, Deans asked him what his goals were for the season. "To take Mehrts' [Andrew Mehrtens's] place," he replied. "Good answer," Deans told him. A common sight at the end of the Crusaders' practices was Deans teaching Carter all the tricks of how to kick a rugby ball."

Are the All Blacks peaking too early again? © Getty Images

Peter Bills revisits an age-old question in The Irish Independent; are the All Blacks peaking too early?

"This was not the perfect All Blacks performance and, besides, we won't know its true value until the World Cup next year. After all, Vincent van Gogh only sold one painting in his entire lifetime.

"But as an indicator of what is possible if your philosophy focuses on attack over defence, if your mindset is to free the ball and run it as often as possible and you have the skill set to complete that task, this latest demonstration of what the game is capable of now that the law interpretations have been tweaked, was more than adequate.

"A harvest of seven tries at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium on Saturday means that the All Blacks have now scored 15 tries in three Tri-Nations matches this season and conceded just five."

Greg Growden shudders at the thought of Robbie Deans' most recent press conference in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"If you thought watching the Wallabies surrender to the All Blacks for the eighth time in a row was excruciating, it was nothing compared to what occurred afterwards.

"The media conference was like having bamboo applied under the fingernails. This painful occasion again showed how personal the pursuit of the Bledisloe Cup can become.

"Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was blinded by the spotlight. The obvious question revolved around how negative the reaction in New Zealand would have been if the All Blacks had just lost to Australia eight times in a row - and whether he was feeling similar pressure. ''Of course. It's part of the territory,'' Deans said, trying to keep cool."

Chris Rattue rubbishes the efforts of Robbie Deans' Wallabies and bigs up the achievements of the All Blacks in The New Zealand Herald.

"The All Blacks will be the best side by streets at the World Cup next year. It won't even be close.

"Whether they win the trophy or not is another matter. If the World Cup was a championship, no team would touch them. As the Webb Ellis Cup is decided by sudden-death games, anything is possible, as everybody knows.

"Graham Henry's new-look side is so far ahead of the pack that the Bledisloe Cup game in Christchurch this week is in danger of turning into a massacre, with the Awful Aussies ripe for a hiding. The problem for Australia isn't skill. The problem is a lack of muscle power and heart."

Keven Mealamu has been in fine form for the All Blacks © Getty Images

Duncan Johnstone salutes Keven Mealamu after another stand-out performance from the All Blacks hooker on stuff.co.nz.

"Keven Mealamu is demanding the All Blacks keep their feet on the ground and with his nuggety frame that shouldn't be too difficult for the in-form hooker.

"Mealamu was one of the stars of New Zealand's 49-28 thrashing of the Wallabies in Melbourne last night.He made some big yards up the middle of the paddock with his low-trajectory running game and put in some big hits with another busy effort on defence.

"The All Blacks know they are just a win away from retaining the Bledisloe Cup when they meet Australia in Christchurch next Saturday and judging by Mealamu's attitude they are determined to get the business done - with a dash of style that has characterised their impressive season."

Greg Growden calls for the All Blacks to be handed the Tri-Nations trophy after another dominant display against the Wallabies in Melbourne in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Give the All Blacks the Tri Nations trophy, right now. It is all over. The next month or so is just sheer theatrics. And while we're at it, why not call off the Christchurch and Sydney Bledisloe Cup Test matches!

"It's high time the Australian Rugby Union did long-suffering Wallabies fans a favour, because they have been subjected too long to unnecessary agony, dejection and disbelief as one Australian line-up after another has been put through the sausage machine, and turned into little boys by the All Black master butchers.

"It's eight Tri Nations defeats in a row - and drawing close to the worst sequence ever when Australia lost nine in a row to New Zealand between 1936-47. This is a debacle, even prompting All Blacks coach Graham Henry to say if he was in a situation of eight straight losses he would feel ''sad''."

All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick was impressed by Graham Henry's men once again as they routed the Wallabies, and doesn't buy in to their 'chokers' tag, in The New Zealand Herald.

"This was another very good All Blacks performance. What was especially pleasing was that it was a continuation of what they did in the first two tests against the Springboks.

"The Wallabies posed different problems to South Africa and that was illustrated in the first two minutes when Matt Giteau picked out a mis-match in the All Blacks defence and set James O'Connor up for a great early opportunity.

"But the All Blacks withstood the pressure throughout and maintained their accuracy and intensity. They played smart rugby. People have been saying New Zealand are peaking too early again and we are going down the same road we do every time before a World Cup. But I don't buy into that at all. At the moment they are playing smarter, better rugby than anyone else."

Sporting espionage is an increasing trade according to the New Zealand Herald's Wynne Grey.

"Those who discount it are living in lala land, have no interest in the topic or wear rose-tinted glasses all year round.

"As sport has moved deeper into the commercial world the results-driven stakes have become even greater.

"There are weighty sponsorship deals to protect and promotions to foster, with all roads leading to the glittering business and sporting prize at next year's World Cup.

"There are also some unwritten rules those who cover the sport, and those who report on other codes, understand.

"If you are invited into a private All Blacks training session or the Wallaby or Springbok runs, it is expected you will not bug their team talks, reveal secret tactics or film images of their moves.

"It is a different issue if that information lobs into your lap from elsewhere."

Writing for Sport24, Rob Houwing has urged against any major change of approach by the Springboks.

"The rest of the rugby world, believe me, would love to see South Africa respond to their trio of Tri-Nations defeats by going violently against their long-standing, feared tradition and attempting to toss the ball around with some abandon.

"They famously tried it once in Buenos Aires, after all, with a clear-cut Harry Viljoen instruction “not to kick” … and yes, they did score some pretty tries initially but also found themselves out on their feet and clinging on for dear life for the 37-33 result in 2000 against ordinary Argentina.

"I’m all for flair, X-factor and spectacular tries. But I also unashamedly subscribe to the “beauty in brawn” school, because significant levels of physicality, applied intelligently, are part and parcel of rugby’s appeal.

"There has always been something appealingly “blunt instrument” in South African rugby, given the big-boned individuals we produce, especially in the engine room.

"Besides, what is wrong with an intriguing contrast or two in styles when rugby’s biggest teams meet?"

Springbok supporters should hope the team’s coach, Peter de Villiers, does not follow in the footsteps of his predecessor Jake White this year, according to Sport24's JJ Harmse.

"An analysis of the two coaches’ careers at the highest level also shows interesting statistics on the claims that De Villiers is achieving success with “White’s team”.

"White only had four of the 38 Springboks that became internationals under him in his starting line-up for the World Cup final in 2007. They were JP Pietersen, Frans Steyn, Bryan Habana and Fourie du Preez.

"Eleven of the players were therefore not White’s “products”.

"For his part, De Villiers had three of the 24 new Springboks under him in his starting line-up for Saturday’s Test in Brisbane. They were Zane Kirchner, Gio Aplon and Morné Steyn.

"Seven of the Brisbane team became Boks under White. They are Habana, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski, BJ Botha and Gurthrö Steenkamp.

"Statistics show that both coaches did well on transformation."

The glaring inconsistencies of the SANZAR citing and judiciary system are cause for concern according to the Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden.

"...Tackles more dangerous than the one which will put Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper out of Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup match have been overlooked.

"While Cooper's appeal over his two-match suspension was dismissed last night, meaning he will also miss Saturday week's Bledisloe Cup match in Christchurch, other notable players have got away with considerably more alarming tackles. The Herald can reveal Hurricanes and All Blacks centre Ma'a Nonu received only a yellow card for a dangerous spear tackle on Cheetahs captain Juan Smith in a Super 14 match in Bloemfontein last March, and was not cited.

"This is just one of four tackles of a similar nature in the past two Super 14 seasons, in which players were either guilty of lifting a player in the tackle, or making a spear tackle, receiving just a yellow card, and with no further action by the citing commissioner."

All Blacks coach Graham Henry is pictures holding a tactics sheet © Getty Images

In an embarrassing development ahead of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup clash, the All Blacks' tactical cheat sheet has been revealed, The Australian reports.

"All Blacks coach Graham Henry was holding the page of diagrams and plans as he directed training at Melbourne's Trinity Grammar School. The first diagram shows a "dummy axe" move from a full lineout involving inside centre Ma'a Nonu and fullback Mils Muliaina with outside centre Conrad Smith receiving a short ball on the outside.

"This is a two-phase play with the ball coming back to left winger Joe Rokocoko on the blindside where he will take on James O'Connor, who is starting on the right wing for only the second time.

"By shifting the ball wide and then switching back again the All Blacks will hope to take Pocock out of the first two phases, which will allow them to gain momentum.

"Playing the game beyond Pocock's access to the breakdown appears to be a key feature of the All Blacks' strategy.

"The second play revealed by the photograph is also from a full lineout. Five-eighth Dan Carter, Nonu, Smith and Rokocoko line up in a box formation. Depending on how he reads Pocock in defence, Carter will link with Nonu or Smith in the midfield or slip a short ball to Rokocoko to run "inside 10 or around him".

All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen has said the photographer that snapped an image of coach Graham Henry holding a page of notes broke the trust between team and media. The Sydney Morning Herald's Duncan Johnstone reports.

"The Age, Herald Sun and the Australian newspapers have published photographs of what appear to be All Blacks tactics for Saturday night's clash with the Wallabies in Melbourne.

Photo agency Getty Images snapped a page of notes being held by Henry at the team's training in Melbourne yesterday.

The image had highlighted notes of All Blacks moves from scrum and lineout situations.

"At the end of the day you guys and photographers come to training and there are a few unwritten rules and the photographer has breached the trust. There's not too much we can do about it," Hansen said.

"The good thing about it yesterday was a defensive training day so we won't have to change our tactics too much.

"There are a whole lot of things that are going to happen on Saturday night and I don't think one photo is going to make too much difference."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden previews a mouth-watering showdown between New Zealand Richie McCaw and Australia's David Pocock.

"Richie McCaw has wrestled, mauled and burrowed under some of Australia's most notable scavengers during his nine-year tussle with the Wallabies, during which he has enjoyed an extraordinary 84 per cent success rate.

"The standout head-to-head opponent for McCaw has been the Wallabies' greatest openside breakaway, George Smith, and for the New Zealand skipper to still tally 16 Test wins from 19 encounters against Australia is testament to the power of the All Blacks and the broad abilities of their leader. However, yesterday McCaw revealed it was getting no easier keeping Australia's No.7s at bay, with Smith's successor, David Pocock, providing special problems.

"That was shown in Pocock's effectiveness in stifling McCaw in Perth three months ago during the Super 14 when the Western Force upset the Crusaders, 24-16.

"Pocock's efforts that night have the Wallabies convinced that McCaw won't have everything his way on Saturday night. ''David is no slouch and he has now played well against Richie McCaw a number of times. I'd back him all the way,'' said Richard Brown, a Force teammate and fellow Test back-rower."

Writing for SuperSport, Gavin Rich has a word of warning for those Springboks fans expecting their side to return to top form on home soil.

"How to get out of this mess? Some would say they can redeem themselves during the home leg of this Tri-Nations season, which to some extent they can. They will not win the competition from where they are now, but three wins will regain some pride.

"But what will it mean to the building process towards next year’s World Cup? Everyone knows that the Bulls’ kicking orientated strategy invariably comes up trumps on the Highveld, and even though they quite clearly miss Fourie du Preez, they can probably rely on that edge to give them at least two wins from the remaining three matches.

"For a start, can you really imagine the Australians being able to keep up their high tempo game for 80 minutes at altitude? If they did, it would be a first. The last time a team tried to run the Boks ragged at altitude it was the British and Irish Lions in the second test at Loftus. It worked for the first half, but in the second they collapsed in a heap and the Boks were able to pull off one of rugby’s great fightbacks.

"All the South African coastal teams would be in agreement with the following point – taking on the Bulls at home with a game that requires all-out attack for 80 minutes is suicide. The Sharks and the Stormers have tried it at stages of their history, they have invariably failed.

"However the next World Cup is not being played at altitude, it is being played in New Zealand. It’s why the lessons that have been learned, and the fault lines that have become all too apparent on this most recent tour and through the preceding months cannot be ignored. They must be addressed, and addressed now."

Former Wallabies coach and now Rebels boss Rod Macqueen believes the All Blacks are on the verge of something special. Sport24 reports.

"New Zealand are the litmus test for teams with World Cup ambitions and have assembled a side that stands on the cusp of greatness, former Australia coach Rod Macqueen said on Wednesday.

Macqueen, who led the Wallabies to their second World Cup triumph in Wales in 1999, said the All Blacks possessed the hallmarks of the Sean Fitzpatrick-captained sides of the 1990s.

"I suspect that it's a side at the moment that's probably on the verge of greatness and looking back at the last decade, probably getting back to the Fitzpatrick-type days -- that kind of team that's quite measured and doing very well," Macqueen told reporters.

"(New Zealand's) Achilles heel in the past has been not having a plan B, when things start to go wrong, they continue to go wrong.

"But we're seeing instances now within the New Zealand side that they're making decisions themselves within the team and they seem fairly confident and when things start to go wrong they come back pretty quickly."

South Africa came up short against Australia in Brisbane last weekend © Getty Images

South Africa's 'clownish' behaviour has a sinister intent - to kill running rugby, according to Spiro Zavos in The Age.

"The loose cannon of world rugby is not the gregarious Brendan Cannon, a Fox Sports commentator, but the Springboks and their coach, Peter de Villiers.

"It is now an infamous rugby incident that Cannon was required by the Springboks to apologise for calling de Villiers a ''clown''. Fox Sports was wrong to force Cannon to grovel.

"De Villiers and the Springboks are not just clowns, they are dangerous clowns. Their attacks on referees, their refusal to accept the laws of the game or the just punishments handed their thuggish players, their abuse of other coaches and the absurd claim of a conspiracy against the Springboks are part of a sinister attempt to undermine the best elements of modern rugby.

"This sinister attack is inflaming Springboks supporters to unacceptable levels of paranoia. Even more importantly, the attack is a direct challenge to changes in the way the tackled ball is refereed. These changes represent the best reform since the introduction of the ''use-it-or-lose-it'' principle.

"The Springboks want a return to the negative game that rewarded kicking sides and punished sides trying to run the ball."

John Eales is confident Australia can beat New Zealand © Getty Images

Former Wallabies skipper John Eales said the Springboks could take a leaf out of England’s book in persevering with their elder statesmen if they want to build for the World Cup in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Eales also believes Australia are well capable of beating the All Blacks next week.

“I would not be in the sluice room prepping for surgery just yet, but I also would not wait until next year. Ultimately, age is not the measure, effectiveness is. England won the World Cup with an older squad than the Springboks but they were still effective. Nathan Sharpe is the elder statesman of the Wallabies but he is playing superbly. The senior Boks must command similarly if they are to keep the big trophies they hold.

“If the Wallabies replicate both their accuracy and enthusiasm, they can beat the All Blacks next week. When front row forwards are tackling like back-rowers and the big men like Rocky Elsom are claiming territory with the desperation of a prospector seeking fortune in the gold rush, it makes the job of the backs so much easier.”

Australia sent out an unambiguous message about how seriously their challenge should be taken at next year’s World Cup when their young and inexperienced team thoroughly outplayed the Springboks, according to Supersport's Gavin Rich.

"In the end a loss in Wallaby intensity in a sloppy second half saw the try count squared at two apiece, and the difference on the scoreboard was the penalty goals slotted by the Australian duo of Matt Giteau and James O’Connor.

"But if anyone points to that as an indication that there wasn’t much between these teams it would be disingenuous -- from the opening 10 minutes it was obvious that the Wallabies were just several steps quicker and smarter than a Bok team that struggled to keep pace."

Ahead of the first Bledisloe Cup encounter of the year, the Sydney Morning Herald's Josh Rakic asks whether New Zealand's Richie McCaw gets an easy ride.

"Phil Waugh and Rod Kafer have weighed into the debate surrounding Richie McCaw's activities at the breakdown, but far from branding the All Blacks skipper a repeat transgressor have urged the Wallabies to follow his ''smart'' style of play.

"As Robbie Deans's men prepare to face the seemingly unstoppable All Blacks at Etihad Stadium next Saturday, Waugh said the Wallabies shouldn't read much into comments by Springboks coach Pieter de Villiers that referees are turning a blind eye to McCaw's foul play.

''It's about responding to how the referees interpret the breakdown during the game - and obviously all referees are different,'' Waugh said. ''And the quicker you get the interpretations right for the game the better you're going to perform in the game.

''Richie's a very astute and smart rugby player who picks that up very early in the game, which allows him to push the limits. And that's what he's out there to do."

Will Boks coach Peter de Villiers have the last laugh? © Getty Images

It will be a great shame if the Boks ever ditch Peter de Villiers as their coach according to the New Zealand Herald's Wynne Gray.

"On several fronts de Villiers is gold. He is automatic copy for journos on a slow news day, full of unusual quips, retorts and observations. He is also priceless for opponents who know some de Villiers outbursts will rile his own team.

"How much longer the ever-so-sensible captain John Smit and his crew put up with de Villiers will be a fascinating part of the Springboks' timeline towards the next World Cup.

"South Africa are required to have a number of black players and staff but they need some more astute selections. De Villiers is the bloke who wants to be in top rugby, who wants to "run with the big dogs and lift his leg" as well. Get the picture?

"The bloke carries a permanent entertainment rating if you can decipher his high-pitched intonation but he is harmless compared to some of his predecessors."

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, former Wallaby Matt Burke believes the All Blacks exposed a soft underbelly in the Springboks during their recent clashes and took full advantage.

"A close look at the Springboks reveals they are a little limited in parts. They have had a lot of success using Morne Steyn as the kicking platform, then chasing hard and putting pressure on opponents. But when teams finally find a way to counter this tactic, as New Zealand did, they can make a good team look quite ordinary. This tactic shouldn't win you a Tri Nations title. Having Bakkies Botha missing from the opposition could be a bad thing for the Wallabies. He is good for three penalties and a yellow card a game. His replacement, Danie Rossouw, offers more around the park, too.

"The way for the Wallabies to get their Tri Nations off to a good start is to include a few players back from injury. Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Nathan Sharpe and Will Genia will all contribute significantly to the way the Wallabies play and the decision-making. They can't just rely on these guys to do all the work and thinking though; everyone has to contribute.

"The forward replacements will bring a quiet confidence to the starting pack and also some calmness. We can already pick that the scrum will be targeted but I say go after them."

Wallaby coach Robbie Deans expects an increasingly desperate South African side to "throw everything they've got" at the Australians at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow night. The Brisbane Times' Daniel Nancarrow reports.

"With their recent performance history they won't be enjoying their current circumstance in this tournament and they'll be hell bent on changing that," Deans said.

"[We] expect them to be fully committed, fully prepared. They've chosen a mix that is vibrant and they'll throw everything they've got at us."

"Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom agreed tomorrow night's Test – the first of the Tri Nations campaign for Australia – would be the team's biggest challenge so far this year

"He indicated the Wallabies were looking forward to playing at Suncorp Stadium, a venue reserve forward Stephen Moore referred to as the team's "new spiritual home" earlier this week.

"We definitely like playing here - the whole group does," Elsom said."

Can Robbie Deans turn the Wallabies around? © Getty Images

Peter Bills believes that Robbie Deans has struggled to recover following his criticism of his side at the back end of the Tri-Nations in 2009 in The Irish Independent.

"He must wish now that he had never said them. Just two little words -- but will they come back to haunt Robbie Deans and ultimately condemn to failure his Australian coaching tenure?

"They were uttered by Deans in September 2009 to describe his Australian team following their 33-6 Tri Nations defeat by the All Blacks in Wellington and remain a painful sore that just won't heal.

"Deans accused his players of "rolling over," the worst sin an Australian sportsman can commit. And he went on: "The most disappointing thing from our perspective was, we essentially capitulated once the game was gone."

Greg Growden calls on Wallabies flanker David Pocock to strangle the Springboks at the breakdown in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"David Pocock's Test initiation is over, with the Wallabies calling on their openside breakaway to be a Tri Nations match winner by strangling the Springboks at the breakdown during the Test in Brisbane on Saturday night.

"The message from the Wallabies camp yesterday was that this was the season for Pocock to step up and be as authoritative as his predecessor George Smith by taking advantage of a shaky opposition, which has been criticised this week for messing up the balance of its back row.

"As Pocock is the only specialist openside breakaway on the field, and with the Springboks so obsessed with how they are being persecuted by northern hemisphere referees at the breakdown, the Wallabies know that the scavenging skills of their 22-year-old could destabilise the South Africans for the third week running. They realise that this could be the moment where Pocock, in his third Test season and 11th starting Test, arrives as a top-quality international back-rower."

The compelling Tri-Nations series has become a tale of the scrum-halves according to the New Zealand Herald's Wynne Grey.

"The All Blacks have seen a resurgent Piri Weepu, the Springboks have felt the pain without the injured Fourie du Preez, and the Wallabies are trusting in the repair work on Will Genia's knee and hand.

"...Without du Preez the Boks looked uncertain. Their talisman was missing and so was their sting. Weepu, given his chance to start because of Cowan's injury and his average form at Eden Park, strutted a form portfolio at the Cake Tin which had been hidden for large segments of the Super 14.

"That form will give the selectors plenty of thought about changing their philosophy on the starting halfback for Melbourne when the All Blacks travel across the Ditch next week."

Mils Muliaina - front and centre in the war against loose kicks © Getty Images

Peter Bills believes that the All Blacks could soon inspire a revolution in rugby, one where old-school counter attacking is the order of the day, in The Independent.

"A strange, alien sighting was glimpsed in the skies above Wellington's Westpac stadium last Saturday night. Or rather, it was something that wasn't there that was so bewildering, so baffling.

"A rugby Test match was played without any aerial ping-pong, the great kicking plague of the modern game. Well, that isn't strictly true. One side did still try it. But they lost by 31 points to 17, four tries to two. So they don't matter, do they?

"Well, let's hope not. It might be stretching credulity to suggest that the rugby played by New Zealand these past two weekends in the Tri-Nations, at Auckland and Wellington, has been of a revolutionary nature."

Spiro Zavos has no time for the complaints of the Springboks in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Saloons in the Wild West often carried a notice: "Do not shoot the pianist, he is doing his best." This instruction came to mind when the madcap coach of the Springboks, Peter de Villiers, tried to explain his team's two comprehensive losses to the All Blacks.

"De Villiers suggested the Springboks had been persecuted by the referees. He threatened to "prepare guys to cheat" to turn this around. For the record, the penalty/free kick count at Wellington under the Irishman Alain Rolland was 10-9 in favour of New Zealand. One penalty to South Africa was turned around after Danie Rossouw was given a yellow card for flicking Richie McCaw in the eyes and then kneeing him.

"This hardly seems like the persecution of a team that was outplayed. And at Auckland in the first Tri Nations Test, the Springboks were awarded seven consecutive penalties in the middle part of the match, and were well ahead in the penalty count despite being thrashed on the scoreboard."

Handbags: Danie Rossouw and Richie McCaw get to grips with each other © Getty Images

Chris Rattue laments the performance of Alain Rolland in Saturday's Tri-Nations showdown between the All Blacks and Springboks in The New Zealand Herald.

"Sky started coverage of the clash between the All Blacks and Springboks by getting referee Alain Rolland's nationality wrong - putting the French colours alongside the Irishman's name.

"Sounds French so must be French - a mistake a few of us have been close to making with Rolland over the years. Rolland was French by suspicion, which is the sort of justice he meted out to Danie Rossouw, the Springbok lock, a few minutes later.

"The sinbinning of Rossouw was diabolical, the distorting of a major international sporting contest on scant evidence."

Peter Bills salutes another scintillating All Blacks performance, and sounds a note of warning prior to the World Cup, in The Irish Independent.

"So now we know it wasn't a fluke. And the challenge New Zealand's attacking game plan will present to every team in next year's World Cup has been spelled out in clear, exciting terms.

"Two defeats of world champions South Africa, a points tally of 63-29 and a try count of 8-2 in their favour speaks volumes for the All Blacks' attacking prowess and their determination to play a fast, penetrative game with ball-handling, and not kicking, at its core.

"They have thrown down a challenge to world rugby. To play such a compelling a style of rugby in perfect conditions at Auckland nine days ago was one thing. The Springboks were surprised, shocked by it. But to repeat the feat in wet, windy conditions at Wellington on Saturday night was something else altogether."

Greg Growden believes that the Wallabies can beat South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday, but only if they play as a team, in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"It is obvious why the All Blacks are standing tall at the top of the Tri Nations ladder. They play as a team.

"They do everything as a team. They are there in numbers. They back up. They support each other. They perform as a finely tuned ensemble.

"The All Blacks know when to lift the intensity, how to help each other to ensure they are in control of the combat zone. And when they reveal an opposition weakness, they know how to be there in numbers. Just watch how many times the swarming All Blacks score tries, with attacking options either side of the scorer. That is confidence. That is self-belief. That is being part of a real team."

Can John Smit inspire the Springboks? © Getty Images

Gavin Rich expects Springbok skipper John Smit to shoulder plenty of responsibility against New Zealand this weekend on Supersport.

" His ability to dig his team out of a crisis meant that at the Wanderers there used to be a saying that “cometh the hour, cometh Clive Rice”. In the Springbok rugby context, it could be adapted to John Smit, as it is the captain’s ability to take the world on his shoulders and stand up and be counted that holds the key to South Africa’s chances of redemption in Wellington on Saturday.

"The Boks take on the All Blacks in the second Vodacom Tri-Nations test under the sort of pressure they haven’t faced since the first match of last year’s British and Irish Lions series. Since then the winning momentum has tended to be with them, they have been on a roll, and the step back that appeared to be taken on the last end-of-year tour was hidden behind the excuse of fatigue.

"But as Jean de Villiers said during the week, the big defeat in Auckland seven days ago, where the Boks not only lost by 20 points but also conceded four tries to nil, had the effect of taking the Boks 10 steps backwards."

Wynne Gray is expecting renewed fire from the Springboks when they take on New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday in The New Zealand Herald.

"In the cyclops world in which some New Zealand rugby followers dwell, the All Blacks will repeat their vast Eden Park-winning margin tomorrow.

"For those with greater peripheral vision, this looms as a much tougher contest than a week ago. Why? There are a multitude of reasons. Last Saturday was a hell of a beating - a 20-point thumping, though it was well short of the record 52-16 walloping they delivered in Pretoria in 2003.

"The All Blacks will do well to play or be allowed to play to the standards they showed in this start to the Tri-Nations. The Tri-Nations champions, who include the core of the Bulls side which won the Super 14 crown this season and others who annexed the last World Cup, are not a dud team."

Bakkies Botha's nine-week ban could be the turning point in his career according to those who know the Springbok and Vata Ngobeni in The Star.

"On Thursday, Botha met with Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, with an affirmation by the Bulls to support their beleaguered lock.

"Botha, 30, has one more year to run on his Bulls contract and speculation is rife that he could leave for big money overseas after next year's World Cup.Meanwhile, there has been some closure following the head-butting incident.

"Bakkies did go on TV on Monday night and apologised to the nation and we back him 100 percent in this," said Ludeke. "He put his hand up, accepted responsibility for his actions and said his actions weren't good enough."

Greg Growden ponders the various combinations at the disposal of Wallabies coach Robbie Deans in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The Wallabies' guessing game continued when the Queensland Reds attacking midfield was given its chance to impress and flanker David Pocock scrummaged at No.8 during yesterday's training session.

"Wallabies coach Robbie Deans can never be accused of being a conservative selector, using this week's camp to try out vastly different combinations at training, while he has been assessing whether several newcomers, including Reds inside-centre Anthony Faingaa, are ready to be promoted to Tri Nations starting-XV status next week.

"Although Deans repeatedly changed his combinations at Rushcutters Bay yesterday, to keep both players and onlookers bamboozled, the Queensland midfield of halfback Will Genia, five-eighth Quade Cooper and centre Faingaa spent a long period of the opposed session together, with Cameron Shepherd, James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale acting as the back three."

Peter Bills believes that South Africa are getting their just desserts after failing to curb bakkies Botha's indiscipline in The New Zealand Herald.

"Bakkies Botha caught an aeroplane out of New Zealand late Sunday night, the start of a long flight home to South Africa in which shame and humiliation would have been his only companions.

"Botha's 2010 Tri-Nations tournament ended after 51 minutes, the time it took his coach to substitute him during last Saturday night's test match against the All Blacks at Eden Park, Auckland.

"In truth, it should have ended with a red card after 29 seconds, the time it took for the giant Springbok lock to head-butt from behind New Zealand halfback Jimmy Cowan."

Jacques van der Westhuyzen was left "angry and embarrassed" by the actions of Bakkies Botha in South Africa's loss to New Zealand, in The Star.

"There's a fine line in rugby between being an aggressive player and being a thug. On Saturday in Auckland, Bakkies Botha overstepped the line. And if he is branded a thug for the rest of his career, it'll be no surprise.

"His headbutt on Jimmy Cowan was inexcusable and he's rightly been punished. His absence in the Bok team will, fortunately, not be felt because there are more than enough quality locks to take over the No4 jersey. In fact, Danie Rossouw and Andries Bekker have played better rugby than Botha in the last 12 months and while they may not have the "presence" of him on the field, they're just as aggressive, robust and are, in fact, far cleaner players."

Spiro Zavos believes that the Springboks were over-confident and under-prepared for their opening Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Peter de Villiers, the zany Springboks coach, dismissed talk of South Africa not winning at Eden Park since 1937 with this comment to journalists: ''If you play the field as well as the opposition, you'll lose.'' I took that remark to mean that the Springboks didn't think they had to do anything extra or different to break their Eden Park hoodoo. This was a big mistake.

"They could have arrived in New Zealand earlier than six days before the Test. They were overconfident. A spy claims that on Friday night he spotted Ricky Januarie tucking into a McDonald's hamburger. Sean Fitzpatrick said the senior players looked tired not long into the match.

"The game plan of the Springboks did not involve much high-octane play. They played their usual kicking game as if they only had to turn up to win. There was thuggishness from Bakkies Botha, but no energy or thoughtfulness in their play."

Kieran Read celebrates after scoring the All Blacks' third © Getty Images

Peter Bills reserves plenty of praise for the All Blacks after a stunning start to their Tri-Nations in The Irish Independent.

"In the land where they filmed 'The Lord of the Rings', the world champions certainly had rings run around them. South Africa's beating, by four tries to nil, was a shuddering wake-up call.Their belief, arrogance personified, that they could just rock up a few days before this first Tri Nations Test of 2010 and ignore the ruinously wasting influences of jet lag, that no matter who the opposition, they could just turn up and it would be business as usual, suffered an almighty demolition job.

"They were off the pace, surprised and stung by the snap, crackle and pop of the All Blacks' game. Bakkies Botha's early yellow-carding, not to mention his wild headbutt upon Jimmy Cowan for which he was suspended for nine weeks yesterday at a disciplinary hearing, made the South Africans' lives so much more difficult. His early absence handed an initiative to New Zealand that the Boks were never able to wrest back."

Chris Rattue, writing in The New Zealand Herald, believes that the nine-week ban handed to Bakkies Botha for a headbutt is insufficient.

"Nine weeks sounds like a long rugby ban. In the case of Bakkies Botha it isn't long enough. Botha should have got a year for what he did to Jimmy Cowan at Eden Park, also taking into account his history of thuggery.

"Why a year? Well, I've plucked that figure out of the air, but it sounds about right, and much more right than nine weeks.

"The best that could be said of Botha is that he admitted to head butting Cowan from behind, on the ground, and apologised. Given the outstanding video evidence against him, there wasn't much else Botha could do but nod, politely this time, in agreement."

Can South Africa win at Eden Park? © Getty Images

Tony Johnson ponders the Springboks' record at Eden Park, before going for a narrow All Black win, on Supersport.

"Eden Park has been kind to the All Blacks over the years. They have not lost a test match there since 1994, when the French scored arguably the greatest team try ever seen on that famous ground to snatch a win. They have not lost to the Springboks there since 1937.

"But right now, with the reconstruction project in full swing, it is half of a fortress, and the Springboks are sniffing a chance to break another hoodoo. Gradually this Springbok team is eating up a lot of old records. Two years ago they ended a run of defeats at Carisbrook that stretched back to the very beginning of great rivalry...their first victory in 8 tests there.

"A win at Eden Park must be a burning ambition, and if they can do it this year they’ll be very confident of repeating next year when it counts even more."

Greg Growden takes a look at the Australia squad for the Tri-Nations, now with added 'mongrel', in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Wallabies coach Robbie Deans wants to bring menace and mongrel back to the Australian line-up.

"His captain, Rocky Elsom, is expected to be moved to No.8 and aggressive newcomer Scott Higginbotham added to the Test back row in a bid to match the physicality of the Springboks and All Blacks packs during the Tri Nations.

"His plan of aggression is clearly behind the inclusion of Reds back-rower Higginbotham, Western Force utility forward Ben McCalman, Reds centre Anthony Faingaa and Reds second-rower Rob Simmons in the Test squad announced yesterday."

Wynne Gray is as excited as ever for the arrival of the Springboks and the Tri-Nations in The New Zealand Herald.

"All Blacks v Springboks. New Zealand against South Africa. Do the pulses quicken quite as much about duels between the superpowers as they did for those who watched the epic series in New Zealand in 1937, 1956 and 1981?

"Perhaps they do, but in a much different way from those infrequent visits of the Boks. Since the arrival of professional rugby in 1996, the men from South Africa have played annual tests in New Zealand.

"We have seen some extraordinary duels in that time in New Zealand, prefaced of course the year before by the controversy from that memorable World Cup shootout between the same sides."

Best in class: Morne Steyn © Getty Images

According to Peter Bills in The Irish Independent, the Springboks have a responsibility to cut loose against the All Blacks on Saturday.

"Whatever side Springbok coach Peter de Villiers announces for Saturday's eagerly awaited opening Test of the 2010 Tri Nations against New Zealand here in Auckland, one thing is already abundantly clear: South Africa can do the game an enormous favour by producing rugby in this tournament that sets the standards the world ought to be aiming at.

"Never has there been a greater need for the top southern hemisphere nation to do this. This year, so far, has been what they call in the wine business a vintage ordinaire. Tres ordinaire, if you come from the northern hemisphere. Sure, France won a Grand Slam. But they froze with fear at the final hurdle against England in Paris and only stumbled across the line because of England's many inadequacies."

That winning feeling: The Boks rocked Hamilton in 2009 © Getty Images

The Springboks only have themselves to fear this weekend in Auckland, according to Brendan Nel on Supersport.

"The Springboks face a tough task in Auckland this coming weekend, but the truth of the matter is that the biggest enemy they face is themselves.

"This year’s Tri-Nations is probably going to be won or lost in the next two weeks in New Zealand, and the Springbok confident frame of mind will determine just how well they do ahead of next year’s World Cup.

"While there are those of us who naturally worry that the Boks may be peaking a year too soon, the counter argument is that they are simply achieving what the All Blacks have done for so many years – consistency in victory. It could be that we are so used to a post 1992-era where the pendulum swung for and against the Springboks with such gusto that we almost waited for a fall of the Green and Gold."

Spiro Zavos, writing in The Sydney Morning Herald, believes that Robbie Deans must look to size if he is going to inspire a Wallabies turnaround.

"The key to successful coaching lies in successful selection. This is the test facing Robbie Deans tomorrow when he announces his squad for the Tri Nations series and, effectively, for next year's Rugby World Cup. Earlier this year Deans said that there would be little time next year after the completion of the Super 15 to put in place the systems and plays the Wallabies will need to win the World Cup. So this squad (aside from some injured players such as James Horwill) will carry Australia's hopes through to the end of next year.

"When all the forwards are available, unfortunately this is not the case for the Tri Nations, the starting pack should look something like this: Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, David Pocock, Horwill, Nathan Sharpe (or Daniel Vickerman if he can be persuaded to return), Rocky Elsom and Wycliff Palu.

"This is a pack that has or should have some strong ball-runners. It has a goodish lineout and a competent scrum. But there is a lack of mongrel and aggressive defence along the lines of the Springboks pack."

Everything will become clear in the next two weeks but there is no reason to believe the South Africans have drifted from the heights reached last year, according to the New Zealand Herald's Gregor Paul.

"They employ a simple game plan that begins with their set-piece excellence and physicality at the tackled ball. They take few risks, preferring to pressure opponents into mistakes.

"It would be a surprise if they deviated too far from their successful kick and chase formula, although it is expected they will be more willing to use their backs when they feel it is on. They have no obvious weaknesses and returning John Smit to hooker will only strengthen their scrum.

"Really, the hope to which everyone clings is that Smit,Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger and a few other senior players fall into a steep decline in the next 12 months - that physically they start packing it in and mentally, they lose their desire.

"But even if the edge does come off some of their senior performers, they have shown a remarkable ability to blood new players."

John Smit says his Springboks are braced for an "irritated" All Blacks team in the Tri Nations opener at Eden Park on Saturday night. The Sydney Morning Herald's Duncan Johnston reports.

"The touring skipper believes South Africa's whitewash of the All Blacks over three tests last year will have New Zealand primed for revenge.

Smit fronted a large media gathering in Auckland today where he left little doubt about the challenge he felt his side faced in defending their Tri Nations title this season, especially in a campaign they open in New Zealand with back-to-back tests in Auckland and Wellington.

"The All Blacks are going to be as competitive as they were last year, if not more so because of the fact that they didn't win it last year," Smit said.

"They are the team that has won the Tri Nations the most out of all three of us. Not winning it really irritates them.

"I'm pretty sure they are going to rock up pretty worked up and ready to go on Saturday."

Inga Tuigamala believes the Super 14 decision to dispense with neutral referees has come at a cost and should be reversed, in his New Zealand Herald column.

"Rugby should turn the clock back to ensure a more legitimate future. I'm talking about referees, and the use of the neutral system. The Super 14 has abandoned the use of neutral referees, presumably to save costs. But the competition should do a u-turn, and use neutral referees and touch judges.

I have a fair deal of sympathy for Blues coach Pat Lam, who claimed that the inexperienced Garratt Williamson from New Zealand was unduly influenced by his two Australian touch judges in the Waratahs' favour in Sydney last week.

"Referees and touch judges are having an enormous influence on the outcome of games - overly so unfortunately. It would be far better if the players were the only ones who settled the outcomes, but the way things are going, it is doubly important to ensure that referees have the best chance of doing an even-handed job."

Chris Hewett talks Tri-Nations, Tigers and dissertations with Pumas prop Marcos Ayerza in The Independent.

"The "good cop, bad cop" tradition among rugby's propping community is one of long standing, stretching back at least 80 years to the Louw brothers, Fanie and Boy, who played for the Springboks in an age when self-policing at the scrum was all the rage.

"Today, Leicester are taking it to extremes. On one side of their front row is Martin Castrogiovanni, who famously decked a basketball coach as a means of convincing his mother that he should be allowed to play union instead. On the other? Marcos Ayerza, who spends his spare time playing Bach and Chopin on the piano.

"A highly developed appreciation of classical music is no guarantee of civilised behaviour: Hannibal Lecter was almost as interested in the labyrinthine structure of the Goldberg Variations as he was in his victims' internal organs. But Ayerza is almost too good to be true: an accomplished linguist, he is currently completing a degree in business studies – "It's more difficult for me in English rather than Spanish," he admits, "but I'm looking forward to writing my dissertation" – and is a rugby romantic who does not see the game purely in terms of the money he can make from it. A renaissance man in the Tigers' pack? Wonders will never cease."

Argentina's inclusion in the Tri Nations cannot come too soon for a competition struggling to hit the heights, writes Eddie Butler in The Observer.

"Season after season, the global standard used to be set by the Tri Nations, as daring in its experimentation as respectful of the historical rivalries between South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Not so this year, as a scrappy, imperfect competition drew to a close in Wellington, with the NZ All Blacks knocking all the promise out of the Wallabies in the dead-rubber contest to avoid bottom place.

"South Africa were clear winners of the annual tournament, but every ounce has been wrung out of the three-way contest and the arrival of a fourth participant cannot come soon enough. Argentina will not be welcomed for a couple of seasons – and they will not automatically arrive as liberators, being disciples of the brutal school of rugby thinking – but they will, at least, give a coherent shape to the Four Nations."

The addition of Argentina to the Tri-Nations roster would be a boost to southern hemisphere rugby and is well deserved writes Mick Cleary in The Daily Telegraph.

"This is not the decent thing to do, it is the right thing to do. Argentina finished third in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, their passionate, hard-nosed, edgy rugby upsetting opponents but winning the day. Ireland were seen off, France, too, in an acrimonious third-place play-off.

"Never mind Argentina needing the Tri-Nations, the Tri-Nations needs Argentina. The format has become stale, its cast of characters all too familiar.

"Argentina will inject spice to the tournament, needle also. One of the key details to be thrashed out before the deal is ratified is that the SANZAR unions of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia will have to "actively work" with Argentina to place their best players in an expanded Super 15 provincial competition. Given that it is envisaged a revamped Four Nations would run from mid-August to mid-October, it would probably be impractical to have Argentine players plying their trade in Europe as they currently do. Pity."

Chris Rattue, writing in The New Zealand Herald, believes that the All Blacks have sunk to a new low.

"South Africa are more than worthy Tri-Nations champions while the All Blacks have become embarrassing chumps.

"The Graham Henry era is in serious trouble, again, and even rugby's hopeless romantics Wales, under Warren Gatland, must be licking their lips in anticipation of a historic victory later this year.

"The always faulty, disingenuous theory that losing World Cup coaches, men who ruined their own team in 2007, would somehow be better for the experience was given humiliating last rites in Hamilton on Saturday night. So much for the NZRU's claim that this trio is the dream team.

"The rugby pundits were intent on picking on Springboks captain John Smit leading up to this test, but there are far more important targets for New Zealand much closer to home."

Chris Rattue picks apart what he sees as the deficiencies in the Springbok team in The New Zealand Herald.

"The Springboks probably strolled out of Perth in a jubilant mood, but the pretenders to their crown should allow themselves a wee smile.

"The Springboks' Perth mirth. Not likely. Forget the glowing tributes to the tanks of this African corp because the Boks blew a golden opportunity to blast Robbie Deans' shaky Aussie regime to smithereens.

"The 2009 Tri-Nations title hunt is virtually over - and a premature congratulations to the Springboks in this - but it's also a case of let the games begin as the World Cup looms.

"The Springboks' cocky, alleged coach Peter de Villiers loves throwing in little jabs at the opposition, and he did it again in Perth by suggesting the Wallabies' attack was naive."

The New Zealand Herald's Richard Loe believes that the selection debate ahead of the All Blacks' next Test will be a short one.

"I don't think the All Black selectors need to strain themselves too hard in picking the team to play the Springboks in Hamilton on September 12.

"Most of the attention is centering on the No 13 jersey after the injuries to Conrad Smith and Luke McAlister but I think McAlister's injury restores Ma'a Nonu to his rightful position anyway.

"Nonu did nothing wrong even when he was supposedly out of form and he did a great deal right when he came on against the Wallabies last week.

"McAlister, as I have said before, hadn't done enough to warrant selection anyway and he needs more provincial game time to work on his issues - like his tackling technique."

Greg Ford, writing on Rugby Heaven, takes a look at the stats to see whether or not criticisms of the Springboks' kicking game are valid.

"A quick inspection of the latest statistics from this year's Tri Nations confirms South Africa do kick more often than Henry's All Blacks and Robbie Deans's Wallabies. But the difference between the three sides is not as vast as some would like to believe.

"Before last night's Wallabies-Springboks match in Perth, de Villiers's side had, on average, kicked 35 times per match. By international standards that's not high. England in their pomp earlier this decade kicked far more often.

"The All Blacks have kicked the least so far this year - 27 times per match - giving Henry's beef some credibility. But if Henry wants to point the finger, then he should look no further than the Wallabies. They boot the ball 30 times per match, meaning the South Africans are not the only ones guilty of taking the easy option.

"The stats also reveal why the South Africans tend to kick more. They have dominated the possession stakes so far this season, which means they simply have been presented with more opportunities to kick."

Phil Wilkins explains on Rugby Heaven why he believes that John Smit is a fading force as Test-level scrummager.

"When head coach Robbie Deans spoke of "removing players from drinking at the trough", the Wallabies automatically reached for their throats around the jugular region.

“Deans was not raising an alcohol issue, but inferring that successive losses to New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri Nations were not acceptable. It was simply a new-blood-for-old policy, that players regularly drinking the poison of Test losses and becoming immune to the gall of defeat should make way for players with the self-assurance and skills to master the world.

“It was not a verbal dismissal to the scrap heap, but Deans's warning that a transfusion of heart and soul allied with youth and ambition was about to take place. The 19-18 Tri Nations loss to New Zealand in Sydney says the time has come.

“The irony of the Wallabies' 29-17 loss to South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town earlier this month was that Australia's best player, loose-head prop Benn Robinson, scrummed so powerfully against Springboks front-rower John Smit, starting at tight-head rather than hooker, that he intensified scrutiny on the man who led the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007.”

Writing for The Australian, Bret Harris argues that the Springboks will have to play a far more open, attacking game if they are to defeat the Wallabies in Perth this weekend.

"South Africa has dominated the Tri-Nations tournament so far, but the Springboks will need to change their tactics on their Australasian tour to ensure further success.

"The Springboks have relied on playing for field position and pressuring the opposition into mistakes to beat the All Blacks (twice) and the Wallabies on South African soil. This strategy is based on the accumulation of points through penalty goals, although the Springboks have actually been the most prolific try-scorers of the three teams, albeit four from three games is hardly setting the world on fire.

"The Springboks, with a 6.7 average, have conceded the least number of penalties in the tournament with the All Blacks conceding 11.3 a game and the Wallabies 12.3. While the Springboks have been more disciplined than the All Blacks and the Wallabies, they have also played all of their three games on home soil.

"The Springboks will not be able to rely on the home-ground advantage of a favourable penalty count in Australia and New Zealand. They will need to score tries to win this game. As a result, they will need to look to run the ball more than they have thus far."

The Independent's Peter Bills is worried by the kicking-dominated Tri-Nations.

"Kicking is taking over the Tri-Nations - and it's official.

"Statistics from the first five matches of this year's tournament compared to its 2008 counterpart reveal an alarming increase in penalty goals kicked.

"But the figures also show an equally concerning drop in the number of tries scored. Both sets of figures provide strong evidence to support those who promoted and believed in the new ELVs which were largely killed off by the voting power of the northern hemisphere countries.

"Those who advocated sticking with them as a potentially enhanced attacking weapon in the game but feared going back to the old laws such as the maul, appear to have been largely vindicated by these figures. The current statistics should worry purists of the game."

Richard Loe, writing in The New Zealand Herald, ponders the pressure on Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

"It's been interesting talking to Australian rugby people this week about the so-called pressure coming on Robbie Deans. There is no question that people are looking at Robbie's record and are looking for more wins - and I don't think he has a lock on the coach's job for the 2011 World Cup.

"Which is as it should be, especially with reference to the current situation in New Zealand. But I was at a dinner this week with former Wallaby greats Phil Kearns and Tim Horan and asked them whether Deans was coming under pressure. They felt Graham Henry was under more and that Deans had already improved the Wallaby team "immensely".

"They said he'd got their hearts and heads in the right places; had lifted skill levels; had chosen the right personnel and was doing the right thing in bringing hard nuts like Rocky Elsom back. Still, what everyone wants is results."

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Wynne Gray analyses the All Blacks' decision to reunite Dan Carter and Luke McAlister.

"As much as the All Blacks detest the aerial ping-pong tactics that have become common in the game, they may have decided to be pragmatic and replicate the Wallaby strategies and those which have been so effective for the Springboks.

"If they have decided on a foundation forceback plan, even with Carter's skills and time, they need someone to take the pressure away from him in his international comeback. That concept means McAlister's kicking skills get him the nod over Nonu."

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is often accused of beating the Wallabies by living off-side - and now there's graphic evidence to prove it - according to the Australian Daily Telegraph.

"Damning Fox Sports footage clearly confirms McCaw's status as a serial offender with this shopping list of illegal plays that helped scuttle the Wallabies 22-16 in the first Bledisloe Cup clash in Auckland last month.

"Analysis of the opening Bledisloe Cup game shows McCaw flagrantly entering the side of the ruck at least seven times, and contesting kicks while offside on at least three occasions. But despite being captured repeatedly failing to enter the breakdown from behind the last man's feet, McCaw proved "Mr Untouchable" by escaping without a single offside penalty all night. Referee Craig Joubert only pinged McCaw twice for unrelated ruck offences."

On Rugby Heaven, Spiro Zavos dismisses Taine Randell’s claim that the Wallabies have become too like head coach Robbie Deans’ former side, the Crusaders, for their own good.

"So there was Taine Randell, the former All Blacks captain, putting the boot into Robbie Deans. According to Randell, the Wallabies under Deans are clones of the successful Canterbury Crusaders sides he coached to seven Super rugby titles. They kick a lot, have a slick back line that counter-attacks very well but lack mongrel in the pack. This playing style, Randell argued, works at the Super rugby level but not at the Test level.

“Deans was the assistant coach of the All Blacks in 2003. This side, Randall says, lost to England in a June Test because it was "bullied" by the England pack, and by the Wallabies in the Rugby World Cup semi-final. Now sides are bullying the Deans-coached Wallabies pack in a similar manner.

“When I studied history an eternity ago, we were always taught to look at the context of the document under review and look behind the words for possible motives for what was written.“

The New Zealand Herald's Wynne Gray thinks that All Black coach Graham Henry could use a little perspective.

"It is a classic rugby conundrum and one Graham Henry struggled with before he became All Blacks coach.

"His ethos now is that everyone should do what is best for the national team. His glowering demeanour and sparing words did not hide those feelings as he tried to avoid criticising Jamie Joseph for refusing to play All Blacks in his NPC side.

"Perhaps after six years with the international team, Henry has lost a little perspective on the difficulties in preparing sides at lower levels. He seems to get everything he needs, including pulling more than 30 players into an All Blacks refresher course this week in the middle of the national championship.

"Then he gets snarky when some players he wants to have a game are not picked by Wellington for a drive-by appearance before scarpering off to All Black duty."

Gavin Rich, writing on Supersport, sees similarities between the 2009 Springboks and their 1998 counterparts - and has some words of warning.

"When you have followed or covered rugby in South Africa for a long time, and you possess a reasonable memory, it is sometimes impossible not to spot the recurring themes and arguments.

"For instance, while much of the country celebrates the Springbok feat of completing the home leg of the Tri-Nations unbeaten, there are still many critics bemoaning the way they are do it. “What has happened to the spirit of adventure?” ask some and “Surely we should be scoring more tries!” lament others.

"This is nothing new for it has happened several times, including in the aftermath of the 2007 World Cup triumph. But for me the current debates are most reminiscent of 1998, the year the Boks won the Tri-Nations for the first time without losing a game.

"Like now, suffocation rugby was pretty much the order of the day, something that was suited to that team’s strength if you consider that the Boks of that period boasted arguably the best loose trio in the world and that in Henry Honiball and Pieter Muller, who stood together in the flyhalf/inside centre axis, they had rugby’s equivalent of the Rock of Gibraltar."

Rugby Heaven's Marc Hinton believes that the time is right for Dan Carter to make his international return.

"Carter yesterday declared himself not only happy to be back in black, but ready to start against the Wallabies in Sydney next Saturday night.

"And you know what? There was not a hint of cockiness about his declaration. Not a smack of smarminess. And certainly no disrespect to Stephen Donald who has not had it easy as the understudy.

"The 27-year-old 59-test All Black simply knows that when his body is right – and it finally is – and his mind is also in similarly fine fettle, then a test match holds no fears for him. Not even one as vital and pivotal as the All Blacks' fourth Tri-Nations outing which will determine if they have any hope of catching the runaway Springboks.

"Carter may have not played a test for nearly nine months, may have only had three games of rugby since a near six-month layoff with a ruptured Achilles tendon. But he knows himself, and right about now there's a familiar feeling creeping over him."

Chris Rattue, writing in The New Zealand Herald, believes that the international return of Dan Carter is cause for optimism.

"Caution has filled the room. Fear has swept the streets. Panic is in the air.

"We're all doomed - our matchwinner is back. He can't be ready because rugby is way more complicated than that," goes the cry.

"Wayne Smith, the All Black back coach, isn't even sure that the man he's just picked for the test squad is ready. Former All Black coaches are urging, you guessed it, caution. Bloggers and emailers can barely get their fingers out to tap the keyboards due to the wringing of their nervous hands.

"Breaking the habit of a lifetime, this column has searched long and hard and found a few reasons for optimism."

Rugby Heaven's Spiro Zavos sees plenty of similarities between the 2009 Springboks and the 2003 England World Cup-winning side.

"As I watched the Springboks kick virtually every ball their superb pack won from the Wallabies at Cape Town on their way to a 29-17 victory I had a sense that I'd seen all this before.

"When Morne Steyn kicked over his fifth penalty in the first half, with all the accuracy and aplomb of Jonny Wilkinson, I realised that this Springboks side is the clone of the England side that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup, with the tactical addition of the midfield bomb developed by Argentina in the 2007 tournament.

"It's fashionable for rugby writers (and I have made the comment myself) to accuse the Springboks of not playing any rugby. What is clear after the Tri Nations Tests this year in South Africa, with the All Blacks and now the Wallabies being kicked off the paddock, is that the Springboks are playing terrific "rugby football", rather than "rugby".

"The rugby football game is based on forward power, good structured play with strong set pieces, good restarts and a consistent kicking game with points accumulated, in the main, through penalty goals, drop goals and the occasional try. The rugby game, on the other hand, tends to see the set pieces as a means to the end of running the ball where possible, and scoring tries rather than penalties as the main way to score points. This is the game Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Nations have generally espoused, and the style the lost and lamented ELVs encouraged."

Yesterday's Tri-Nations clash Newlands could be described as an utter waste of time in terms of entertainment, writes Chris Rattue in the New Zealand Herald.

"The Springboks are an awesome side, until they start trying to pass the ball to each other. They are to beautiful rugby what the infamous Wimbledon side were to beautiful soccer when Vinnie Jones played for them.

"The IRB must be tearing their hair out. They cop a lot of abuse, but at least the game's administrators are trying to make rugby a spectacle, even if they often fail."

South Africa are halfway to being a great side. But only halfway according to Peter Bills writing in the New Zealand Herald.

"Great sides don't rely just on goal kicking to win matches. Great teams may bully the opposition up front, like these Springboks, but their game plan doesn't end there, apart from a No 10 who kicks the leather off the ball.

When did you last see a Springbok side bring their fullback into the attacking line on the switch from a first phase move, the receiver searching earnestly for space? When did Peter de Villiers' side last spread the ball and set up Bryan Habana in some proper space?"

Chris Rattue, writing in The New Zealand Herald, believes that time is up for the All Blacks' coaching team.

"All Black coach Graham Henry and his cohorts should be sacked. Enough is enough.

"It's time for the clean out, the night of the long knives, the great purge. You would have to ask serious questions over the quality of the NZRU executive and board as well, given their dalliances with the national provincial competition and staggering decision to reappoint Henry after the last World Cup.

"The Kremlin is full of arrogance and rot, and it's well past the time when this decaying monolith is forced to start all over again. The national game needs leaders with clear thought, charisma and a positive outlook not based on excuse-making for their failures. The All Black coaching and selection panel is the immediate problem to sort out."

The New Zealand Herald's Wynne Gray takes a look at an area of perceived All Black strength that has failed to materialise - scrum-half.

"Halfback was always going to be one of the All Black strengths this season. Separating the merits of Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu and Brendon Leonard loomed as the most difficult task as the trio made a break ahead of injured former international Andy Ellis.

"Six tests into the season it remains an awkward choice, but for different reasons. Cowan was dragged off soon after halftime in the latest defeat to the Boks before Weepu gave another middling replacement display while Leonard watched from the stand.

"After a sparky Super 14 season ended by a hamstring injury, Leonard has not recaptured that zip against Italy or the Boks in his twin starts. He looks like he needs a regular burst of national championship matchplay to recapture that potency.

"Cowan has been the preferred halfback in the last four Bledisloe Cup tests where he has been abrasive and constructive. He was subdued in the weekend against the Boks and, presumably under instructions, used a strange mixture of box kicks in his own territory."

Gavin Rich, writing in The Cape Argus, advises caution over heralding Heinrich Brussow as the next big thing in world rugby.

"It's just that when you have been in this business for a while you learn to defer judgement. "Mistakes that have been made by this pen include referring to Chris Rossouw as 'the new Stephen Larkham' when he had played just one game for Western Province. Ouch!

"It happens to everyone. The other day I stumbled across the archive for my columns, and I came across one written eight years ago titled 'The new Joost is like Dolly the Sheep'.

"It was about a young scrumhalf being written up as the new Joost van der Westhuizen after he scored four tries for the Blue Bulls in a Currie Cup match. This was a guy many other critics, but not this one, were tipping to become a Bok. His name was Coenrad Groenewald. Anyone heard of him since then?"

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Wynne Gray argues that All Blacks coach Graham Henry call ill afford to rest players for what the writer feels is a must-win game with South Africa on Saturday.

"Rotation? No way Jose. Not when you have lost the last test against the Springboks and two out of five internationals already this season.

"It is time to park the theory that players struggled to put together three performances in succession. Too bad.

"This is judgement time, a crucial phase of the All Blacks' season as they seek some inroads in defence of their Tri-Nations title."

Spiro Zavos believes that the Springboks have a rare chance to claim the southern hemisphere's holy grail, on Rugby Heaven.

"The emphatic 28-19 victory by the Springboks over the All Blacks at Bloemfontein, with the visitors denying themselves a bonus point by a series of stupid plays, has opened the way for South African rugby to achieve the sport’s holy grail trifecta: a Super 14 title (won by the Bulls), a series victory over the British and Irish Lions (won 2-1) and a Tri Nations title.

"Australian rugby achieved its holy grail in 2001. New Zealand rugby did likewise in 2005. It seems the stars are aligned this year for South African rugby’s turn. The team is certainly up to the standard of the 2001 Wallabies and the 2005 All Blacks. There were 14 Springboks from the Rugby World Cup final team playing at Bloemfontein. Two years on, the team is being described (correctly I believe) by South African experts as one of their greatest ever. The team has confirmed this assessment by achieving the No.1 ranking in world rugby with Saturday’s victory, displacing the All Blacks from a position they have held for a couple of years.

"Aside from the undoubted quality of the team, there are several other factors working in favour of the Springboks to achieve their third Tri Nations title (and the third leg of the holy grail trifecta), and break the four-year run of success by the All Blacks. The schedule, for instance, gives the Springboks an easy travel itinerary.

"Their first three Tests are at home. Then they have a two-week gap before playing the Wallabies at Perth. The week before the Wallabies play the All Blacks at Sydney, so the home side will be backing up from an intense Test and then travelling to play the fresh Springboks. The Springboks play the Wallabies at Brisbane a week later and then the All Blacks at Hamilton to finish off."

Greg Growden, writing on Rugby Heaven, believes that the Springboks' win over New Zealand highlighted the extent of the Wallabies' problems in this Tri-Nations.

"In all, it wasn't the most satisfying weekend for Australian rugby.

"For those Wallabies who woke up in the middle of the night to watch the Springboks keep the All Blacks at bay in the Bloemfontein Tri Nations match, it just accentuated the pain of their wasting their chance of beating New Zealand in Auckland the previous weekend.

"The Springboks' haphazard performance, with which they comfortably accounted for the All Blacks, emphasised how far New Zealand are from their best and, if an opponent remains focused, they can be swept aside.

"Australia had that chance and bombed it. South Africa were in the same position on Saturday and completed the task.

"As importantly, the All Blacks' effort, where they fought back for the second week in a row to threaten momentarily late in the Springboks Test, confirmed they have something the Wallabies don't - resilience. The All Blacks know it is vital to keep the pressure on for the duration of the Test and to be close to their peak near the end of the game. They did that both in Auckland and Bloemfontein."

Mike Greenaway, writing in The New Zealand Herald, believes that the balance of the Springbok pack could take them all the way in this year's Tri-Nations.

“The favourable draw - three home matches in which to build up a head of steam before hitting Perth, Brisbane and Hamilton - is one of the reasons the bookies are tipping the Boks to add to their titles of 2004 and 1998.

“There is the more tangible evidence of a match 22 boasting 14 players who did duty in the Rugby World Cup final, while the new arrivals certainly add value - players such as Beast Mtawarira, Pierre Spies, Morne Steyn, Ryan Kankowski and Heinrich Brussow.

“The latter gives the Springbok pack much better balance, even though he is replacing a player of the stature of the suspended Schalk Burger, the 2004 IRB Player of the year.

“In recent years it would have been sacrilege to suggest a Bok pack would be better off for Burger's absence, but this year it has proved to be a fact because in Brussow the Boks at last have a semblance of a Richie McCaw, George Smith or Phil Waugh.”

Writing in The Australian, Wayne Smith says Robbie Deans and the Wallabies must not rest in the three weeks before they face South Africa as they look to get their Tri-Nations campaign back on track.

"Satisfying as it always is watching New Zealanders and South Africans inflicting pain on each other on the rugby field, Robbie Deans and the Wallabies can ill-afford to idly waste this lull in the battle. A strategy must be formulated to beat the Boks in Cape Town on August 8, then a team picked to implement it.

"It may be that the All Blacks will expose some weaknesses in the South African team that the British and Irish Lions weren't able to illuminate, but it was clear by the end of the recent series that the Lions wanted to avoid kicking for touch at all costs.

"Any lineout ball won within 20m of the opposition line inevitably finds its way to the back of the Springbok rolling maul and the Green Machine begins to rumble."

Former Wallaby skipper Andrew Slack opens fire on the Wallabies' performance in the opening Tri-Nations game in The New Zealand Herald.

"When All Blacks are born, God clearly injects more of the genes responsible for ruthlessness and composure into them than he does into an infant Wallaby.

"For the opening quarter of Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup match, it was the All Blacks who looked like no-walk, no-talk toddlers, with the Wallabies in full charge of the creche.

"Eventually though, and by no means for the first time in an encounter between the two countries, the roles reversed. Richie McCaw's men matured and Stirling Mortlock's troop went back to kindergarten.

"The momentum, the wind and 10 points on the board should have been the springboard to push 10 up to 20."

Rugby Heaven's Greg Growden believes that the Wallabies have to develop a killer instinct if they are to prosper in the Tri-Nations.

"Sure, they have improved. That's obvious. Their skills and fitness levels are on the up. Their defence is as good as it was around the time of the 1999 World Cup. Teams just don't score tries against them - as shown by them leaking only three in five games so far this season. Their mode of attack is certainly more enlightening.

"But there are still three mind-numbing factors that are dragging the Wallabies down. The All Blacks, even when rusty and playing the most predictable and conservative brand of football imaginable as they did on Saturday night, have the hex on them.

"The Wallabies have not learnt the knack of seizing the big moment, those few seconds of play that win big internationals. They tune out at the most inopportune times."