Publications
Partners
Hong Kong - All Blacks legend Richie McCaw has said that the team's 10-game winning streak against the Wallabies could come to an abrupt end in Hong Kong if they allow any complacency to creep in.
The world's top-ranked nation are widely expected to beat Australia in the fourth and final Bledisloe Cup fixture on Saturday, having defeated every team they have faced in their last 15 Test matches.
But New Zealand captain McCaw warned ahead of the showdown: "It's a new Test. History doesn't mean bugger-all when the kick-off starts or even in the week leading up.
"What gives you the chance to win on Saturday is you get your preparation right and you've got to play for 80 minutes and do everything dead right."
The All Blacks clinched the trans-Tasman Bledisloe Cup for the eighth straight year after winning in Christchurch in August.
Both teams unveiled their line-ups for the final match on Thursday, with four All Black changes from the side that finished strongly to pip the Wallabies by just one point in Sydney in September.
"They could have won that game," said McCaw, 29. "They were in it right to the end so take what you want from that. We realise we didn't perform as well as we could have.
The All Blacks embarrassed the Wallabies in their own backyard in July, putting 49 points past them in Melbourne, but Australia have been closing the gap, losing 20-10 and then 23-22 in the following Tests.
"You look over the last few years there have been some pretty tight games and we've had to work really hard for every inch," said McCaw, an All Blacks regular since 2001.
"Because of that you know if you don't turn up dead right, you come second real quick."
The flanker said the desire to win on both sides was as strong as it had ever been.
"Definitely from our point of view the boys are excited and that comes about through a few things.
"A few of us haven't played for a while and I guess there is the memory of last time, when we were lucky to get away with a performance we weren't totally happy with I guess until the last few minutes."
McCaw said he expected an open game, despite a decidedly pockmarked pitch which looked like it had been subjected to a mauling after both teams trained at Hong Kong Stadium on Friday.
"Both teams want to use the ball, but you don't do that willy-nilly," he said.
"It's about doing it at the right time and building pressure. Every game is a little bit different and you've got to play what's thrown in front of you."
Both teams tour the northern hemisphere before the World Cup in New Zealand in 2011, where the hosts look set to be favourites.
McCaw starts the All Blacks' five-Test tour on 89 caps, and looks certain to break Sean Fitzpatrick's record of 92 Test appearances, barring injury or illness.
The Wallabies made two changes from the side beaten in Sydney, with prop Ben Alexander recovered from a knee injury and Drew Mitchell replacing Lachie Turner on the wing after missing the Sydney cliffhanger with a hamstring strain.
Flyhalf Dan Carter returns to the All Black side after two months on the sidelines following ankle surgery, setting up a mouthwatering clash with Australia's Quade Cooper.
