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SYDNEY - Compelling statistics reveal the Wallabies will be up against the most dominant All Blacks team in rugby history in the Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup test in Melbourne tomorrow.
Last weekend's 26-21 victory over South Africa in Durban and big wins over France and Canada have improved the All Blacks' record to 37 wins from 41 tests since their semifinal loss to Australia at the 2003 World Cup in Sydney.
In more than a century of test rugby, no other All Blacks team have managed to maintain such a consistent level of excellence over such a long time.
Only the champion England side - which won 33 of 36 tests from the 1999 World Cup up until 2003 World Cup, including 21 in succession before arriving in Australia and winning another seven in a row to run off with the William Webb Ellis Cup - can challenge the All Blacks' record.
During their golden run, the All Blacks have beaten every major test-playing nation - most both at home and away - and are unbeaten against all Northern Hemisphere opposition.
In 2005 alone, the All Blacks completed a 3-0 sweep over the Lions before heading to Britain and achieving the Grand Slam with victories over England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Today, they are riding a 24-test winning streak in New Zealand and are odds-on favourites to retain the Tri-Nations trophy and Bledisloe Cup.
Their only loss in 24 tests over the past 22 months was a one-point loss to the Springboks in September.
- AAP
