From bug-gate to salacious private messages made public, there has been no shortage of off-field spice prior to the opening Bledisloe. But if we can, just for a moment, drag the conversation from the courtroom and airport toilet to the rugby, expect the All Blacks to bring back the attacking spark in Sydney.
Throughout his tenure Steve Hansen has shown his willingness to make the hard selection calls. Just when you think any man on the street could predict the starting team, Hansen goes and pulls a swifty.
Footage is limited of Hansen's time as a Canterbury midfielder but the sense is that he has thrown far more behind the back passes in coaching than his playing days. This week, that extended to Damian McKenzie at fullback and young rhino Liam Squire over older bull Jerome Kaino. Most were caught off-guard with these calls. Both signal the All Blacks want to up the tempo.
Hansen's All Blacks are at their best when playing structured razzle dazzle. The "me oh my" magic plays were in short supply against the British and Irish Lions. If the All Blacks have their way, these will return with purpose against the Wallabies.
McKenzie's inclusion has the potential to bring real upside in this regard. At the Chiefs, his role was to link in combination with Aaron Cruden; to pop in and out of first-receiver whenever he wished. In Sydney expect him to perform a similar role with Beauden Barrett.