KEY POINTS:
It's easy to feel sympathy with the Australian fans and even agree that they have been given a rough deal by the South African's decision to leave their best players at home.
The game in Australia needs to be supported right now. Their Super 14 teams had a rough ride and the Wallabies have been criticised. There is also the perennial problem that rugby is under pressure from other codes.
At a time when the Australian Rugby Union really needed support from its Sanzar partner, it has been badly let down.
The tickets for next week's match have been sold on the basis that people are going to be watching the form players. Test football is all about the contest and people, rightly, want to see the best, especially when they have paid good money for it.
I know the All Blacks versus Springboks match in Christchurch is only about two-thirds sold out and that there is a lot of discontent. The South Island is only hosting one test this year and a lot of supporters have booked travel and accommodation and bought tickets expecting to see a traditional clash between the ABs and South Africa.
This year it should have been a particularly good game with the South African resurgence.
To have a pop at the South Africans could, of course, be seen as a little hypocritical given that All Blacks coach Graham Henry was allowed to take 22 players out of the early rounds of the Super 14.
There is, though, a difference in what New Zealand have done and what South Africa are doing.
The withdrawal of the All Blacks from Super 14 was flagged almost six months before it happened so fans could buy in or opt out knowing what was an offer.
The Boks, on the other hand, did not signal their intentions and the Australian fans committed to buying tickets believing they were going to be watching the best.
From the noises I have picked up in Australia, I'm certain that the arrival of John O'Neill is well-timed. He doesn't seem the sort who is going to tolerate the shenanigans we have seen this season.
Although, from a New Zealand perspective, we have to acknowledge the All Blacks are now in a very strong position as a consequence of the way Graham Henry has operated.
Look at the depth we have across a number of positions. Last night we had three guys in the midfield who could kick, who could handle and put each other away.
That situation was forced on Henry as a result of injuries to Conrad Smith and Leon MacDonald. Look at our depth at lock where we are missing Ali Williams and Keith Robinson.
We are in such a strong position that I would reckon that if the Junior All Blacks had lined up in Melbourne last night they might have been fairly matched against the Wallabies.
