The true measure of Wallaby recovery

Many rugby watchers will have you believe the Wallabies are enjoying a renaissance, with wins over England (twice) and Ireland signalling the problems which plagued their pack last year have been repaired.

However, the examination the All Blacks will almost certainly give the Wallabies up front is the major reason why there is possibly no more intriguing encounter in the 2006 Tri Nations than the first one at Jade Stadium on Saturday.

The fascination lies partly in the well-documented All Black lack of combination from fielding 39 players in the last three test matches and the Australians' much-praised return from a truly horrible 2005. Most embarrassing was the Twickenham test, where the Wallaby front row were hurled about like rag dolls.

Last year was also the time when the All Black backline ruled world rugby. This year, however, the Wallaby backs have already been praised to the skies - not least by departing Irish skipper Brian O'Driscoll.

The match promises to be different from the last between these teams - the fast and furious 34-24 affair which saw eight tries (four each), including three to Doug Howlett, the only Tri Nations hat-trick scored between these two countries.

The All Blacks will look to seize an advantage up front and test the Australian front row in ways not managed by an under-strength and under-performing England and an Irish side which competed well for 60 minutes in Perth before folding.

The scrum will be an obvious focal point. Out of the match is 130kg prop Rodney Blake, the man around whom coach John Connolly wants to rebuild the Wallaby forward platform. In will come Al Baxter, who holds few fears for the All Blacks.

So it will be in the lineouts - an ugly phase for the 2006 All Blacks - and the loose where the Wallabies look to gain the ball their talented backs require and where some estimate they can win even with less than 50 per cent possession.

So far this year, the Wallabies have won by gaining some sort of parity at the scrum, plundering the opposition lineout with locks Nathan Sharpe and Daniel Vickerman and tall loose forwards Rocky Elsom and Mark Chisholm, who holds his place as Daniel Heenan is still injured.

But the Wallabies still have no fewer than four viable lineout options - an imposing force on the opposition throw.

Elsom - one of the finds of the Wallaby season - plays No 8 but moves to the side of the scrum for opposition feeds, giving the pack extra shunt from two big flankers heaving at the set-piece.

In the rucks and mauls, the Australians have long been skilful at disrupting opposition ball (remember that World Cup semifinal in 2003). In spite of all the hoo-ha about Leon MacDonald playing at No 13 that year, it was the way the Australians attacked the All Blacks at ruck and maul which really won them the match.

Stirling Mortlock is already the world's best centre and is as good as Tana Umaga in the rucks and mauls. Just as Umaga did, Mortlock operates like an extra loose forward.

Perhaps the biggest change in the Wallabies, however, is attitudinal. Connolly is a hard-nosed, pragmatic coach, while predecessor Eddie Jones brought more of a Zen-like approach to his rugby, a search for the more mystical facets of rugby life, Connolly's coal-miner tendencies have beefed up the Wallaby pack and has been evident in the backs, particularly at halfback. Only a few months ago, most of Australia was calling for George Gregan's head. Connolly has Gregan once again making a case that he is competing for the title of world's best halfback.

Gregan is operating in a more direct fashion and running again, something which makes him much more dangerous. He has not lost his defensive skills, as proved by his try-saving ball-and-all tackle of Iain Balshaw in the second test against England.

Most mouth-watering of all is the showdown between Dan Carter and Stephen Larkham.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan was in no doubt - Larkham was best.

"Larkham is a magnificent footballer," O'Sullivan said. "I've always rated him. He has all the strengths of a flyhalf. He can pass, kick, run, tackle ... he does it all. Carter is right up there but he's a different type of player. Larkham is the guy who runs the game really well. Carter had the game run a bit by the centres, which Tana Umaga did well for him. The big test for Carter now is whether he can take that mantle on."

Tri Nations Tally

Doug Howlett is the leading try-scorer in all Tri Nations clashes between Australia and New Zealand since 1996, including last year's hat-trick. The full list of leading try scorers in this fixture is:

8: Doug Howlett*
7: Christian Cullen
6: Matt Burke
5: Justin Marshall
4: Stirling Mortlock*, Joe Rokocoko*, Jonah Lomu
3: Richie McCaw*, George Gregan*, Stephen Larkham*, Jeff Wilson, Joe Roff

* = current player

Wins: New Zealand 12, Australia 8.
Points: New Zealand 499, Australia 405.