Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has finalised his bench for tomorrow's Rugby Championship opener, omitting Western Force loose forward Ben McCalman for the clash with the All Blacks.

All Black coach Steve Hansen has fired the first psychological shot ahead of the Rugby Championship.

He's the Wallabies' main man again and says he loves getting his hands on the ball, but Kurtley Beale also knows his job is more about creating opportunities for others.

Telling James Horwill there was no room for him in the Wallabies squad for Saturday's Rugby Championship opener was a very unpleasant move for coach Ewen McKenzie.

He's a budding lawyer but, after two broken necks in less than a year, Pat McCabe never thought he'd be defending the All Blacks.

In 12 tests against the Wallabies, Jerome Kaino has experienced defeat only twice. He is determined to ensure he adds another victory this Saturday.

All the tremors came with the selection of the Wallaby backline, writes Wynne Gray.

Prop Paddy Ryan and uncapped winger Tom English have been added to the Wallabies Rugby Championship squad, with hamstring injuries set to rule out Laurie Weeks and Joe Tomane for the first two matches against New Zealand.

There might be a few players from the Crusaders who will have extra motivation in the All Blacks' camp this week.

When the All Blacks take the field against the Wallabies on Saturday, they'll know they stand 80 minutes away from a landmark 18 successive wins.

A week today, the All Blacks will be in Sydney looking to extend their consecutive victories to a world record 18.

It's understandable that, for a lot of people, last night's Super Rugby final was being viewed as a kind of unofficial third Bledisloe Cup test.

Australians are irrepressible. Admirably so. This time 12 months ago rugby was the black sheep of their respective football codes - scarily close to oblivion.

After the disarray of last year - a series defeat to the Lions and the sacking of coach Robbie Deans - the Wallabies seem to be tracking in the right direction.

Forget the All Blacks' attempt to break the world record for most wins in succession, Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie plans a record of his own.

The Wallabies and their new coach Ewen McKenzie avoided Daniel Carter last season.

It would be the Wallabies who stand in the way of the All Blacks' world record search for consecutive test wins. They've had a habit of interrupting those attempts in the last two decades.

It was their lowest winning score in 87 years but the Wallabies took an important step in Melbourne on Saturday night in their quest to be a "team for all seasons".

The Blues have secured their spot in the 2024 Super Rugby finals, beating the Brumbies 34-20. Video / Sky Sport

All eyes will be on Michael Hooper, the youngest Wallabies skipper in 53 years, when he leads Australia for the first time tonight.

The rugby world has turned upside down. Australia, with its history of scrum woes.

Wallabies stalwarts Benn Robinson and Wycliff Palu are in danger while a dearth of wingers may mean Pat McCabe has a remarkable test reactivation out wide.

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie will use the November tour to Europe to fine-tune his squad for the 2015 World Cup.