John Eales, an Australian rugby board member, also said that a win in the Bledisloe Cup battle would be a massive boost for their World Cup prospects.

Is it time to let the No. 1 team loose and put and end to the selection roundabout?

Wycliff Palu and Matt Giteau return in the 31-man Wallabies squad chosen to prepare for next week's Rugby Championship decider against the All Blacks.

Transtasman rivals share none of the chumminess that's evident between the Boks and the All Blacks.

How Michael Hooper went from facing a two-week suspension for striking another player to being free to face the All Blacks.

David Pocock is looking forward to what could potentially be a last matchup against Richie McCaw.

The Wallabies are under no illusions about the challenge of beating the All Blacks, says coach Michael Cheika.

The Herald's rugby experts answer three key questions following the All Blacks win over South Africa this morning.

One piece of unruffled thinking from Lima Sopoaga explained the All Black selectors decision to promote the young five eighths.

Live updates of the Rugby Championship clash between the All Blacks and South Africa at Ellis Park.

There will be an element of phoney war about the All Blacks clash with South Africa - neither team is going to give everything away.

Dane Coles looks back at his first test at the home of South African rugby, the blockbusting 2013 Rugby Championship decider.

"I've just matured and got a lot of those bad habits out of my system and just put my head down and worked hard."

We rate our five biggest All Blacks-Springboks encounters at Ellis Park.

Michael Cheika has stressed there are "no gambles" in his Wallabies side for tonight's Rugby Championship opener against South Africa at Suncorp Stadium.

"I wonder whether we'll see the All Blacks utilise yet another weapon in their considerable armoury against Argentina this evening - the cross kick."

After the motley start to this season against Samoa in Apia, tonight must be about picking up some rhythm against the Pumas, writes Wynne Gray.

It's fitting that Richie McCaw's last significant game in Christchurch will be played under Steve Hansen, who says "there was just something about him from day one".

He has now played 103 tests, and has scored a record 1477 test points, but there is little Dan Carter takes for granted as far as the All Blacks are concerned.

Ahead of the All Blacks' opening Rugby Championship game of the year against the Pumas,All Blacks captain Richie McCaw isn't thinking about his (potential) last test in Christchurch and wants better ball and better decisions made.

Ahead of the All Blacks' opening Rugby Championship game of the year, we look at all the stats you need to know.

Kiwis need to celebrate the good times more than they do, according to All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw.

As rugged as the Pumas are likely to be, the All Blacks' main opponent may be the growing anxiety that's settled in camp ahead of the looming World Cup cull.