The Wallabies and the All Blacks have taken great pains to understate the significance of a win in Saturday's Tri-Nations decider in the overall scheme of things for the World Cup.
Yet the emphasis from all other quarters this week has been almost entirely on the World Cup which kicks off in two weeks.
The Australians, distracted early by the suspension of utility back James O'Connor for oversleeping and missing two functions coinciding with the World Cup squad announcement, have repeatedly said the Tri-Nations title is their only focus this week.
Big lock James Horwill, who led the Queensland Reds to the Super 15 title this season and has just displaced Rocky Elsom as Wallabies skipper, claimed the World Cup "hasn't even been mentioned" in camp.
Hardly likely. But his argument is that Australia hasn't won the southern hemisphere championship since 2001, and that's motivation enough.
"It's the Tri-Nations final, it's a big game. It's a sold-out stadium in front of hopefully 52,000 hostile Australian fans and we want to make sure we put in the performance that's worthy of the magnitude of the game that it is," Horwill told a news conference Friday. "We haven't had our hands on that trophy for 10 years, that's a long drought."
Both squads are as close to full strength as possible for the test that will be the last curtainraiser before the World Cup, where the teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world are hoping to meet again in the Oct. 23 final.
Wallabies scrumhalf Will Genia needed six stitches in his head after a training collision with No. 8 Radike Samo on Tuesday, then pulled up practice early on Thursday after another knock from lock Rob Simmons, but is expected to be fit.
"A lot has been made of it but it's nothing too serious," Genia said. "I ... felt a bit foggy at training but just pulled out towards the end because I felt a bit off. I feel like I'm good to go."
All Blacks coach Graham Henry, who took a second-string team to South Africa last weekend and lost 18-5, thinks the preparation matches for the World Cup should be viewed separately from the tournament.
"Frankly, if you look at history it means nothing," Henry was quoted as saying Friday. "We played France in France before the last World Cup, won by 40-odd points and got beaten (by France) in the quarterfinal.
"It's got some significance, but I don't think it's great," he added. "You go into these contests, play good footy and hopefully do the business. At the end of the day does it tilt the balance in someone's favor to win the Rugby World Cup? I don't think so."
Genia said Henry might be playing down the World Cup significance a little bit too much.
"That's obviously what he's come out and said, but I doubt that's the case," Genia said. Horwill added that every team wanted to go into the World Cup on a win, regardless of who it was over.
Henry and his All Blacks are under immense pressure to win the World Cup on home soil and claim the Webb Ellis Trophy for the first time since the inaugural tournament in 1987 — the last time it was staged in New Zealand.
Despite being the perennial No. 1 in the rankings, the All Blacks have had some epic upsets in the World Cup and haven't figured in the final since losing a tight contest to South Africa in 1995.
Two-time World Cup champion Australia has an imposing record at Lang Park, winning 15 of the 18 test matches at the venue. But all three losses have been to New Zealand, including a 28-24 defeat here in 2008 in what was effectively the Tri-Nations series final that season.
And so the Australians have plenty to overcome before they leave for the World Cup, particularly after being outclassed in a 30-14 defeat to the All Blacks at Auckland in the Tri-Nations opener last month.
After being let down by his second-string lineup last weekend, giving the defending World Cup champion South Africans their only win of the Tri-Nations and letting Australia back into contention for the title, Henry is taking no chances in Brisbane.
He recalled flyhalf Dan Carter and skipper Richie McCaw among 11 changes to his starting 15, including a completely new-look backline featuring Ma'a Nonu at the expense of rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams at center.
Australia's young and enterprising backline is considered its strength, but the Wallabies were forced into errors by the All Blacks in Auckland and go into the match even more unsettled.
Nonu will be marking Pat McCabe, a surprise selection this season at the expense of 92-test veteran Matt Giteau, and Anthony Fainga'a, a late inclusion in a reshuffled backline after O'Connor was banned for this test. Adam Ashley-Cooper was moved into the wing to accommodate the inclusion of Fainga'a.
Australia will have a 5-2 split of forwards to backs on the bench, with one of the remaining bench spots to be decided after the Barbarians play Canada at the Gold Coast on Friday.
Squads:
Australia: Kurtley Beale, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Anthony Fainga'a, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Radike Samo, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom, James Horwill, Dan Vickerman, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu. Reserves: Saia Fainga'a, Salesi Ma'afu, Rob Simmons, Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Burgess, TBA.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Zac Guildford, Dan Carter, Piri Weepu, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Adam Thomson, Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Andrew Hore, John Afoa, Ali Williams, Victor Vito, Andy Ellis, Colin Slade, Isaia Toeava.
The Australians, distracted early by the suspension of utility back James O'Connor for oversleeping and missing two functions coinciding with the World Cup squad announcement, have repeatedly said the Tri-Nations title is their only focus this week.
Big lock James Horwill, who led the Queensland Reds to the Super 15 title this season and has just displaced Rocky Elsom as Wallabies skipper, claimed the World Cup "hasn't even been mentioned" in camp.
Hardly likely. But his argument is that Australia hasn't won the southern hemisphere championship since 2001, and that's motivation enough.
"It's the Tri-Nations final, it's a big game. It's a sold-out stadium in front of hopefully 52,000 hostile Australian fans and we want to make sure we put in the performance that's worthy of the magnitude of the game that it is," Horwill told a news conference Friday. "We haven't had our hands on that trophy for 10 years, that's a long drought."
Both squads are as close to full strength as possible for the test that will be the last curtainraiser before the World Cup, where the teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world are hoping to meet again in the Oct. 23 final.
Wallabies scrumhalf Will Genia needed six stitches in his head after a training collision with No. 8 Radike Samo on Tuesday, then pulled up practice early on Thursday after another knock from lock Rob Simmons, but is expected to be fit.
"A lot has been made of it but it's nothing too serious," Genia said. "I ... felt a bit foggy at training but just pulled out towards the end because I felt a bit off. I feel like I'm good to go."
All Blacks coach Graham Henry, who took a second-string team to South Africa last weekend and lost 18-5, thinks the preparation matches for the World Cup should be viewed separately from the tournament.
"Frankly, if you look at history it means nothing," Henry was quoted as saying Friday. "We played France in France before the last World Cup, won by 40-odd points and got beaten (by France) in the quarterfinal.
"It's got some significance, but I don't think it's great," he added. "You go into these contests, play good footy and hopefully do the business. At the end of the day does it tilt the balance in someone's favor to win the Rugby World Cup? I don't think so."
Genia said Henry might be playing down the World Cup significance a little bit too much.
"That's obviously what he's come out and said, but I doubt that's the case," Genia said. Horwill added that every team wanted to go into the World Cup on a win, regardless of who it was over.
Henry and his All Blacks are under immense pressure to win the World Cup on home soil and claim the Webb Ellis Trophy for the first time since the inaugural tournament in 1987 — the last time it was staged in New Zealand.
Despite being the perennial No. 1 in the rankings, the All Blacks have had some epic upsets in the World Cup and haven't figured in the final since losing a tight contest to South Africa in 1995.
Two-time World Cup champion Australia has an imposing record at Lang Park, winning 15 of the 18 test matches at the venue. But all three losses have been to New Zealand, including a 28-24 defeat here in 2008 in what was effectively the Tri-Nations series final that season.
And so the Australians have plenty to overcome before they leave for the World Cup, particularly after being outclassed in a 30-14 defeat to the All Blacks at Auckland in the Tri-Nations opener last month.
After being let down by his second-string lineup last weekend, giving the defending World Cup champion South Africans their only win of the Tri-Nations and letting Australia back into contention for the title, Henry is taking no chances in Brisbane.
He recalled flyhalf Dan Carter and skipper Richie McCaw among 11 changes to his starting 15, including a completely new-look backline featuring Ma'a Nonu at the expense of rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams at center.
Australia's young and enterprising backline is considered its strength, but the Wallabies were forced into errors by the All Blacks in Auckland and go into the match even more unsettled.
Nonu will be marking Pat McCabe, a surprise selection this season at the expense of 92-test veteran Matt Giteau, and Anthony Fainga'a, a late inclusion in a reshuffled backline after O'Connor was banned for this test. Adam Ashley-Cooper was moved into the wing to accommodate the inclusion of Fainga'a.
Australia will have a 5-2 split of forwards to backs on the bench, with one of the remaining bench spots to be decided after the Barbarians play Canada at the Gold Coast on Friday.
Squads:
Australia: Kurtley Beale, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Anthony Fainga'a, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Radike Samo, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom, James Horwill, Dan Vickerman, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu. Reserves: Saia Fainga'a, Salesi Ma'afu, Rob Simmons, Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Burgess, TBA.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Zac Guildford, Dan Carter, Piri Weepu, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Adam Thomson, Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Andrew Hore, John Afoa, Ali Williams, Victor Vito, Andy Ellis, Colin Slade, Isaia Toeava.
