To the winners go the spoils! The victor of the much anticipated Wallabies v All Blacks game on Saturday will claim the Tri-Nations title, and will put a firm hand on the Bledisloe Cup.

Furthermore, whichever team claims the spoils in Brisbane will lay a credible claim to being the best team of 2008 and hence, the top team in world rugby. However, an Australian victory will not see New Zealand relinquish their position as the IRB’s No.1 ranked side. 

Both teams march into the showdown with varied fortunes. But previous results and history count for nothing in a match where winner takes all. However, the All Blacks, for all of their impressive history, wield a dangerous advantage over the home team. In 17 matches played against the two sides in Brisbane, the Wallabies have won just two. 

New Zealand are defending Tri-Nations champions, and are aiming to win the title for the fourth consecutive year and claim their ninth crown in the tournament's 13 years. Two decisive facts support a New Zealand victory. They are on a three-match winning streak – notwithstanding a completely one-sided affair against Samoa – with dominant victories against both the Wallabies (39-10) and the Springboks (19-0). 

But it is the unveiling of Graham Henry’s team that is most notable. It will be the third successive Tri-Nations match that has featured the same starting 15. A win will also see the All Blacks notch their eighth win of the year – more than any other team in world rugby - and will see them hold the Bledisloe Cup for the sixth straight year.

If ever a match was to erase the horrors of 2007, it is this game. Victory would be all the more impressive considering that the All Blacks are effectively rebuilding this year.

However, if the might of New Zealand has ever had a bogey team, it is Australia – who have limped into Brisbane on the back of their biggest-ever Test match loss. They have posted back-to-back victories over world champions South Africa and were most impressive in the 34-19 victory over the All Blacks in Sydney. But they have shown remarkable inconsistency this season, taking much of the gloss off 'Dingo' Robbie Deans, hailed as the redeemer of Australian rugby.

A 29-point loss to New Zealand and a 45-point defeat to South Africa do little to cover up the fact that Australia remain the only team in this year’s Tri-Nations not to lose at home. Deans has wielded the axe and made five changes to his starting team, with Timana Tahu and Tatafu Polota-Nau being dropped for the squad altogether.

While the team looks stronger for the inclusion of George Smith, Stephen Moore and Ryan Cross, it is an unsettled team.  Lock discard Nathan Sharpe has also been recalled, having not played since his shocker against the All Blacks at Eden Park.

While All Blacks coach Graham Henry believes that Australia's 53-8 defeat in South Africa will count for nothing and that his team are being unusually cautious preparing for the game, one cannot expect the Wallabies not to have mental scars from Ellis Park nightmare.

In the forwards, the All Blacks hold a decisive edge, with this year’s series proving what a magnificent presence Richie McCaw is for his team. Traditionally one would expect the Wallabies to dominate in the air, but their lineout has been astonishingly inept in recent games.

The Australian scrum must at least survive for the Wallabies to win, but games involving the green-and-gold scrum machine have seen three times as many collapses and resets than matches without them. The reality is that a Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore and Greg Somerville front row holds all the aces against the Australian scrum platform.

Smith may hold the key as the only man in the world who can effectively challenge the brilliance of McCaw – indeed the winners of all this year’s Tri-Nations games have been the team that have dominated the tackle and ruck area. Also, the team that have best adapted to the inconsistency of the referee’s policing of this district have come out on top.

The Australian back line will be under threat against a consistent and continually improving All Black back division, and the difference will be decided in the centre channels. If Stirling Mortlock and new partner Ryan Cross cannot form a combination, the Wallabies will lose.

Adam Ashley Cooper and Sam Cordingley will also need to dramatically improve their performance, especially in the kicking department, with Jimmy Cowan and the world’s premier fullback Mils Muliaina superb in this department. Again, winning teams in this year’s Tri-Nations have been those that have employed the best kicking game. It is here that Dan Carter will have an influential bearing on the result.

It will be the tightest of contests, but the All Blacks look to hold too many cards and should win thanks to a better pack and a more educated kicking game.

Match Statistics: Tri-Nations game nine (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, September 13, kick-off 20.00 [10.00 GMT]). Referee: Jonathan Kaplan - Touch Judges: Mark Lawrence, Craig Joubert. Attendance (expected): 52,000. Head to head: Played 130 -New Zealand 86, Australia 39, five draws. Last ten games: New Zealand 7 Australia 3. Last result: New Zealand 39 Australia 10 (Eden Park).

TEAMS: Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Stirling Mortlock (captain), 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Sam Cordingley, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 James Horwill, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Hugh McMeniman, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 Richard Brown, 21 Brett Sheehan, 22 Drew Mitchell.
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Richard Kahui, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 John Afoa/ Neemia Tialata, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Isaia Toeava.