After easily accounting for Scotland with a mixture of first and second-choice players, are any of the home nations capable of preventing the All Blacks from achieving their second Grand Slam in three years?

Up next for New Zealand are Ireland, who have not been having the best year in international rugby. Picking up wins against Scotland and Italy in the Six Nations and beating Canada last weekend are the only successes the men in green have had this year.

Their tour Down Under in June was something of a disaster for the team, losing to New Zealand and Australia in consecutive weeks and neither time really challenging their southern rivals. No, Ireland will not be the team who deny the All Blacks a Grand Slam.

After a midweek fixture against Munster, the next opponents will be Wales and this is where things get interesting for New Zealand. Coached by kiwi Warren Gatland, the Welsh have been something of a Jekyl and Hyde team this year, going unbeaten in the Six Nations, then losing three in a row to South Africa, including a 20-15 loss last weekend.

It is well documented that coach Gatland wanted his team together earlier than he got them, so it could be difficult to read much into their loss to the Boks. In fact, after another hit-out against Canada, it will be the match with the All Blacks that the Welsh will be targetting for their November Test schedule.

Wales have the kind of creative back line that could trouble the All Blacks, particularly with James Hook back at the helm. But it will be up front where they will need to dominate if they are to deny New Zealand a Grand Slam.

If the All Blacks can overcome Wales, the only thing between them and a Grand Slam will be England. At Twickenham, the English are at their best, able to stifle opposition attacks, grind them down with relentless forward pay and beat them with precision goalkicking.

The England side which toured New Zealand back in June will bear little resemblance to the side which will take the field on November 30. Coach Martin Johnson is now firmly in charge, taking over from caretaker Rob Andrew and leading his inexperienced side to a good win over the Pacific Islanders.

Danny Cipriani, filling in for the once-again injured Jonny Wilkinson, played especially well, slotting 14 points and directing the backline well.

England will also be match-hardened, much like Wales, playing the other two Tri-Nations countries ahead of New Zealand, so will be well adapted to the southern style of play. However, the tough clashes could backfire as the team need to get themselves ready physically and mentally for three games in three weeks against the three top-ranked sides in the world.

The All Blacks will most likely complete their Grand Slam tour unbeaten for their second time in three years, but Wales and particularly England will be no pushovers. Expect to see full-strength line-ups take the field in the final two Tests as coach Graham Henry looks to end the year on a high note.