It would be extremely hard not to pick anything other than an All Black win in this match.
They destroyed France in June and they are at full strength with players missing out on their squad who would walk into any other International First XV in the world.
Australia will welcome back the partnership of Michael Hooper and David Pocock into the back row which will certainly make them more than competitive at the breakdown but they can’t carry the rest of the pack by themselves. The front five of the Gold and Green pack may not be strong enough on the day to secure enough clean ball which will release their exciting backline.
The Waratah trio of Bernard Foley, Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau were in superb form in Super Rugby this season and they will need to capitalise on any chances that are created during the 80 minutes.
There doesn’t appear to be any fresh injury concerns in the All Blacks squad and Kieran Read’s charges will be brimming with confidence going into this one. They were scarily accurate in June with the ball in hand and if Australia do manage to keep in contact with them until the 60-minute mark then the likes of Richie Mo’unga, TJ Perenara, Damian Mckenzie and Jordie Barrett, should they not already be starting, coming off the bench will only dampen any of the Wallabies kindling spirits.
The Australian rugby franchises have managed to take a few Kiwi scalps this year, unlike 2017 and their last match against the men in black ended in victory but there has been a lot of water under the bridge since then and I fear this may be that exact bridge too far.
NEW ZEALAND BY 18
