By Tournament / Tri-Nations

The mighty All Blacks reclaimed the top spot in the world rankings after winning the tactical battle in a compelling trench-warfare-esque Tri- Nations tussle packed with plenty of crash, bang and wallop.

New Zealand's unbeaten run at home is up to 30 Tests and with forwards playing like backs, especially from the ruthless back-row behind the siege mentality of the second-row, they sent out a clear message to the world that they aren't just try-scoring specialists.

It was a huge statement from the fresh-looking All-Blacks who washed away the misery and disappointment of the World Cup, proving once again they are the masters of the four-year cycle.

Ali Williams was awarded a "nine out of ten" from Graham Henry. Limited training time courtesy of an ankle injury this week had put the feisty lock's position in doubt but like his towering stature, Williams led from the front, bossing the set-piece and providing a constant headache at the breakdown.

The intensity and empowering physicality reached boiling point as early as the fifth minute when Brad Thorn counted his lucky stars to stay on the pitch after a dangerous spear tackle on Springbok captain John Smit.

It was a striking difference from the drab one-sided summer tours against the northern hemisphere and at times, the south africans did well to live with the simmering All-Blacks.

History was being rewritten as the first international match under the ELVs and with the cold, wet and windy weather in addition to the raging fury of the players, mistakes were made, although it didn't devalue a fantastic Test

Bryan Habana lit up a bruising first half with a sensational finish after Jean de Villiers ran an intelligent line, shrugging off a weak Sitiveni Sivivatu tackle on half-way, before unleashing the fastest winger on the planet for his 31st try for the Boks and reduce the defecit to a single point at half-time.

Butch James took several chunks out of Dan Carter with a litter of aggresive high hits. Carter would have the final word, with a collection of magic touches and a crucial 14-point haul.

Carter conjured up the All-Blacks only score. Andy Ellis sniped around the fringes and a clever one-two with the fly-half opened up a half-chance outwide and a delayed pass from the silver surfer released the industrial Thorn who flicked a pass to number eight Jerome Kaino, who barged over from five metres.

Full of passion, dedication and skill, the ELVs couldn't overshadow a tremendous Test match that resembled a sumo-wrestle rather than a mass brawl. Roll on Dunedin.

Strolling into New Zealand as the best rugby side in the world is like walking into Roman Abramovich's office sticking down a blank cheque, how much are you worth?

New Zealand would claim to the best in the world even if they were ranked fourth. The same will be said by South Africans, even if they lose this weekend. Why? Because they won the World Cup. South Africa would swap everything, barring the Webb Ellis trophy for a win in Wellington this weekend.

In 86 years of competition, South Africa has only tasted victory on seven occasions in the Land of the Long White Cloud, three of which have come in Wellington with only one in the Tri-Nations era, in 1998.

The Springboks are noticeably confident of improving on that record. Looking at the stats and recent performances it's difficult to see why, but if they're in pugnacious mood their teeth are sharpened then they're a match for anyone.

England weren't much of a warm-up rolling over like filo pastry in both Tests, but their heavyweight front-row should give them superiority in the scrum, even if their line-out could struggle against the world's foremost artists in Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.

The new laws surrounding the quick throw-ins may offer a get-out clause and Mils Muliaina will undoubtedly get plenty of opportunities to run from deep.

The tackle area was the height of controversy during the Super 14 and the interest will be huge, if only from the bench. Considering the physical history between these two, resembling more like a street fight than a boxing brawl, the battle for supremacy could see more than the odd-trip to the blood-bin.

The weather forecasts similar baltic blowing gales that forced Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll to rethink about a trip to the sunbed instead of the ice-baths.

Selection has thrown up a thirsty pool of debate, notably Adi Jacobs at centre for the Boks and Andy Ellis at scrum-half for the All-Blacks.

Jacobs needs to prove he can step up in the big games while Ellis is not seen as a suitable replacement for Byron Kelleher or Justin Marshall, so he can go a long way to eradicating those critics if he staves off the dirty paws of Juan Smith and Schalk Burger.

It's a young bunch of All-Blacks but they've proven time and time again adapting to change is seemless and sophisticated.

The bonus for both sides is that they are both venturing into unknown territory, so this is merely a showcase of the future of international rugby. Yeah right!

Not only has Rodney So'oialo been given the task of taking Richie McCaw's teamtalks, but the dread-locked blockbuster back-row has also been entrusted with filling McCaw's huge size 21 boots in the celebrated No. 7 jersey.

Jimmy 'fivebellie's Cowan has been told 'one more drop of cold stuff and you'll be confined to drowning your sorrows with a bottle of moonshine,' but keeps his place on the bench.

Auckland's Jerome Kaino returns in place of McCaw while Adam Thomson keeps his place on the blindside in a new look rear-end to the All-Black pack.

Neemia Tialata is unlucky to lose his place to Tony 'chainsaw' Woodcock, but the selection shocker comes at centre where Richard Kahui has been given the Graham Henry judo chop.

Kahui was outstanding against England, but while it's no surprise that Conrad Smith has been drafted back in, pin-up boy, Kahui can't even make the bench.

Ali Williams has recovered from an ankle knock to take his place in the starting lineup alongside Brad Thorn as the All-Blacks duo go head-to-head with the best in the business, Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.

NEW ZEALAND: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis; 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Rodney So'oialo (c), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Sione Lauaki, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Leon MacDonald.