Australian rugby caused a major upset on Saturday when they shocked the All Blacks with a 20-15 victory.

Nobody gave the Aussies much of a chance leading up to the game with the pundits predicting an All Black victory by at least 20 points. Australia proved that they are still a force to be reckoned with and that the mighty All Blacks are beatable. The All Blacks dominated the first half and the Wallabies were lucky to only trail 15-6 at the break. The second half was a different story though and the Aussies started to create more opportunities. Crucial line breaks by Stirling Mortlock created the try by Scott Staniforth eight minutes before full time and then the Wallabies hung in their with great defence to grab their first victory against the All Blacks in 6 attempts.

This victory by the Wallabies has opened up the Tri-Nations with all three teams on five points after two games leaving SA in with a chance to win the tournament.

The All Blacks are overwhelming favourites to beat Australia in their Tri-Nations encounter this weekend and thus retain the Bledisloe Cup.

Graham Henry has made four changes to the All Black side that beat the Springboks last weekend and John Connolly has made only one change to the Wallaby team that lost to SA.

All Black team: 15. Leon MacDonald, 14. Rico Gear, 13.Mils Muliaina, 12. Luke McAllister, 11. Joe Rokocoku, 10. Dan Carter, 9. Byron Kelleher, 8. Rodney So’oialo, 7. Richie McCaw(captain), 6. Jerry Collins, 5. Troy Flavell, 4. Chris Jack, 3. Carl Hayman, 2. Anton Oliver, 1. Tony Woodcock

Reserves: Kevin Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Ross Filipo, Chris Masoe, Piri Weepu, Aaron Mauger and Nick Evans

Australian team: 15. Julian Huxley, 14. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13. Stirling Mortlock(captain), 12. Matt Giteau, 11. Lote Tuqiri, 10. Stephan Larkham, 9. George Gregan, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. George Smith, 6. Rocky Elsom, 5. Dan Vickerman, 4. Nathan Sharpe, 3. Guy Shepherdson, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Matt Dunning

Reserves: Adam Freier, Al Baxter, Mark Chisholm, Stephen Hoiles, Phil Waugh, Scott Staniforth and Mark Gerrard

The game takes place at the MCG in Melbourne on Saturday and the All Blacks should win this one with ease but Bledisloe Cup encounters between these two sides are always tough and maybe the Wallabies can cause a bit of an upset.

Controversy surrounds the SA team that leaves later today for the away leg of the 2007 Tri-Nations.

Jake White and his fellow selectors decided to leave twenty first choice players behind to rest and recover from injuries. The squad picked to tour to Australia and New Zealand therefore includes a few surprises and has been met with negative comments from the ARB, so much so that the ARB is threatening to cancel the test against the Boks if a full strenght side is not picked. So far SA Rugby is adament that the top players needs a break and the squad going on tour has enough talent to do the job. Cobus Visagie makes a suprise comeback to international rugby with inclusion in the touring squad.
The SA squad to tour Australasia: Johan Ackermann, Eddie Andrews, Gary Botha, CJ van der Linde, Tonderai Chavhanga, Micheal Claassens, Bolla Conradie, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Bevin Fortuin, Peter Grant, Derick Hougaard, Wayne Julies, Hilton Lobberts, Johann Muller, Waylon Murray, Wynand Olivier, Breyton Paulse, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Jaco Pretorius, Bob Skinstad, Albert van den Berg, Wickus van Heerden, Jacques Cronje, Cobus Visagie, Pedrie Wannenburg and Kabamba Floors

This is the latest available squad and is subject to change due to injuries or the outcome of negotiations between SA Rugby and the ARB. The captain will be announced before the team leaves later today.

On an afternoon where SA played well for 65 minutes the All Blacks snatched victory in the last 15 minutes with two converted tries that stunned all supporters into silence.All is not doom and gloom after the loss yesterday and the few kinks in the SA Rugby machine can easily be sorted out before the World Cup starts in September.

The Springboks started the game with passion and stayed in the All Blacks faces, something that they do not like and it showed in their play. Dan Carter was rattled by the tenacious defence of Butch James and Schalk Burger and he stuggled to get his outside backs away and he missed three kicks at goal that could have had the All Blacks leading at half time.Instead SA went into the break leading 11-6 and well deserved.

The second half was much the same story, with SA defending like trojans and forcing the All Blacks into mistakes. This led to Butch James scoring a try and SA were leading 21-12 with 14 minutes left on the clock. Then the Boks started making basic errors and against quality opposition you can not afford to make mistakes because they will make you pay, and pay Richie McCaw and his team made SA do.

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Victor Matfield replaces an injured John Smit to become South Africa’s 52nd captain for the All Blacks Test on Saturday.

Matfield skippered the Springboks for the majority of last week’s match against Australia, as Smit was sidelined with a hamstring injury in the 11th minute. With Smit’s unavailability for the Durban Test, coach Jake White has decided to continue with Matfield and decline bringing in somebody new like Bob Skinstad as indicated in various media reports throughout the week.

Despite many injury concerns, White has named only two changes to the side who beat the Wallabies 22-19. Gary Botha, who came on for Smit in the Newlands win is granted a rare start for the Boks, while Bismarck du Plessis is brought into the squad and could gain his first cap in the second half at Kings Park.

There was doubt whether flanker Juan Smith and prop Gurthro Steenkamp would be fit for this clash, and while Os du Randt has come in for Steenkamp, Smith may also be replaced before kickoff on Saturday.

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Coach Graham Henry named a very strong All Black side to take on the Boks on Saturday.

Henry picked a side that is very close to his strongest possible side.The only problem area he has at the moment is at lock where four of his top locks are injured (Ali Williams, James Ryan, Jason Eaton and Keith Robinson) and Chris Jack stayed behind in New Zealand for the birth of his child. This forced Henry to pick the Auckland Blues duo of Troy Flavell and Greg Rawlinson to take on the Boks. The rest of the All Black side is pretty much as expected with Anton Oliver to start at hooker to help gain ascendancy in the scrums.

The All Black team for Saturday:15.Mils Muliaina, 14.Joe Rokocoku, 13.Isaia Toeava, 12.Aaron Mauger, 11.Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10.Dan Carter, 9.Byron Kelleher, 8.Rodney So’oialo, 7.Richie McCaw(captain), 6.Jerry Collins, 5.Greg Rawlinson, 4.Troy Flavell, 3.Carl Hayman, 2.Anton Oliver, 1.Tony Woodcock

Reserves: Kevin Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Ross Felipo, Chris Masoe, Piri Weepu, Luke McAllister and Leon MacDonald