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Rain set to put dampeners on Tri-Nations finale

Heavy rain looks like ensuring there will be no repeat of last month's try-fest in the second of this year's two Bledisloe Cup matches between Australia and New Zealand today.

The All Blacks put on a thrilling display of running rugby when they scored seven tries to Australia's three in their record 50-21 victory in Sydney in July -- a victory that helped them clinch a second straight Tri-Nations title.

"It looks like the conditions are going to be slippery alright," New Zealand skipper Reuben Thorne said of today's final Tri-Nations fixture at Eden Park.

"It certainly won't be a game like it was in Sydney, but we're ready for that by training in the wet and hopefully we can take the opportunities when they come.

"It will be a tight game as it generally always is in these deciding Bledisloe games. The last few years it's been one or two points in it and I imagine it will be the same again."

All Black scrum half Justin Marshall said that despite the rain, he would still attempt to get the ball out to his in-form wingers Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko.

"When the ball's wet and it's slippery and the conditions don't favor getting it wide as often, not to say we won't get it wide," he said.

"Why would we waste that talent we've got on the wings, but to be honest we'll see a lot more kicking to reduce risks in your own half and getting territory to help get some points on."

Australia's coach Eddie Jones said his team would try and kick more often, but that tactical considerations rather than the conditions would dictate the way the game was played.

"There's a nice grass cover so the ball becomes a little bit more slippery, but I can't see it changing the All Blacks game because they are a high kicking side and they'll use that tactic more if it's wet," Jones said.

Wallaby No. 8 Toutai Kefu, who had been suffering from a spinal concussion and then a calf strain, completed a full training session yesterday and said he was fit to play in what will be his last Bledisloe Cup game.

"Hopefully I'll finish on a winning note," he said.

"I certainly don't want to go out this year losing the Bledisloe Cup," he said.

"There's still a lot of rugby to be played this year and there is a chance we'll meet New Zealand in the semifinals of the World Cup, so it may not be the end of me playing New Zealand," he said
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