DERBY DAYS - Bledisloe Cup:After last week's famous victory over the All Blacks in Sydney, the Wallabies coach, Robbie Deans of New Zealand, is plotting to repeat the feat back home in front of the men who would not give him a job, writes Damian Cullen.
TWO YEARS ago, in their advertisement for a Bledisloe Cup clash - which is, if only physically, literally the biggest trophy in international rugby - an Australian television channel ran a clip of the New Zealand team performing the haka, with the video digitally altered so every player appeared to be carrying a handbag.
It was a swipe at Tana Umaga, who a few weeks earlier had belted his team-mate Chris Masoe with a woman's handbag in a Christchurch pub. The New Zealand public didn't appreciate the haka joke. And neither did the players, who promised to use the advert as a motivational tool in the game. The home side duly ran in four tries in a 32-12 demolition at Christchurch.
It was a typically tense encounter between two countries whose relationship has been likened to a sibling rivalry rather than outright hatred. In times of war - including both World Wars - the nations have been side by side. But when no one else is looking, they have often let fly at each other, with minor incidents often gaining unwarranted importance.
One of the most famous, and overblown, incidents occurred 27 years ago during a cricket World Series Cup match at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
To prevent New Zealand scoring the six runs they needed to tie, the Australia bowler delivered the last ball underarm, along the ground.
At the time, it wasn't illegal, but it was certainly against the spirit of the game. The Australian team were booed off the field and the incident caused bitter controversy, fuelling a rivalry between the nations that spills over into their meetings on the rugby field and elsewhere - encroaching even into politics.
The then prime minister of New Zealand, Rob Muldoon, said it was "the most disgusting incident I can recall in the history of cricket . . . an act of cowardice - and I consider it appropriate that the Australian team were wearing yellow."
Muldoon was never slow to the podium when an opportunity to point the finger, accusingly or in jest, across the Tasman Sea presented itself. Once, when asked about the high numbers of New Zealanders moving to Australia to find work, he commented that it "raised the average IQ of both countries".
Rugby brought a succession of suitably controversial incidents. Even in their very first international meeting, in 1903, the New Zealand centre Dick McGregor appeared to put his foot into touch on his way to scoring a try.
While the 1991 World Cup semi-final, when a David Campese-inspired Australia defeated their neighbours 16-6, is one of the best-known games between the two, surely their greatest clash came in July 2000; it was watched by a world-record 110,000 spectators in Sydney.
The All Blacks scored three tries inside the first six minutes. It was devastating, attacking rugby - the first on the right (Tana Umaga), the second on the left (Pita Alatini), the third straight down the middle (Christian Cullen). Total rugby.
The fightback was led by George Gregan - who pulled the relatively enormous Jonah Lomu down when a fourth try beckoned - and Stephen Larkham, who cut through the All Blacks line before giving Stirling Mortlock his first try. Jim Williams and Gregan combined for Mortlock's second, before Chris Latham, and then Joe Roff, powered over.
From 24-0 down, Australia walked into the dressingroom at the break on equal terms - 24-24.
Mortlock's boot put Australia into an unlikely lead early in the second half, before a wonderful individual try by Justin Marshall edged the game back to New Zealand's favour.
Gregan then cut through the New Zealand line in the middle of the field, surprising even his own team-mates so much the scumhalf almost turned around and ran back when he realised how isolated he was. Australia held possession, however, and Jeremy Paul put the home side back in front in the right corner.
With 43 minutes elapsed in the second half, and Australia leading 35-34, Lomu evaded Larkham's tackle and the New Zealand winger - or the "human juggernaut" as the Australian television commentator described him at the time - touched down for a famous victory.
In their latest meeting, New Zealand had no chance of a last-minute smash-and-grab. Last weekend, in front of 79,000 in Sydney, Australia recorded a stunning 34-19 victory.
The major talking point since has concerned the mastermind behind the victory - a Kiwi.
Despite failure at the 2007 World Cup, Graham Henry's contract as All Blacks coach was extended for a further two years last December. Soon afterwards, Robbie Deans - who had been tipped to take over from Henry - became the first foreign coach of the Australia rugby team.
It was an audacious move, and one that had the obvious potential to end in disaster - for both the brave Australian union and the even braver New Zealander.
So far, however, the turnaround in the country's fortunes has been stunning: last Saturday's win makes it five out of five under Deans, now easily the most popular Kiwi in Australia.
And it makes this Saturday's match in Auckland unique. It's no longer New Zealand v Australia. This is also a New Zealander's contest with another New Zealander, in New Zealand. It's a new twist in an old story in trans-Tasman relations.
New Zealand v Australia:Saturday, Eden Park, Auckland Kick-off - 8.35am (Irish-time) Live on Sky Sports 2
