TRI-NATIONS SERIES: New Zealand 33 Australia 6:NEW ZEALAND'S preparations for the 2011 rugby World Cup begin in earnest in five weeks when they head to the Northern Hemisphere for their end-of-season tour, coach Graham Henry said yesterday.

A day after the All Blacks ended a mediocre Tri-Nations campaign with a 33-6 home victory over Australia, Henry’s focus shifted to the six-match tour with an eye to the World Cup in less than two years’ time.

The All Blacks have not won the trophy since the inaugural tournament in New Zealand in 1987, and with the 2011 version also at home, Henry’s team must start to lay the foundations to meet the expectations of a rugby-mad public.

“It’s an opportunity for the guys to cement themselves into the thinking of the selectors for the World Cup,” Henry said.

“That’s part of the deal. It’s a good way of guys getting their feet under the table with the All Blacks or not doing so.

“So there’s pressure on individuals to play well but also big test matches to play as well.”

Despite Saturday’s winning margin, New Zealand had a patchy season by their standards, losing four games – one to France and three to world champions South Africa, losing the Dave Gallaher Cup and Tri-Nations trophy in the process.

The scoreline at Westpac Stadium, while deserved, arguably highlighted the Wallabies’ shortcomings rather than signal a vast improvement by the All Blacks.

Henry was adamant, however, the Northern Hemisphere tour was about bedding in those players and giving them more test exposure rather then blooding new ones.

The majority of the Tri-Nations squad will go while several young players, who have taken the domestic provincial competition by storm, will have to prove themselves in Super 14 next year first before getting their chance.

Henry said hooker Keven Mealamu, lock Ali Williams and centre Richard Kahui were already ruled out because of injury.

A furious Australia coach Robbie Deans launched a stinging criticism of the players after they conceded two late tries at Wellington in their worst performance of an already disappointing season to finish at the bottom of the standings.

“Clearly the last 10 (minutes) was unacceptable,” said Deans. “Obviously the All Blacks were in a circumstance where they wanted to avert history. . . and they showed that. Whereas our group – and I’m part of it – we didn’t show the same pride in the jersey.”

Deans said changes would be made for the end-of-season tour to Japan, Britain and Ireland.

The New Zealander has been trying to bolster the team’s playing depth by blooding new players over the past two seasons but hinted he may have to go back to older, more-experienced players.

“There will be some who get an opportunity,” he said. “The reality is there’s not an endless supply of international players and this group has to step up to be international players routinely, not occasionally. That’s our challenge.”

Australian newspapers were scathing in their assessment of the Wallabies. “For the umpteenth time this season, this was a hopeless, unforgivable Australian performance, the Sun-Herald’s chief rugby reporter wrote.

NEW ZEALAND: Muliaina; Jane, Toeava, Nonu, Rokocoko; Carter, Cowan; Woodcock, Hore, Tialata, Thorn, Donnelly, Thomson, McCaw, Read. Replacements: de Malmanche, Afoa, Eaton, So'oialo, Leonard, Donald, Gear.

AUSTRALIA: O'Connor; Turner, Ashley-Cooper, Barnes, Mitchell; Giteau, Genia; Robinson, Polota-Nau, Alexander, Horwill, Chisholm, Elsom, Pocock, Smith. Replacements: Moore, Cowan, Mumm, Palu, Burgess, Cooper, Hynes.