Start your engines.

The Wallabies and All Blacks have named their teams for the Tri Nations - Bledisloe Cup Test at Eden Park, Auckland, this Saturday.

Anytime these 2 teams clash is a mouth watering showcase of modern rugby, in the past month the NZ side has been unstable and tested by so called weaker nations, on the other side Australia are rock solid. This adds the spice and anticipation of another mighty clash, it also sees the Wallabies head to the Park of failure (Eden Park) with a great chance to break the 23-year curse.

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry said “There has been some genuine competition for positions which has been fantastic for the coaches and we have picked what we believe is the strongest team for this particular Test. It is a team with a huge amount of experience with 500 caps in the starting XV and that’s crucial for what will be a huge Test to kick off the Investec Tri Nations.”

Stephen Donald has recovered from his hamstring strain and will make his fifth Test start at first-five-eighths. Up against Donald is the form player of world rugby at the moment-Matt Giteau. This flyhalf is the most experienced youthful man in the game, it seems like he is still new and fresh, yet he runs out for test 68 this weekend at a ripe age of 26. If he is on, which he normally is, then the Wallabies fluidness should continue on. Out wider from the number 10 jersey is the thorn in the NZ side, the skipper Stirling Mortlock. Whenever he plays against the black jersey he gains 10 kilo and runs faster than he ever has, he leads by example and will be a handful for the home side as he always has been.

Richie McCaw, who returns to the All Blacks starting XV together with Rodney So’oialo and Sitiveni Sivivatu, will captain the All Blacks in his 71st Test and 200th first-class game. He will be up against his old rival George Smith, who will be playing his 100th Test match. With this both sides have extra motivation to perform, whichever way you dissect these two teams you see athleticism & expansive rugby at its best. The Bledisloe rivalry is a unique and treasured rugby affair, come this Saturday a few of these boys will be wanting to have a piece of history.

The All Blacks and Wallabies have played each other 156 times since 1903, with 106 wins to the All Blacks, 45 to Australia and five draws.

The teams are:

New Zealand
1. Tony Woodcock 2. Andrew Hore 3. Neemia Tialata 4. Brad Thorn 5. Isaac Ross
6. Jerome Kaino 7. Richie McCaw – captain 8. Rodney So’oialo 9. Jimmy Cowan
10. Stephen Donald 11. Sitiveni Sivivatu 12. Ma’a Nonu 13. Conrad Smith 14. Cory Jane 15. Mils Muliaina
Reserves:
16. Keven Mealamu 17. Owen Franks 18. Jason Eaton 19. Kieran Read 20. Piri Weepu 21. Luke McAlister 22. Josevata Rokocoko

Wallabies team:
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Lachie Turner, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Richard Brown, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Dean Mumm, Phil Waugh, David Pocock, Will Genia, James O'Connor.