Both Australia and New Zealand have dismissed the notion that their first-ever offshore Bledisloe Cup Test, in Hong Kong on Saturday, is a dead rubber.

New Zealand, who lead the four-match series two-one, have already retained the Bledisloe Cup — as a team must be a clear winner to take the trophy off the holders. Even if the series ends in a two-all draw, New Zealand will retain the massive Cup.

Stinging from the suggestion that Saturday's showdown in Hong Kong is merely an exhibition game, the Wallabies and All Blacks have promised as ferocious a battle as ever between the trans-Tasnman rivals.

Wallaby coach Robbie Deans turned on journalists on Thursday when asked how his team was feeling heading into the so-called "dead rubber".

"I'm still waiting for you blokes to identify who said it was a dead rubber," Deans bristled.

Deathly silence ensued before the New Zealand native Deans followed up with "so it's not a dead rubber... who said it was a dead rubber?

"There will be passion. There will be intensity. There is no love lost between these nations and whenever you pull your nation's jersey on, you don't do it lightly.

"So regardless of whether there's silverware up for grabs or not, there are things that are up for grabs that are of far more value."

Deans' sentiments were shared by a host of key Wallabies, including star playmaker Matt Giteau, and All Blacks hardman Ali Williams.

"Whether we were playing a game of cricket or whatever, I don't think it would matter," Giteau said.

"Obviously you've got a lot of pride when you're representing your country. And also just playing against New Zealand, there's that rivalry that's always been there.

"So whenever you play them, there's no such thing as a dead rubber."

Rookie number eight Richard Brown, who was named Thursday to make his Wallabies starting debut, noted that Hong Kong Stadium was "all grass, isn't it?"

"You all play on a patch of grass and, where it is, is not going to really matter. It will be an intense game."

Williams, one of the fiercest competitors in world rugby, guaranteed the All Blacks were out to inflict more pain on the Wallabies, pain which Deans conceded still lingered from the last-up 28-24 defeat six weeks ago.

"Obviously there's not so much at stake but it's still an All Blacks-Wallabies battle and there's no love lost there," Williams said.

"So the boys will be into it, excited and we definitely want a victory, to come out on the right side, not the wrong side.

"It doesn't change anything. There's no dead rubbers in a game of rugby.

"I don't think there's less pressure on us. As a team, we focus on game by game and there's no difference really with this one.

"There may be a bit of rust, but any great encounter brings out the best in people and I'm sure this won't be any different, two sides going for it and, as the game wears on, it will get better and better.

"I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be exciting actually."

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw said a series draw was not the way the All Blacks wanted to retain the Bledisloe Cup for a seventh successive year.

"Obviously, we're lucky that the Bledisloe is locked up. But certainly you'd feel like you earned it more if it was 3-1, as opposed to 2-all," McCaw said.

365

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