The All Blacks, looking to close out the Tri-Nations and the Bledisloe Cup, have sensibly changed their plans for the Brisbane decider against the Wallabies and will spend almost a full week preparing in the relative warmth of Queensland.

No matter what happens between the Springboks and the Wallabies in South Africa over the next two weekends, the 2008 Tri-Nations title is likely to be sorted out in Brisbane on September 13.
A win there will see New Zealand clinch the title for the fourth year in a row.

And the All Blacks can also hold on to the Bledisloe Cup series with a victory at Suncorp Stadium. Tied up at 1-all at present, the All Blacks need only one more win in the four-match series to hold on to the massive piece of silverware. The fourth match isn't being played until November 1 in Hong Kong.

Contrasting build-ups have produced contrasting results to the All Blacks' two offshore matches in this year's Tri-Nations.

For their first clash with the Wallabies in Sydney last month, the All Blacks decided to stay in Wellington and not travel across the Tasman till Thursday.

They got caught in some horrendous weather in the New Zealand capital, forcing them to train indoors at one stage.

They also missed the feel of the host city which had steadily built over the week, denying them a chance to energise off that. The Wallabies, amidst Deans-mania, won that by default.
The All Blacks were subsequently beaten 19-34.

Any review of the Sydney loss would have raised the buildup question.

For their latest overseas venture, as always planned, they travelled to Cape Town eight days before their test and gave themselves plenty of time to get over the long flight and acclimatise.
The side travelled well and by all accounts enjoyed the solidarity that comes with touring. Don't forget the trip at that level was new to several players. Tests weeks for Newlands are special.
The All Blacks produced a performance full of energy and passion to beat the Springboks 19-nil.
The result now has them in the Brisbane "final", leading the title race by five points from Australia. Any way you look at it the title will be up for grabs there.

The Brisbane match has taken on massive proportions for Graham Henry's side who have the opportunity to keep their trophy cabinet bulging.

The All Blacks had originally planned to repeat their Sydney method and stay in New Zealand until the Thursday of that Queensland test week.

But they will now travel to Brisbane on the Sunday before the crucial fixture.

It appears to be a wise move. With New Zealand's winter ongoing that early arrival will give them the ability to train and get used to the warmer temperatures in Brisbane. And get a better sense for the ocassion.

They will have four official training sessions at Brisbane Grammar School.
The All Blacks are now enjoying a deserved rest while the Boks and Wallabies go at each other in the republic.

Some of them will still be busy though.

Ten All Blacks have been released to their provinces for this week's fourth round of the Air New Zealand Cup while a further two will take part in round five.

Determined not to go off the boil, the All Blacks also have a September 3 date with Samoa in New Plymouth.

The addition of that fixture has given the All Blacks another worthwhile spell together in New Zealand before they travel to Brisbane.

For a team that has got tighter for each successful challenge over the last few weeks, time together is invaluable.