**
All Blacks: All signs point to victory
By Wynne Gray
If the All Blacks are climbing the rungs of greatness, they must show a ruthless touch again tonight against the Wallabies.
They need to exhibit that killer instinct which separates the good from the best, they need to squeeze any hope and optimism from their transtasman rivals.
That done they can enjoy retention of the Bledisloe Cup and regaining the Tri-Nations trophy with two tests to run.
*
So New Zealand's rugby audience will judge whether the All Blacks can find the switch again, whether they have distanced themselves from the Wallabies and whether they are grasping that vital killer instinct.
They are experienced; they are blending some of the younger talent into the senior seams, and they are just 12 tests shy of the next World Cup campaign.
*
Keven Mealamu, with his snappy bursts, Owen Franks and Brad Thorn, with their power, Richie McCaw and Kieran Read, with their athletic busts - these men have to lay the foundation for an All Black success.
The All Blacks believe they are mastering their strategies, they are confident in their ability and tonight, 38,000 spectators will turn up to watch if reality matches belief.
**
**
Editorial: A better way to punish foul play on rugby field
The All Blacks are on fire and from the New Zealand viewpoint, test match rugby is as sexy as it has been in living memory. Some of that is down to a conspiracy by referees to eliminate illegal play. Their hardline attitude in the Tri-Nations competition so far has allowed an enterprising team to seize chances at pace and dazzle the crowds.
*
At the same time, though, their hard line is threatening to undermine this test renaissance by over-zealously removing players from the field for non-violent indiscretions.
The referees are damned if they do and damned if they don't. To insist on a free-flowing, high-pace game the whistleblowers must insist on penalising professional fouls.
*
But penalising is the operative word. Not banishing to the sinbin for 10 minutes or out for the rest of a game. Since when did throwing a ball away or pushing someone to avoid a collision really amount to an offence warranting anything other than a penalty to the other side?
*
The humble straight-arm penalty, with the option of marching the offending team 10m up the field to improve the other side's chance of scoring three points, is rugby's best disciplinary option.
***
