The heat is on coach Robbie Deans as the Wallabies struggle to avoid repeating a grim period of their 79-year Bledisloe Cup history against the rampant All Blacks in Christchurch next weekend.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has praised Craig Joubert's hard-line refereeing that resulted in three yellow cards and left Australia reeling with 14 men during its 49-28 loss to the All Blacks on Saturday.

Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell has escaped further sanction after being sent off in Saturday night's Tri-Nations thrashing by the All Blacks.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans rued Drew Mitchell's send-off and inexplicable momentum-turning errors after feeling the pain of an eighth straight loss to the All Blacks.

Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell will face a SANZAR judicial hearing in Melbourne this morning after he was sent off in the 49-28 Bledisloe Cup defeat to the All Blacks on Saturday night.

New Zealand continued its Bledisloe Cup dominance with a 49-28 pasting of Australia at Docklands stadium on Saturday night.

Former All Blacks back rower Jamie Joseph has been confirmed as the new coach of the Highlanders.

Matt Giteau has paid for his goal kicking mentor Ben Perkins to return to the Wallabies camp to ensure he is in the right frame of mind for Saturday night's vital Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand in Melbourne.

All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw cannot fathom the fuss over Docklands stadium's maligned surface and expects it to be "good as gold" in Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup clash with Australia.

The Wallabies must retain their risky run-and-stun tactics to end their dire Bledisloe Cup losing streak and reinvigorate Australian rugby.

Springboks rugby coach Peter de Villiers has been issued by SANZAR with a notice of alleged misconduct following comments he made on television last week.

Former Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock is confident the Melbourne Rebels line-up will be strong enough to re-ignite his international playing career and put him in the frame for next year's Rugby World Cup.

Wing novice James O'Connor is being viewed as Australia's Achilles heel but he will have an All Blacks record-breaker on edge on Saturday night.

New Zealand-born photographer Scott Barbour has been banned by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) from covering the All Blacks' Bledisloe Cup build-up after he deliberately exposed the team's game plan.

Giant lock Andries Bekker dealt another blow to South Africa's Tri-Nations hopes when he was ruled out for the rest of the year with a back injury.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans hopes Quade Cooper's two-match suspension for a dangerous tackle has a discouraging effect on other players looking to try similar tactics.

Australia will be without Quade Cooper for its Bledisloe Cup opener against New Zealand on Saturday night after the exciting playmaker lost his appeal against suspension.

Master coach Rod MacQueen has branded Saturday night's Test the Wallabies' most significant match leading into next year's World Cup, as they will measure themselves against an All Blacks outfit on the "verge of greatness".

New Zealand assistant coach Steve Hansen has slammed the taking of a photograph of the All Blacks' playbook as a breach of trust by the media.

Young Australian half-backs Michael Bond and Dane Haylett-Petty have signed for Biarritz Olympique, the French Top 14 rugby club confirmed on Tuesday.

Robbie Deans has dismissed fears of a dangerous Docklands surface and stressed the Wallabies would happily play on asphalt to avoid their worst trans-Tasman streak in 63 years.

New Zealand has recalled scrum half Jimmy Cowan to replace new father Piri Weepu and welcomed back winger Joe Rokocoko from a hamstring injury for the Tri-Nations game against Australia in Melbourne on Saturday.

Matt Giteau will shift to fly half with Berrick Barnes named to start at inside centre for the Wallabies in Saturday's Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations clash with the All Blacks in Melbourne.

Australian Rugby Union (ARU) officials have met the curator at Docklands stadium to seek assurances about the surface before Saturday night's Test against the All Blacks.