All Blacks Rugby

Whether it's the pluck of Brisbane or the flair of Lyon, coach Graham Henry doesn't mind -- he just wants to end another triumphant All Blacks rugby season in winning style in Cardiff on Sunday morning (6am NZ time). Wales stand between Henry's men and a clean sweep of Europe following comfortable defeats of England and France, twice, and even the most parochial of Welsh supporters would admit their team face a monumental challenge at a muddy Millennium Stadium. However, the hosts have been labelled as the most dangerous threat of the tour by an All Blacks side chasing their 12th win from 13 this season. If they can control the ball well enough, they may force New Zealand into the sort of defensive rearguard needed to beat Australia 13-9 in Brisbane in July, labelled by Henry today as their best performance of the year.

Sitiveni Sivivatu's hat-trick against Wales in Cardiff at the weekend leaves him ranked favourably among All Blacks rugby's greatest tryscorers in terms of his early-career strike rate. Only cousin Joe Rokocoko has made a more prolific start at the same stage as Sivivatu, whose heroics in the 45-10 win at Millennium Stadium sees him lift his career tally to 14 tries from 12 tests. Rokocoko raced to 17 from his first 12 internationals but Sivivatu, whose outrageous footwork and acceleration were exemplary at the Millennium Stadium, is second on New Zealand's all-time list at the equivalent stage. Behind him through 12 tests are fullback Christian (13 tries) and a trio of famous wingers -- Jonah Lomu (12), Doug Howlett (10) and Jeff Wilson (nine). Sivivatu's injury-plagued year saw him play just five tests in the latter part of their campaign in 2006 but that was enough to tot up six tries, the most by any All Black for the season.