The All Blacks are on tour again. Steve Hepburn takes a quick look at the four games they play over the next four weeks.
V Japan
Where: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium, Tokyo.
When: Tomorrow, 5.30pm (NZ time).
Key opponent: Michael Broadhurst, the older brother of Hurricanes lock James, is a tough, abrasive loose forward, who sometimes plays lock. He played a key role for Japan when the side beat a second-string Welsh side earlier this year.
Prospects: Japan will not sit back and watch but the All Blacks' class and sheer strength should be more than enough to get them home comfortably.
Prediction: All Blacks 69-12.
V France
Where: Stade de France, Paris.
When: Sunday, November 10, 9am.
Key opponent: French halfback and sometimes first five-eighth Morgan Parra needs to stand up and be counted and start to make France competitive again after an underwhelming past 18 months.
Prospects: With some of the heavy artillery landing in France early, the All Blacks should be well prepared for this match. The French have been floundering of late and do not expect them to come out of that any time soon.
Prediction: All Blacks 29-12.
V England
Where: Twickenham, London.
When: Sunday, November 17, 3.30am.
Key opponent: The English have their usual share of injuries but former North Otago boy and loose forward Tom Wood is sure to take some part in the battle. He is a hard runner for the English and will muscle up at the breakdown.
Prospects: Count the number of times the word ''revenge'' gets used in the lead-up to this game. The All Blacks will be motivated to the maximum to win this game after losing to the English last year. The English will start strongly but the All Blacks have plenty to play for.
Prediction: All Blacks 32-18.
V Ireland
Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin.
When: Monday, November 25, 3am
Key opponent: The Irish will look to big No 8 Jamie Heaslip to make some metres off the back of the scrum. Heaslip is a tough, hard-running forward, who will not slow down over the 80 minutes.
Prospects: This is a potential banana-skin game for the All Blacks. Some will have already returned home and most will be thinking of the beach. But pride in the jersey should be enough to see out an unbeaten season.
Prediction: All Blacks 24-9.