Carisbrook test

The All Blacks arrived at Dunedin International Airport yesterday afternoon with a message - or two.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is an optimist. He believes South Africa can break the hoodoo of the "House of Pain" and win its first test against the All Blacks at Carisbrook today.

What began as a dream 14 years ago will turn into reality for lock at Carisbrook tonight when he has his first run-on test for the All Blacks.

The All Blacks scrummage within the laws, and did nothing different in last Saturday's test, prop Tony Woodcock says.

Sean Fitzpatrick deflected the credit for his game-breaking try after the All Blacks beat the Wallabies 25-10 to regain the Bledisloe Cup amid euphoric scenes at Carisbrook on Saturday.

The Otago Daily Times is celebrating 100 years of test rugby at Carisbrook 1908-2008.

Battered but triumphant, 14 weary New Zealanders walked off the churned-up Carisbrook turf on Saturday happy in the knowledge that they had broken South Africa's long run of successes in rugby tests between the two countries.

Coach Graham Henry is refusing to buy into accusations over a cheating All Black scrum, and says this Saturday's test will be tougher than last week's.

It is a trip home for some of the temporary seating installed at Carisbrook this week.

The selectors' gamble has paid dividends with Ma'a Nonu becoming the All Blacks' midfield dynamo this year.

Hundreds of rugby fans braved cold conditions in Dunedin yesterday to meet the All Blacks.

Secondary school sports leaders travelled from throughout Otago to join All Black coach Graham Henry and hooker Kevin Mealamu for breakfast at the Alhambra Union clubrooms yesterday.

It will be a special time for All Black flanker Adam Thomson when he plays his first test on his home ground at Carisbrook against the world champions on Saturday.

After waiting through one of the heaviest snowstorms experienced in Dunedin for some years a record crowd of 28,000 saw the British Rugby team triumph by six points to three in its first test match against New Zealand at Carisbrook on Saturday.

The strong turnout of supporters at the public day in Dunedin this morning indicates that the 2008 All Blacks have won back the fans.

The All Blacks arrived in Dunedin last night seeking as many negatives as possible from Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby thumping of the Springboks.