All Black Captain Richie McCaw has given the stadium pitch for Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby match against Australia the all clear saying that it should be "good as gold."
The pitch came in for criticism earlier this week but McCaw says that that he and the All Blacks squad visited the Docklands venue on Thursday and had little issue with the pitch that has been criticized by Australian Rules football players for being uneven and spongy in places.
There were unconfirmed reports that South African referee Craig Joubert had concerns about the opening Bledisloe Cup test match going ahead.
McCaw compared the roofed stadium to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium - the venue where the All Blacks were upset 20-18 by France in the 2007 World Cup quarterfinal.
"Two big forward packs pushing the scrum may rip the ground up a bit but I think it will be fine," he said.
Earlier in the week, both teams made two changes to winning lineups.
The Wallabies, who beat South Africa 30-13 at Brisbane last Saturday, reinstated Matt Giteau at flyhalf in place of the suspended Quade Cooper. With Giteau moving in one spot, Berrick Barnes won a recall to the starting lineup at inside center.
Cooper received a two-match suspension for a dangerous tackle in the South Africa match and his appeal against the ban was unsuccessful. He will also miss next weekend's match against the All Blacks in Christchurch.
The All Blacks named a fit Joe Rokocoko on the left wing in place of Rene Ranger and Jimmy Cowan at scrumhalf ahead of Piri Weepu.
Rokocoko missed the second of New Zealand's two test wins over Tri-Nations champions South Africa with a hamstring injury but has won back his place in a starting XV boasting more than 700 test caps.
The All Blacks, led by McCaw and fullback Mils Muliaina who will both play their 86th tests, have put together a team of extraordinary depth.
"We will need all our experience up against what is a very good Wallabies side," All Blacks coach Graham Henry said.
Nathan Sharpe will equal the record of World Cup-winning captain John Eales for most caps earned by a Wallabies lock when he makes his 84th test appearance.
New Zealand leads the competition with 10 points from its two bonus-point wins at home. Australia has four and South Africa is pointless.
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