If those pesky scientists searching for dark matter in Switzerland this week had created another big bang, New Zealand coach Graham Henry might have been a good man to be standing next to when the explosion occured. From the rubble of last autumn's World Cup quarter-final defeat by France in Cardiff the great survivor emerged with that wolfish smile of his and was given a new two-year contract. That Henry survived was astonishing itself, given that All Blacks coaches who failed in World Cups have historically been dispatched. That the coaches of the four countries who did reach the semi-finals have since been consigned to history makes Henry's continued tenancy of a such high-pressured job (one that makes Fabio Capello's seem cushy) even more remarkable.

This weekend Henry, who passed his 62nd birthday over the summer, is in Brisbane looking to lead the All Blacks to another Tri-Nations title in a winner-takes-all encounter with the Wallabies at the Suncorp Stadium. That his Wallaby coaching rival is Robbie Deans is deeply significant. New Zealander Deans had been tipped to become the All Blacks coach until the New Zealand Rugby Football Union decided to stick with the devil they knew. The All Blacks are favourites to win at a ground that has favoured the hosts in recent years but Henry is only too aware that the continued clamour for his removal will continue in his rugby-mad nation. "It's just that the knives won't be as sharp if we win," he says with characteristic black humour.

This could be the ninth weekend that the Tri-Nations title has ended up in New Zealand and despite defeats by the Wallabies in Sydney and at home to the Springboks they should been too strong for Deans' side. Australia are attempting to recover from an aftershock themselves after South Africa detonated an explosion under them two weeks ago with a 53–8 win in Johannesburg. Deans has made five changes to a line-up that was chasing back-to-back victories in South Africa for the first time in 45 years. George Smith returns to the back row and he will be important if the predatory Richie McCaw is to be subdued. But it may not be enough.

The Wallabies have received a much-needed boost with the news that Rocky Elsom, the tough flanker who has been sidelined with a virus this week, is fit to play. Followers of Leinster will also be keeping a close eye on Elsom who flies to Dublin next week to begin a new life with Brian O'Driscoll's province. Leinster's pack has been unable to subdue the homespun Munster forwards in recent years and Rocky, appropriately, packs a real punch.

There are other reasons for the Wallabies to be cheerful. Matt Giteau looks a natural at fly-half, although Deans would prefer to have Berrick Barnes, the victim of a shoulder injury, alongside his quicksilver No10. Instead, Ryan Cross will be between Giteau and captain Stirling Mortlock this weekend. Cross replaces the former rugby league star Timana Tahu who was hauled off the field during a traumatic debut in the Johannesburg shellacking. Deans withdrew Tahu after 52 minutes, by which time the latter must have been deeply regretting his decision to switch to the 15-man code last year. One of Deans's most challenging tasks is to ensure that the new man follows the example of Lote Tuqiri, Australia's most successful convert, rather than that of Wendall Sailor who was unable to emulate the great wing. Tuqiri will again be a key figure for the Wallabies this weekend.

But once more it is Henry who seems to hold the aces. The coach could even afford to be magnanimous this week about releasing Greg Somerville early to begin his new life at Gloucester. The tight-head prop will anchor the All Blacks' scrum again this weekend and the Aussie who packs down against him, Benn Robinson, will be rubbing a painful shoulder on Sunday morning. New Zealand simply have a deeper pool than anyone in world rugby, absorbing the loss of the likes of Doug Howlett, Luke McAlister, Aaron Mauger, Carl Hayman and, most recently, Nick Evans, to the northern hemisphere since the last World Cup and getting on with life. Those knives may have to be kept in their sheaths a little while longer.