After last weeks disappointing loss to the Wallabies, the All Blacks finally have some good news to report - and it's the news we've all been waiting for.

Richie's back in the starting lineup for this Saturday's Test in Auckland, and his return couldn't come soon enough.

Daniel Braid by no means let the side down, but when it comes down to him and Richie - there is an obvious difference in their skill factor.

The All Blacks coaching team has named eighteen players in the starting lineup, with Cowan, Ellis and Weepu all bracketed at halfback, while Hore and Mealamu are both bracketed at hooker.

Cowan is likely to start in the number nine jersey, and is expected to be fully fit by Saturday night. We certainly hope he plays, because we've been calling for him to start for some time now.

Weepu is in the squad, and will start if both Cowan and Ellis can't play due to injury - but at this point, it's most likely that Weepu will play off the bench. It's a good opportunity for Weepu to prove he deserves to be in the team...

Richie's return means Braid moves to the bench, although at this point he is bracketed with Adam Thomson, which means Sione Luaki drops out of the twenty-two (surprise surprise...).

So'oialo will move back to number eight in a direct swap with Kaino, who moves to the blindside this week.

Having Richie back certainly gives our side a lot more stability - especially around the ruck, which we'll need against George Smith and Phil Waugh, both of whom are starting.

In the backs, Conrad comes back into center, with Kahui dropped to the bench.

With Leon MacDonald now ruled out with ongoing concussion problems, Muliaina drops back into the fullback role, after a sniff at a shot on the wing. We'll find out who slots in where tomorrow.

Smith will have the task of containing Stirling Mortlock, who returns from injury - but we have a lot of faith in Smiths defence, and he should do the job.

This side has a solid look about it - but after last week it's going to take a much improved performance to beat the Wallabies, who look like they have settled into the ELVs more comfortably. It certainly helps that Deans had a full Super 14 campaign to get used to coaching with the new laws - not that we think that excuses the All Black's performance...

Yesterday, Wayne Smith admitted that the All Blacks coaches were out-coached by Deans in Sydney, and that they are still learning their way around the new laws. But at the end of the day, every player in the All Black team played in the Super 14, and should be used to the ELVs by now.

If they can sort out their handling issues, and get more forwards to the breakdown (rather than standing in the backline as they were in Sydney), we expect to see a much tighter performance.

The weather in Auckland at the moment is atrocious, and all signs are pointing towards a wet game on Saturday - which will no doubt mean a tough forward battle. Thank goodness Richie's back, is all we can say.

All Blacks: Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitivini Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Cowan/Ellis/Weepu, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Hore/Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: John Afoa, Hore/Mealamu, Anthony Boric, Braid/Thomson, Cowan/Ellis/Weepu, Stephen Donald, Richard Kahui.

Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock (c), Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Phil Waugh, James Horwill, Nathan Sharpe, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.

Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Dan Vickerman, Hugh McMeniman, Sam Cordingly, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell.