WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) " New Zealand will start an overwhelming favorite to beat Australia in Saturday's third Bledisloe Cup test and establish a world record for a tier-one rugby nation of 18 straight test wins. Betting agencies in New Zealand and Australia have the All Blacks at almost unbackable odds to continue that winning streak and another, longer one against the Wallabies. New Zealand has not lost to Australia at Eden Park, Saturday's match venue, since 1986 and at any New Zealand venue since 2001. They have already beaten Australia in two tests this season " 42-8 in Sydney and 29-9 in Wellington " to extend their 14-year hold on the Bledisloe Cup, making Saturday's match a dead rubber. Henry Speight returns on the wing for his first test since last year's World Cup.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 21, 2016 01:07 UTC