Smith: All Blacks are the pinnacle

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Stand-in Wallabies captain George Smith has described playing the All Blacks as the ultimate challenge in world rugby.

Despite the side's failure to win a Rugby World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987, Smith said he always viewed a clash with the All Blacks with massive anticipation.

The outstanding openside flanker will captain the Wallabies against the All Blacks at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on Saturday night in the absence of the injured Stirling Mortlock.

Up for grabs are Tri Nations points. It is also the first of four Bledisloe Cup tests in 2008.

"Personally, yes I would," Smith told Yahoo!Xtra when asked if the All Blacks were still the Wallabies' No 1 rival.

"Because we are traditional rivals and there has always been that rivalry. It has always been a rivalry that everyone knows.

"If you do say who is your greatest rival, automatically New Zealand comes to mind. They are two great nations playing against each other (and they) always have competitive matches.

"And I am sure the New Zealanders would say the same, Australia would be their (No 1) rival as well."

The two sides back-up next weekend for the second trans-Tasman clash of the year at Auckland's Eden Park.

Match No 3 is in Brisbane in mid-September, the final test of the Tri Nations.

The fourth and final Bledisloe Cup test of the season will be played in Hong Kong on November 1.

"I like the chance that we do get to play the New Zealanders more," Smith said.

"In the past, being only two test matches, you definitely want that third one. And now we have four this year which is good.

"We enjoy playing against the Kiwis and I am sure the fans enjoy watching us. It is going to be tough this year, but it is something that we are definitely up for."

The All Blacks have had a stranglehold on the Bledisloe Cup since winning it back in the months leading up to the 2003 Rugby World.

Ironically, new Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was assistant coach of that All Black team.

Smith is a nine-season veteran with the Wallabies.

And while obviously keen to help end the All Blacks' Bledisloe Cup-holding reign, Smith said it was important that a silverware-chasing mentality was not adopted by the Wallabies.

Instead the side had to concentrate on doing the small things well on the field. He said if that was achieved, results would look after themselves.

"It has been a traditional rival for many years now, the Australia/New Zealand matches," he said.

"And I have been fortunate in my career to have the Bledisloe Cup in my grasp in 2002.

"It has been a while since we have had that cup, in terms of us we have to perform well this weekend and worry about playing well against the All Blacks on Saturday, rather than what is going to happen in the three games after this.

"Performing well this weekend will definitely be our goal."