Now it’s Richie McCaw’s turn to have a crack at adding to the mayhem inside the Wallabies’ camp.

The scandal, which has dragged on since Kurtley Beale indiscretions exposed a poisonous seam of discontent inside Australian rugby, could do more than just cost the enfant terrible his job when he fronts a hearing next week.

Because if the All Blacks batter the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium tonight the debate as to whether coach Ewen McKenzie should keep his position ahead of next year’s World Cup will intensify.

Mindful of the fact they haven’t won in Brisbane since 2008, the McCaw-led All Blacks have fobbed-off suggestions the shambolic Aussies will be distracted but rarely have they been presented with an opportunity like this.

Accusations McKenzie has lost the changing shed, reports the national body are dancing on a knife’s edge financially and non-stop revelations of the saga involving ex-staffer Di Patston and Beale have contributed to one of the biggest crisis in Australian rugby in recent times.

“They have certainly got their backs against the wall and nowhere to go but to come out and try and show their fans, their public and themselves they are good rugby players,” All Blacks coach Steve Hansen maintained. “I see them as being a very dangerous beast.”

Sales for tickets at Suncorp Stadium have been disappointing and the 52,500-capacity venue isn’t expected to be a sell-out.

With the test window truncated because of the World Cup the All Blacks meet the Wallabies only twice next year; clobbering the old foe could add to the Aussies’ self-doubt ahead of the tournament. The likelihood of the All Blacks dismantling the Wallabies in the same manner as when they pulverised them 51-20 at Eden Park on August 23 is slim because such highly-tuned performances are a rarity.

There should be no reluctance on the All Blacks’ behalf to expose their opponents with lineout drives, a tactic they may attempt as a precursor to the test against England in London next month.

Any second row that welcomes back a player of the calibre of Brodie Retallick is going to be strengthened but many Kiwi eyes will be locked on Beauden Barrett.

With Aaron Cruden expected to start against the United States in a fortnight, Barrett gets another opportunity to confirm his status as the top first five-eighth in the absence of Dan Carter.

While Barrett’s general kicking game needs to lift several notches from the 27-25 loss to the Springboks a fortnight ago, Hansen will be more concerned about the accuracy and timing of his backs’ passes.

“What let us down was we turned ball over too easily with poor skill execution,” McCaw said.

“Against good teams like the Africans and Wallabies, they are good enough to make you pay and that is what happened two weeks ago.”

– Stuff