All Blacks to show no mercy towards Wallabies

Tokyo: New Zealand plan to twist the knife into a wounded Australia side when the teams meet in today's Bledisloe Cup test in Tokyo.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said his team would show no mercy to their trans-Tasman rivals after destroying the Wallabies 33-6 last month in an emphatic Tri-Nations signoff.

"We're hoping to turn the knife," he told reporters on Friday.  "There's no real excuse not to perform like we did in Wellington."

Australia's hopes of ending a dismal run of six straight defeats to New Zealand suffered a major blow when vice-captain Berrick Barnes was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Barnes limped out of training on Thursday, forcing coach Robbie Deans to bring in youngster James O'Connor at starting fullback and move Adam Ashley-Cooper to inside centre.

O'Connor had a poor game in Wellington and McCaw made no bones about the fact the All Blacks will target the 19-year-old again in Tokyo.

"Barnes is a significant loss for them," said McCaw. "It certainly takes away one of their kicking options. It will be nice to put O'Connor under some pressure.

"If you allow him time he can be dangerous. But if you put him under pressure he can make mistakes so we want to rush him."

McCaw's counterpart Rocky Elsom, who has replaced Stirling Mortlock as Wallabies captain, was under no illusions as to the task at hand.

"It's fair comment that they're probably feeling they're a long way ahead at the moment," he said.