Rugby Championship

Just imagine you've got the ability to select Ben Smith but an embarrassment of riches among your outside backs means you shift him to the wing in order to accommodate, say, Israel Dagg?

It's the stuff of dreams - or nightmares if you're among the opposition coaches plotting the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup downfall. That proposition is the sole domain of Wallabies boss Michael Cheika this week, however, as the Super Rugby-winning coach returns to the scene of arguably his greatest achievement for a maiden Bledisloe Cup clash.

Smith could well get the nod to play full-back against Australia on Saturday, creating an opportunity for the flying Nehe Milner-Skudder to make his Test debut while the world's premier winger, Julian Savea, lines up on the other flank. Add to that the return of Sonny Bill Williams, a likely replacement for the injured Ma'a Nonu at second five-eighth, and the All Blacks' amazing depth begins to beg the question: should the Wallabies even bother turning up at ANZ Stadium on Saturday?

A projected crowd of more than 70,000 suggests many Wallabies fans believe they should - albeit a healthy smattering of New Zealanders are always on hand at the former Olympic venue - while Cheika, a self-proclaimed "proud Australian", is happy with what he has at his disposal; a side that is reflective of Australian rugby from Test level right down to grassroots.

"No I'm not envious [of the All Blacks' depth]," Cheika told Greg Growden in a fascinating exclusive interview for ESPN. "I'm a happy Australian, mate. I'm happy with what we've got. This is our country, these are our players; I don't want to go looking for guys elsewhere. I want to do well with the players we do have, that we've bred, that have come through the club system and our juniors and our schools because that's what we are; that's a reflection of the game in this country.

"So let the players who reflect the game go out there and compete. I don't think we need to be envious; we need to do better 100% in building our depth. But I believe that we've got players here that can play at a high level consistently, which is what will make us a really good team."

Saturday night's opening Bledisloe encounter also serves as the Rugby Championship decider with the Wallabies and All Blacks having both already accounted for the Springboks and Pumas. Their victories over the Pumas were largely similar, while the All Blacks managed to finish over the top of Springboks with seven minutes to spare compared with the Wallabies 82nd-minute heroics.

Both sides appear still to have significant improvement left in them; the All Blacks, in particular, should they decide to restore Smith and Savea to their favoured positions and partner Aaron Smith with Dan Carter in the halves. The world champions certainly have Cheika's respect.

"Yeah, you have to think so; I think they can still improve," he said.

"Obviously, why I think they can improve - and I don't like talking about the opposition too much - is because they've got so much depth. To be able to play a guy like Ben Smith on the wing, you know? And I don't even think [Julian] Savea was playing [against the Springboks]; I don't know. And then you've got Sonny Bill Williams who wasn't playing; [Lima] Sopoaga and Beauden Barrett [fly-half options]. So, yeah, I think they'd be feeling very comfortable with where they're at, and the options they're going to have.

"And you can't deny them of the tag as the best in the world and, there's no doubt about it, they have been for a long time. So that's fine, and you've got to respect that; there's nothing else you can do. It means you've got to target, to get up there and compete with them. And I think that's definitely a target of ours."

While the All Blacks have an abundance of talent at their disposal, and a virtual production line of players first assembled in the ITM Cup, the Australian Rugby Union made a decision to overhaul its overseas eligibility protocols and bolster the playing stocks ahead of the World Cup. That changed policy was seen by some as admission of the failings of Australian rugby's lower tiers, while others argue it was simply a move to the modern-day realities of professional rugby.

Cheika said it was about using the players Australia had developed, no matter where they were playing their rugby.

"Well I haven't been forced, we made the decision to do that and the reason why is that these are players we've grown and developed; and perhaps if we'd been prepared and in touch with what our plans were going forward, these players wouldn't have been let go," Cheika said when asked about the ARU's change in policy earlier this year. "And there's also the part about fighting to keep our players here, and it's clear that they obviously want to play; with a guy like Kane Douglas … a guy like Quade Cooper, who's being tempted with big, big money to go and is looking to stay; that's good signs for us around these players in and playing for Australia and in Australia.

"So I think the balance between these things is going to be key; and obviously because Australian players haven't been available to play for Australia if they're playing overseas has made them a slightly easier target. So perhaps that's changed a little bit now and it will gives us the option; it doesn't mean we have to pick them, but it will give us the option to do it."

So who will wear the All Blacks No.15 jersey on Saturday?

Israel Folau said at a Wallabies media opportunity on Tuesday that it didn't really matter which way All Blacks coach Steve Hansen went.

"They're both great players that's for sure; both great attacking players," Folau said. "And whoever they pick there is gonna be dangerous for them. So regardless of who they pick, whether it's Dagg or Ben Smith, I'm sure they'll do a great job for the All Blacks."

It's a nice dilemma if you can get it; even Cheika would have to admit that.