New Zealand, pushed into the rugby shadows by Australia's first-ever series triumph over the Lions, have vowed to bring their trans-Tasman rivals back to earth in the Tri-Nations tournament.

Australian rugby is in a tizz over the world champion Wallabies' 29-23 win over the British and Irish Lions in the Sydney decider on Saturday with some saying Australia's season targets have already been achieved.

That's music to the ears of All Blacks coach Wayne Smith, who like fellow Kiwis is heartily sick of the adulation and centre-stage the Wallabies are hogging after an unforgettable series with the Lions.

"The Wallabies will have their tails in the air and will be full of excitement," said Smith on Monday.

"But last year's Tri-Nations showed once again that there's very little to choose between the teams.

"The Springboks beat us in Johannesburg and should have beaten the Wallabies the week after," he said.

"And we could have beaten the Wallabies in an earlier match and won the Tri-Nations. It's going to be very similar to last year."

The New Zealanders are busy laying plans to retrieve the Bledisloe Cup after three years of Australian ownership.

"I read that the Wallabies reckon the third Test against the Lions was going to be the toughest game they were going to play all year," said Smith.

"It would be nice if they were a little bit complacent, but they've shown the ability to get up when the chips are down."

The All Blacks have the first crack at this year's Tri-Nations with a match against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday, on the back of warm-up victories over Samoa, Argentina and France.

Australia, now under new coach Eddie Jones following Rod Macqueen's retirement, play their opening game of the series against the Springboks in Pretoria on July 28.

New Zealand's first meeting with the Wallabies will be in Dunedin on August 11 with the return at Sydney's Olympic stadium - scene of the series win over the Lions - on September 1.

Australia won their first-ever Tri-Nations crown last season with momentous victories over the All Blacks and Springboks away from home.

After the Test match of the century when Jonah Lomu scored an injury-time try to flatten the Wallabies 39-35 in Sydney, the Wallabies hit back with a last-minute penalty goal from skipper John Eales to clinch a 24-23 win in Wellington three weeks later.

It was the turn of centre Stirling Mortlock to break South African hearts when he landed another last-gasp penalty for a 19-18 victory in Durban on August 26.

The likely retirement of Eales after the Tri-Nations tournament could prove the kind of motivation needed to ensure a Wallabies victory. - Sapa-AFP