And the rugby gods smile...

O-kay, take a deep breath. Exhale...

This weekend sees the start of the huge Northern Hemisphere autumn international test match season. It's that annual time of year when the southern hemisphere rugby powers conclude their season with a trip up north.

Unfortunately -- and really, it's the 21st century, there are no good excuses remaining -- the mammoth test matches will not be broadcast on North American television. When I get an updated pub list, I will pass that along, but your best bet seeing these games live is to pay a small fee and watch them stream live at Media Zone. That's what I'll be doing Saturday morning watching the titanic battle between the All Blacks and Wales at Millenium Stadium.

This will be the centennial celebration between the two traditional and historic rugby powers. Their first meeting was in 1905.

Chris Hewitt in the Independent: The All Blacks: 100 years of attitude

The All Blacks kick off their British tour on Saturday, a century after the 'Originals' forged a rugby legend

Precisely 100 years ago, the most influential team in the history of rugby union - the New Zealand "Originals", touring under the captaincy of the great Dave Gallaher and playing a revolutionary form of the game inspired by the tactical genius of Billy Stead - met Surrey in a midweek fixture at the Athletic Ground in Richmond.

Fastforward a century, and the Herald sets the stage:

Henry, with an eye to the 2007 World Cup, has benched two of this year’s star performers - flanker Richie McCaw and loosehead prop Tony Woodcock - meaning the forward tussle will have some extra spice with debutants Chris Masoe and Neemia Tialata.

The forward battle is crucial, but it is what happens out wide which may have the biggest say.

All Blacks backs coach Wayne Smith set the scene for a tryfest.

"We both like to use the ball and you’d expect with the talent out there, if things click, there should be tries scored," he said yesterday.

Tantalyzing enough?

Rugby Planet sure thinks so:

This year's game is not just Wales v New Zealand, as if that weren't enough anyway. It is Six Nations v Tri-Nations champions, the first leg of a Grand Slam tour, the first leg of an attempt by Wales to beat all three Tri-Nations teams, the chance for Wales to arrest a 17-game losing run against New Zealand stretching back 52 years, and Wales coach v his predecessor. For Michael Owen, Stephen Jones, Shane Williams and Gareth Thomas it is also a chance to prove that when properly managed, they are capable of considerably more in a red shirt than they showed in June.

Meanwhile... The All Blacks have threatened to withdraw their famed haka from tomorrow’s pre-test ritual against Wales:

The All Blacks have threatened to withdraw their famed haka from tomorrow's pre-test rituals against Wales.

That warning occurred because Welsh officials tried to change the order of events for the Cardiff test, in a bid to defuse the intimidation factor the All Blacks generate with their haka.

Welsh offficials, led by former NZRFU chief executive David Moffett, wanted the haka performed before the national anthems as the teams celebrated 100 years of test rivalry.

Since the haka was restored in the mid-80s as a pre-match highlight under the encouragement of Wayne Shelford, it has been the last action before a test starts.

Many opponents have remarked on the psychological effect of the haka and a number have tried to come up with some counter.

The Wallabies have turned their backs, the Irish and English have walked up to be in the face of the All Blacks while the Lions fanned out in a semicircle at Christchurch this year.

However, this week the Welsh advised the All Blacks they should perform the haka before the anthems are sung at the Millennium Stadium.

The All Blacks' reaction was the haka will be withdrawn if there is a change.

Rugby Planet also previews Argentina vs South Africa, who go head-to-head at Estadio de Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires on Saturday; Australia vs France in Marseille; and for good measure Japan vs Spain at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground (Chichibunomiya) in Tokyo, Saturday.

As always, if you need your fix of rugby news during this busy & exciting season, use those links at the top-right, and check back shortly!!