The All Blacks admitted on Tuesday that they were outsmarted by Aussie coach Robbie Deans in the first Tri-Nations Test against Australia, as they took steps to try to make amends in Saturday's Auckland rematch.

Central to an All Blacks recovery is the return of inspirational captain Richie McCaw whose injury-forced absence last weekend was evident when the Wallabies controlled the breakdowns on their way to a convincing 34-19 win.

The Wallabies in turn will see Stirling Mortlock return from injury and the inclusion of flank Phil Waugh in place of the injured Rocky Elsom.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has made several changes to his line-up to shore up weak points after declaring he and assistant coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen were struggling with new experimental law variations (ELVs).

Deans, the five-time Super 14 champion coach who the New Zealand rugby union rejected for the All Blacks, has played with the ELVs all year.

"Yes, we did lose the tactical battle. We played too much behind our gain-line," Smith said. "I've been outcoached before. But every dog has his day."

Henry, who has been soundly criticised in the New Zealand media following the loss said it was a big adjustment to switch from one set of laws to another.

"What we bring to the table is going to get better with more exposure under these laws," Henry said.

"Hopefully we have learnt quite a bit from that so that we will be more competitive this week."

The return of McCaw after six weeks out with an ankle injury allows stand-in captain Rodney So'oialo and Jerome Kaino to return to their specialist positions of No.8 and blindside flanker.

McCaw's absence left a huge hole in the All Blacks ball-winning abilities and they were clearly outplayed at the breakdowns last weekend by Wallabies' trio George Smith, Elsom and Wycliff Paul.

Deans, meanwhile, has made only two changes with the return of Mortlock in the midfield and adding Waugh to the starting line up in place of Elsom.

Waugh and Smith will form an imposing flanker partnership to challenge the match rusty McCaw.

"They're two quality players, it's good to get both of them on the ground," Deans said.

Ryan Cross, who replaced Mortlock in last Saturday's Test, was named on the bench, bumping Timana Tahu out of the match-day squad.

365