South Africa may be the World Cup champions and have managed to beat New Zealand on home soil recently, but the Wallabies still rate the All Blacks as a bigger challenge than the Springboks.

Australian hooker Stephen Moore said that Saturday's Bledisloe Cup/Tri-Nations double header against New Zealand in Sydney will be the Wallabies' "toughest assignment" since the arrival of Kiwi coach Robbie Deans.

Speaking to sportal.co.nz Moore said the All Blacks remain the benchmark side in world rugby, despite their defeat to the Springboks in Dunedin earlier this month.

The Wallabies remained unbeaten in four starts under new coach Robbie Deans when they overpowered South Africa in Perth at the weekend and Moore feels it will require a huge step up from that effort at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney this week.

"The Bledisloe Cup in Sydney's a huge contest for us, it doesn't get any bigger than that and hopefully we'll have a full house out there so it's a huge opportunity for us," Moore told sportal.

"Obviously [the mood is] very upbeat after the weekend but I think realistic as well. We've still got plenty of stuff we can improve on and it's going to be another step this week against the All Blacks."

Moore laughed off suggestions the New Zealanders have lost their aura following the loss of several key players after their disappointing World Cup exit at the quarter-final stage.

"Any All Black team that runs out representing their country is going to be strong. We see that in the Super 14," he said.

"I think they're going to be a very strong side."

The 25-year-old is hoping Deans' inside knowledge of the All Blacks players could prove a decisive factor.

"I suppose Robbie will know a few little secrets about some of the Canterbury [Crusaders] players and I know there'll be a lot of attention around that this week but as a player we'll just focus on our own role as we did last week and go out there with the intent of doing everything right," Moore said.

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