AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- The scrum, the maul defence, the ongoing high ball issues. The All Blacks' vulnerabilities were laid bare during the Greatest Rivalry series. The question now is whether the Wallabies can expose similar flaws in their familiar quest to regain the Bledisloe Cup.
As the Wallabies trek to Eden Park this weekend, the here-we-go-again theme rears its head.
Forty years without a victory against the All Blacks at their Auckland fortress. Eleven straight losses to the All Blacks -- and 24 years since they held the coveted Bled.
This year, though, maybe, just maybe, there is reason for Australian hope.
While the Bledisloe never loses its lure, the Greatest Rivalry series was always going to be the headline act for the All Blacks this season.
For a new All Blacks coaching team all the focus and energy went into preparing the team to challenge the Springboks in four successive Tests - three on South Africa soil.
The All Blacks drastically improved and significantly evolved many aspects of their game in three short months under Dave Rennie - most notably their attacking strike and intent.
But three straight losses against the Boks presents something of a blueprint for how to best squeeze and pressure Rennie's All Blacks.
It's not as simple as the Wallabies emulating the Boks. They don't boast Ox Nche, the world's premier scrummager, Malcolm Marx, the world's best hooker, or Eben Etzebeth, one of rugby's elite locks.
Perhaps the All Blacks' set piece wobbles and defensive lapses that saw them concede an average 35 points in their last three Tests were exclusive, or vastly more inflamed, by the unique Boks strengths.
The Wallabies aren't the world champion Springboks but with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii switching to the wing, there's no doubt they will attempt to continue terrorising the All Blacks in the air.
Suaalii's prolonged stint at centre stifled his inherent talents, with the Wallabies often failing to utilise his array of qualities. From the wing, though, his aerial presence proved a telling influence as the Wallabies stunned the second-string Springboks in Perth.
A Wallabies forward pack missing Taniela Tupou and Tom Hooper, both of whom have returned to their clubs abroad as this year's Bledisloe tie falls outside the international window to accommodate the Greatest Rivalry series, is highly unlikely to steamroll the All Blacks.
Stylistically, though, the Wallabies' pace, width and offloading is a different challenge that could test the All Blacks defensive concerns.
After three straight losses, and with the need to preserve Eden Park's status, Rennie's All Blacks are suddenly under serious pressure to deliver a swift response in their final home Test of the year.
With their pride dented, and with veterans Scott Barrett and Shannon Frizell back to potentially bolster their pack, All Blacks scrum coach Jason Ryan offered an insight into the team's mentality.
"I looked pretty hard at myself," Ryan said. "I probably learnt more in seven weeks than I have in a number of years to be honest. Playing the Springboks, the best in the world at what they do, four Tests in a row is so unique. It's put us in a good place.
"We're No. 3 in the world for our scrum ball. On the opposition ball we have to tidy up. It was seven penalties in total which were big momentum shifts at crucial times. We'll get a few more boys dialed in. Having Scott and more experience back in the pack it all helps. "We've been honest about that, and we know where we need to head. We need to be urgent before we're desperate in this Test match."
While history underlines the Wallabies task, which is partly why they start rank outsiders, Les Kiss is savouring a honeymoon period since assuming charge after guiding Australia to five wins on the bounce.
It's easy to dismiss the last of those successes - the gritty victory in Perth against a Boks team that featured 13 starting changes from the Greatest Rivalry series - but the confidence that result will instill in a budding group that clung on while reduced to 11 men is invaluable.
"The Wallabies are playing with a lot of width at the moment," Ryan noted. "They've got a good short passing game which Les Kiss has brought in from the Queensland Reds. Their lineout maul attack is going very well. It's about us putting some lessons we got in Africa and showing we have adapted from them."
Hunter Paisami's suspension will test the Wallabies' midfield depth but the All Blacks are counting the cost of their torrid South African tour with captain Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson, Ruben Love, Caleb Clarke and Billy Proctor ruled out for the remainder of the year.
Welcoming Frizell, Barrett, Anton Segner and Quinn Tupaea back from injury should help offset those losses but the first duo are short of match fitness.
Love's absence had paved the way for Richie Mo'unga to retain the playmaking reins. But after tearing his calf at training, Rennie will now have to turn to either Josh Jacomb or veteran Beauden Barrett.
The other lingering element, one likely to be downplayed publicly by Rennie, is his dismissal by Rugby Australia prior to the last World Cup.
Hamish McLennan is long gone as chairman but there's no chance Rennie has forgotten the foolish treatment that removed him in favour of Eddie Jones' ill-fated Wallabies reign.
He'll never make it about him, but this is a chance for Rennie to remind Rugby Australia what they lost.
The All Blacks are depleted and wounded. Their backs are pressed to the Eden Park wall.
The Wallabies arrive in Auckland with a renewed swagger and nothing to lose.
With the South Africa tour assuming priority to this point, the Bledisloe has flown under the radar.
This weekend will, however, answer pertinent questions surrounding both teams and ensure this longstanding rivalry lands on the rugby map.