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All Blacks fanatic Dean Roulston tells us why Scotland would have been better off handing in a sicknote

Another week of the 2007 Word Cup has flown by, accompanied by another comprehensive win for the New Zealand All Blacks, standing them in good stead for what should be their most difficult game of the group. The 108-13 victory over "Os Lobos" further showcased the All Blacks' arsenal of attacking weapons while allowing the rest of the squad to stretch their legs for the first time in the tournament.

It was this first-game rustiness for the majority of the ABs and a desire too keep their play structured, which saved "the Wolves" from a heavier defeat. The Portuguese, however, must be applauded for not rolling over in awe; they scored a good rumbling forwards try and tackled their guts out. They even managed to score 13 points, which was quite an achievement considering the previous evening, the World Champion English team scored zip.

Once the ABs got into a rhythm tries were inevitable. Joe Rokocoko opened the scoring with a signature scything run through the belly of the Portuguese defence. All of the backs looked good; Leon McDonald - in dangerous form - was as decisive and incisive as ever and Conrad Smith will be happy to have gotten through a solid days work after problems with injury.

The forwards all put in solid performances, with the standout performer being Jerry Collins. All day the 1.9 metre, 109kg, 46 test veteran stormed up the middle of the field like a re-animated Guinness can hell bent on causing carnage. The Jocks must be counting their blessings that Graham Henry has rested big JC this week, not that it will make any difference.

Rumours are abound that Scottish coach Frank Hadden has apparently decided to rest some frontline players ahead of their crucial final pool game against Italy the following week. If this is the case, Sunday's game could end up as a farce. A full strength Scotland would need to play completely out of their skins to compete with the All Blacks considering they lost at home earlier in the year to the same Italy that the men in Black put 76 points on. Scottish sport has been riding a bit of a wave of late with the performance of their football team. But their soccer win over France in Paris is merely papering over the cracks of a pretty dire sporting nation. A thrashing at the hands of a close to full strength All Black side could create a serious dent in national pride. So sending out a team of 2nd choice hacks on Sunday is a move that reeks of pure stupidity

Even without first choicers Jerry Collins, Mils Muliaina and Keven Mealamu this AB side should tear the kilts off the Jocks, leaving them hopelessly exposed. The return of the world's two best players and the most feared front row in the game will see to this. The talk from the All Black camp this week has been about ratcheting up the intensity a few notches, and they will see this B version of an already second rate Scottish team as a mere stepping stone to the next level in their predatory evolution. With a battering to be expected, backing NZ in the handicap markets seems to be where the value lies. The current 28 point start (1.35) should be an absolute banker, but look out for some of the longer handicap lines closer to the day of the match, as I can see the All Blacks winning this one by 50-60.