The furore over the now-infamous photograph of All Blacks coach Graham Henry holding a sheet of team tactics continues to simmer after the tourists banned the New Zealand-born photographer responsible for taking the shot from attending their remaining sessions.
The controversial photo snapped on Tuesday captured a series of secret backline moves the All Blacks were practicing ahead of Saturday's trans-Tasman showdown against the Wallabies in Melbourne.
While the tourists are still seething over the audacious shot which appeared in several newspapers, the Wallabies added further fuel to the Bledisloe Cup fire on Thursday with some members of their support staff brandishing pieces of white paper at training in a bid to stir the All Blacks.
Wallabies winger James O'Connor, who is set to be on the receiving end of one of the visitors' not-so-secret plays, was less reluctant to stir the pot when he fronted the media on Thursday.
"I actually saw it a little bit on twitter so I had a look, you couldn't zoom in close enough though," the 20-year-old said of the snap.
The move that appears to target O'Connor is nicknamed 'dummy axe' and requires opposite number Joe Rokocoko to receive the ball at first receiver and charge at the much smaller Australian.
Asked his thoughts on the All Blacks' decision to try and exploit him in defence, the confident O'Connor claimed to be unaware of the tourists' plans.
"I'm more focused on our team's preparation and my preparation leading into the game," he said.
"That's the first I've heard about it so thanks for the heads up."
Although seemingly oblivious to the storm being played out in the media, O'Connor is well aware of the challenge that lies ahead in just his second Test appearance as a winger.
"I'm definitely excited," the gifted utility said of the prospect of marking the experienced Rokocoko.
"I've been watching him since I was a junior player and he's definitely got some great talent and good speed and good footwork as well so I'm definitely looking forward to this challenge."
"I haven't had too much experience marking up on Joe, I'm sort of new to the wing but I'm welcoming it (the challenge) and I'm looking forward to it."
"Mostly it's all about my preparation. Obviously in the back of my mind I know I'm playing a great Test winger and I guess that makes you get up even more for the game."
O'Connor, who has featured almost exclusively at fullback in his previous 18 Tests, added of his positional switch: "The way I play at 15 I'm playing pretty similar now that I'm playing wing. I'm just getting involved and running around. I enjoyed it last week and I think that was one of my favourite games I've played this year."
Meanwhile, O'Connor doesn't expect the slippery Etihad Stadium surface to have a major bearing on the match.
"I don't think it (the surface) will play too much of a role but we will be wearing tags (metal studs) and I assume the All Blacks will as well."
"I know personally I'll be wearing long tags."
The Wallabies will train at the controversial venue on Friday while the All Blacks have opted not to hold their captain's run at Etihad, preferring to visit the stadium on Thursday afternoon as a squad.
However, Dan Carter and the All Blacks' general play kickers will complete a separate session on the eve of the match.