The All Blacks engaged in deep soul-searching ahead of the opening Tri-Nations rugby test of 2004 against the Wallabies in Wellington on Saturday, as they sought to recapture their mental toughness while taunted by Australian accusations of illegal tactics.
The stakes are high in the Test which also puts the Bledisloe Cup on the line, signifying supremacy in trans-Tasman rugby.
Coaches from both sides have spiced up preparations by engaging in a battle of mindgames.
Australian coach Eddie Jones fired the first shot, accusing the All Blacks of illegally taking players out of rucks and malls and warning the Wallabies would put a stop to the practice if Irish referee Alain Rolland did not crack down.
”Whether we tackle them or clean them out, we’ll have to do something,” he said, claiming the same tactics led to much of the niggle when the All Blacks played world champions England last month.
”We’re just not going to stand there and be taken out. We’re not a side that resorts to tactics outside the law, we don’t condone those sort of tactics. But you can’t be taken out of the play.”
While All Blacks coach Graham Henry refused to get involved in a slanging match — ”I don’t want to comment on it, I don’t want to lower myself” –his assistant Wayne Smith attempted to take the spotlight off the All Blacks by suggesting history favoured the visitors.
”You’ve got to say that probably in the last decade in the big ones they have had the wood on us,” said Smith, but adding the difference was in the mental approach and not playing ability.
After handling the ”big test psychologically” against world champions England last month in the first of their warm up games, the All Blacks have since staggered through unconvincing wins over Argentina and the Pacific Islanders and Smith would not say if that was enough.
”We’ll have to see, we haven’t been together for a hell of a long time. There’s certainly a good spirit in the team, there’s nothing wrong with the attitude [but] mental toughness is a different animal.”
The All Blacks have placed great store on retaining the Bledisloe Cup this season, which they won from Australia last year for the first time in five years, and becoming the first team to win the Tri-Nations for three consecutive years.
Australia have enjoyed a solid build-up to the Test, including a 51-15 thrashing of England, and their tails are high knowing they caned the All Blacks 22-10 in their crucial last encounter in the World Cup semi-finals last year.
But they will be without their maestro captain and halfback George Gregan, who was injured in the 29-14 win over the Pacific Islanders a fortnight ago, bringing in Chris Whitaker for only his fourth run-on start from the 67 times he has been selected for the Wallabies.
It was Gregan who mocked the All Blacks with his ”four more years” during the World Cup, a three-word jibe that has haunted New Zealand ever since.
Tactically, Australia say they have moved on from last year when they targeted flyhalf Carlos Spencer.
Jones said this Test would be completely different as the All Blacks had entirely different personnel around Spencer in the midfield and loose forwards.
But he added no more on the game plan, while Smith was noncommittal about the All Blacks’ preparations for what is shaping as a wet ground to the detriment of the flying New Zealand outside backs.
”When you sit down and watch other teams there is always one area you can attack. But with the Aussies there is not an area you can attack really,” Smith said.
Meanwhile, All Blacks enforcer Keith Robinson, one of the players singled out by Jones for illegal play, did not train again Friday because of a back twinge, but a final decision on his availability would be left until the last minute. — Sapa
Teams:
All Blacks: Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga (c), Daniel Carter, Joe Rokocoko, Carlos Spencer, Justin Marshall, Xavier Rush, Marty Holah, Jono Gibbes, Keith Robinson, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Kees Meeuws.
Reserves: Nick Evans, Sam Tuitupou, Byron Kelleher, Craig Newby,
Jerry Collins, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore.
Australia: Chris Latham; Clyde Rathbone, Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau, Lote Tuqiri; Stephen Larkham, Chris Whitaker; David Lyons, Phil Waugh, Radike Samo; Nathan Sharpe (captain), Justin Harrison; Alastair Baxter, Brendan Cannon, Bill Young.
Reserves: Jeremy Paul, Matt Dunning, Daniel Vickerman, George
Smith, Matt Henjak, Matt Burke, Wendell Sailor.