We may never know the exact strategy the All Blacks are using to deal with the pressure and expectation of maintaining the nation’s remarkable unbeaten streak at Eden Park.
But anyone listening to assistant coach Scott Hansen speak to the media on the sideline of North Harbour Stadium’s No.1 pitch early this afternoon may have picked up a clue.
It appears the Test on Saturday night is an “opportunity” to extend the record to 51 in a row.
Yesterday, Scott Robertson admitted to a touch of fear at the prospect of becoming the first All Blacks coach to lose there since 1994 – full marks for honesty – but today Hansen followed a slightly more formal script.
“It’s a massive opportunity this week to playing the world champions at home at Eden Park so we’re looking forward to the challenge,” Hansen said.
In all, Hansen mentioned “opportunity” about five times in the first three minutes of his short talk to the media, a to-and-fro during which he could give not details as to why halfback Kyle Preston, one of an increasingly endangered species, walked off the training pitch slightly early.
With Cam Roigard and Noah Hotham already sidelined, and Cortez Ratima nursing a rib injury which means he will be touch and go for Saturday, the All Blacks do not need any other No.9s to succumb to injury.
Preston, the uncapped Crusader, appeared to be concerned with an ankle or foot and spoke to team doctor Martin Swan but there was no ice applied or apparent urgency.
Hansen said he was not aware of Preston’s issue, but, with Finlay Christie the top dog should Ratima not pull through this week, Xavier Roe, the 26-year-old Waikato halfback called in as emergency cover, could be a step closer to an “opportunity” he could hardly have dreamed of even a couple of weeks ago.
Similarly, the clash against the Boks is an opportunity for the All Blacks to be far better under the high ball than they were in Buenos Aires recently, and no prizes for guessing what wing Sevu Reece was doing at the end of training today – fielding a barrage of high kicks.
“South Africa will be looking at that,” Hansen said of his team’s failure to defuse Argentina’s bombs. “What are they about?
“It’s the understanding of fighting styles. They’re direct, they’re very physical and they go to the air. Our fighting style is different. We want to manipulate differently so it’s crucial we control and adjust during the Test.
“The All Blacks are at their best when we’re adjusting during Tests and our attack is decisive and we’re earning opportunities through our defence.
“We have to be courageous, we have to be fearless. And we need to play like the All Blacks.”
Wallace Sititi, a good chance to be named at No.8 when Robertson announces his squad on Thursday, said pressure came with the territory.
“There’s always a bit of pressure in camp whether we play the Springboks or not," he said. "We respect who our opponent is. But, look, it’s a big match and everyone knows it. Training was really intense and we’ll build that intensity through the week.”
Sititi, who burst into the big time when starting for the All Blacks against the Boks in Cape Town last year, said of the South Africans: “Big boys, love their confrontation, love the set piece… one thing I learned is you have to make sure you win all the moments and mistakes will cost you.”
Hansen, a former halfback, was asked about the messages for Preston or Roe should they be named to play.
“Pass the ball well,” he said. “kick the ball well. Be you. I don’t think it’s cluttering the young 9s – I think it’s giving them the framework and the confidence of who they are and why they’re here. They’ve got a massive opportunity in the environment. We know they’ll take the ownership and opportunities.”
There's that word again. Opportunity knocks for the All Blacks.
SHARE ME