Rugby: All Blacks focus on the intensity

By WYNNE GRAY

Most forecasters in Auckland today think they have a better show of judging the All Blacks' winning margin against Scotland than predicting the weather conditions.

That presumptive stance is no companion for captain Todd Blackadder and his side in the rundown to this Eden Park international. Even if the All Blacks were playing Libya, there would be words about caution, respect and pride in performance.

During the five seasons of Super 12, Blackadder has seen the disasters which can happen if sides skimp on their preparation. The same principles apply to any test.

"In the Super 12 you can be up one week and get absolutely hammered the next week if you let off," he said.

In their internationals against Tonga and Scotland, the All Blacks were expected to win by wide margins. They did and will win tonight unless there is a lightning strike or widespread food poisoning.

The contest will be about personal and team performances - how they rate against their work last week in Carisbrook. There is no direct discussion yet about playing the Wallabies, but the implication is there.

"A sub-standard performance will not keep you in this team because the competition is so strong," Blackadder said.

The problems for the selectors will be working out how to make comparisons.

Tony Brown, Troy Flavell, Mark Hammett and Craig Dowd started only against Tonga. A couple might get a run as substitutes tonight, but how can judgments of their work against Tonga be rated against those who have played twice against the stronger Scots?

While the quartet who played against Tonga would have yearned for another start, at least they have played - and as well as anyone. They have set some standards.

So have those turning out in their third straight test. Christian Cullen, Tana Umaga, Alama Ieremia, Jonah Lomu and Blackadder will only miss Tri-Nations work because of injury.

The most under scrutiny will be those getting their first turn, centre Mark Robinson and tighthead prop Kees Meeuws. If they fail to come up to the levels shown by Ieremia, Greg Somerville and Dowd, then they could be struggling to stay with the leading group pushing for Tri-Nations places.

The next level of comparison comes from the other 10 involved in the selection shuffles, with the greatest inspection in the loose forwards.

Of those, No 8 Ron Cribb may need to do the most after he reinjured his shoulder in what was a quiet debut test.

The keenest competition will be between Reuben Thorne and Taine Randell on the blindside and Josh Kronfeld and Scott Robertson at openside.

While Scotland had a competitive tight five at Carisbrook, some of the tackling from their loose forwards and three-quarters was not acceptable.

Recently retired Scots midfielder and former league international Alan Tait is in charge of defence, though he thinks his most effective work will be done after the tour is over.

"I spoke to Phil Larder [one-time Great Britain league coach in 1990] who is in charge of defence with the England rugby team and it took him 18 months to get everyone understanding the defensive patterns," Tait said.

"The All Blacks have made that transition and play with such a great intensity from the kickoff that I think it shocked some of our lads. It caught us out."

The suspicion is that the All Blacks' counter-attack and individual brilliance will sting the Scots again, the variable being how the curly Auckland climate behaves in the middle of winter.

Many of the All Blacks have had the flu this week, a revelation from Smith which drew some of the best pre-test humour.

Many players had been coughing and "snorting" he said, before the media broke up at the unintentional sporting gaffe.

It was a nasty bout, added Smith, as he acknowledged his naivety and pointed out that assistant coach Tony Gilbert was suffering.

"Share and share alike is the team philosophy," was the rapidly dry Gilbert reply.

That will certainly be the demand on the All Blacks today.