All Blacks: Coaches' warning to players

Having passed their first exam, a fresh-faced All Blacks rugby side will be reminded a drop in standards won't be tolerated against a 15-man Wales on Saturday.

The coaches offered a measured pass mark to their side after a 66-28 win over Ireland who were without disgraced No 8 Jamie Heaslip for 65 minutes in New Plymouth.

Assistant coach Wayne Smith said a fired-up Wales would provide a better gauge of where the All Blacks' class of 2010 are at, with an unchanged starting side bar the injection of dynamic flanker Victor Vito.

"It's about consistently stepping up at this level. It's not like Super 14 where you can lose four games and still make the playoffs," Smith said today.

"That's not life in the All Blacks; which is about winning every single game. You've got to be at your best to do that so that's the challenge for the guys coming in."

Smith couldn't remember the last time they introduced six test debutants in the one match during the current coaching trio's seven-year reign.

For that reason he was measured in his assessment of fullback Israel Dagg, second five-eighth Benson Stanley and loosehead prop Ben Franks, who all get a second test start, while Vito gets a run-on debut and Sam Whitelock and Aaron Cruden remain on the bench.

"We can say they've got good character; are composed enough to play at this level; they have a good attacking attitude and they've got a high skill level.

"That's something I've really noticed over the last 12 days which is exciting.

"There are going to be sterner tests down the track and as an All Black you've got to step up to them. A few more games and we can make a bit more of an assessment."

Wales, who name their team on arrival in Dunedin tomorrow, present back-to-back test challenges before the Tri-Nations squad are selected for two tough openers at home against South Africa next month.

The impressive starts by the newcomers applied pressure to the likes of Tony Woodcock, Neemia Tialata, Adam Thomson, Richard Kahui, Zac Guildford and even 82-test veteran fullback Mils Muliaina who is struggling with a slow-mending calf strain.

Guildford, omitted from the matchday 22 in favour of Kahui, had even requested to join lock Tom Donnelly (ankle) in a club match on Friday, which the All Blacks' brains trust were still considering.

Dagg, 22, was perhaps the biggest talking point after New Plymouth where his outstanding attacking ability marked him as a star of the future.

Smith told Dagg 18 months ago to improve his fitness if he wanted to progress, and said his response said a lot. But he needed to guard against the dreaded second-up syndrome.

"That's a challenge for any young All Black. They come in and do well and we've seen a lot drop off the scene because they couldn't keep their feet on the ground or couldn't consistently replicate their performances," Smith said.

"We've seen others like Christian Cullen who came in and lit up the stage and went on to be one of the great attacking players I've ever seen.

"You've got to be built for it and it's hard to know who is and who isn't until you stick them in that environment.

"My gut feeling is that Israel is made for the national team and that he'll cope with it and go on from here."

Stanley had gone from a solid provincial player for Auckland to a "Warwick Taylor-ish" figure who was up to international level, was bright and not easily flustered, Smith said.

The All Blacks had their traditional Wednesday off today, with some attacking the gym including the powerlifting Franks brothers, and will have their final serious training run of the week tomorrow.

- NZPA