The All Blacks are likely to make small but significant tactical adjustments this week rather than any major overhaul of what they have been doing.
Tied in with that, they are likely to make only a small number of personnel changes. As much as there are World Cup selection questionsthat need to be answered at Eden Park, there is a Bledisloe Cup that has to be retained and the latter will take priority when it comes to picking the team.
All Black coach Steve Hansen believes the players need to have a more streamlined tactical approach this week where they rely more on simple, direct, proactive football.
"There was a lot of hesitation at times and I keep thinking back to every year when we play in June we get what we are getting at the moment," he said. "That's because there is a lot in our game plan and sometimes when you are over-thinking you become slow and it clutters your brain. Again, we need to go back this week and say what is really critical for our game. Let's nail that and if we do that then we give ourselves a chance to play."
"The breakdown is an area where we have got to be honest with ourselves and say that in the last two games we have been tidied up there," said Hansen.
"We have got to win that space over the ball and underneath the bodies. When you have got two guys like [David] Pocock and [Michael] Hooper who are really strong over the ball, it is an area of the game that we have to get better at.
"It is the perfect time to be getting challenges ahead of the World Cup. It is not something we have put a lot of work into this year because we have had other priorities."
