All Blacks co-coach Wayne Smith has put his players on notice that Tri-Nations test places are at stake in Saturday's one-off test against Italy at Christchurch.
The form of some players in New Zealand's tied two-test series against France was below par and they must improve to retain their places
for Tri-Nations tests against Australia and South Africa, Smith said.
No. 1-ranked New Zealand is unbeaten in nine previous tests against Italy and is expected to win comfortably, but Smith indicated the quality rather than the margin of any All Blacks win will be under scrutiny.
"There's an inherent feeling there, an understanding, that this is the opportunity that if I'm going to make my mark, it's got to be now," Smith said. "That's good because we'll know who can play under pressure and who can't.
"I don't think anyone was really happy with the level of performance against France. The level of intensity came up but our attack went from probably a three to a four out of 10. So we've got a lot of pressure on ourselves to make the improvements."
The Italy test is New Zealand's last before the Tri-Nations series begins in mid-July.
"I think a lot people are on trial," Smith said. "It's the nature of the beast. There's probably an uncomfortable feeling for a lot of players. I think that's good, it's what's made All Black teams strong and vibrant in the past."
Smith is responsible for the All Blacks backline which misfired in both tests against France. New Zealand scored only three tries in the French series in performances marred by poor handling.
One of the players under most pressure is winger Joe Rokocoko, who has held his place for the Italy test despite consistently poor form. Rokocoko has not scored a test try for almost two years.
"He would not be pleased with his form," All Blacks coach Graham Henry said. "He is a proven international in the past and we are hoping that he will find the magic button and start producing it.
"He was a superstar, he had a couple of injuries and hasn't come back to it yet and we are just hoping he finds the (superstardom) again."
New Zealand suffered a setback ahead of Saturday's match when veteran lock Ali Williams, who had been named to play his first test of the season, withdrew from the match with an Achilles tendon injury. Williams' place was taken by Isaac Ross and Bryn Evans joined the All Blacks reserves.
Italy comes into Saturday's match after losing two tests to Australia by margins which were leaner than expected. The Italian forwards competed well with the Wallabies and are expected to test the All Blacks on Saturday.
Lock Marco Bortolami, a veteran of 75 tests for Italy, said an examination of New Zealand's performances against France had been instructive.
"It was very interesting to see how the French forwards put the All Blacks under pressure, at the breakdown especially," Bortolami said.
"In the second test, the All Blacks got it right. They had a lot of intensity.
"The key thing against the southern hemisphere teams is that you slow down their ball, otherwise they play too quick and it's very difficult to defend against them."
Italy named a team Thursday with eight changes from the one that lost 34-12 to Australia in last week's second test. Coach Nick Mallet made most of the changes among the forwards, naming Ignacio Rouyet, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Salvatore Perugini in the front row in place of Fabio Staibano, Franco Sbaraglini and Matias Aguero.
Teams:
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina (captain), Lelia Masaga, Isaia Toeava, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Luke McAlister, Brendon Leonard, Kieran Read, Tanerau Latimer, Jerome Kaino, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett. Replacements: Aled de Malmanche, Tony Woodcock, Owen Franks, Bryn Evans, George Whitelock, Piri Weepu, Cory Jane.
Italy: Luke McLean, Kaine Robertson, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Mirco Bergamasco, Craig Gower, Tito Tebaldi, Sergio Parisse (captain), Mauro Bergamasco, Alessandro Zanni, Marco Bortolami, Quintin Geldenhuys, Ignacio Rouyet, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Salvatore Perugini. Replacements: Franco Sbaraglini, Fabio Staibano, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Simone Favaro, Giulio Toniolatti, Kristopher Burton, Matteo Pratichetti
-AP
All Blacks: Italy names test side
All Blacks co-coach Wayne Smith has put his players on notice that Tri-Nations test places are at stake in Saturday's one-off test against Italy at Christchurch.
The form of some players in New Zealand's tied two-test series against France was below par and they must improve to retain their places
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