All Blacks: Mils jumps to it - with new tricks

Mils Muliaina comes armed with a new technique to defuse the high ball this weekend. Photo / Getty Images

If there's one rugby lesson the Springboks have taught the All Blacks in this year's Tri-Nations, it's how to go take a running jump.

Another South African aerial bombardment is sure to unfold at Waikato Stadium on Saturday and the man in the firing line, New Zealand fullback Mils Muliaina, is armed with a new technique to defuse the high ball.

Part-time kicking coach Mick Byrne noticed the All Blacks players jumping from a standing start to field kicks during their two losses in South Africa, leaving them vulnerable to a barrage of green-jerseyed chasers upon returning to earth.

Byrne introduced a new concept when he joined them in Sydney ahead of the 19-18 defeat of the Wallabies last month, to take several steps forward before leaping.

"We were jumping too early, getting underneath the ball, as opposed to going through the air," Muliaina said.

"We've struggled to get up and claim the catches. And when we have, we've been isolated and turned balls over.

"Whereas we're a lot stronger when we come forward and go through the air.

"As a back three, I thought we were really good in that department (in Sydney) and we've probably progressed a lot throughout this week."

It was a genuine case of teaching old dogs new tricks.

Between them Muliaina and wingers Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu boast 171 caps, quite possibly a world test record for a back three.

Muliaina was philosophical about the changing face of rugby which sees the trio - among the more exciting runners in the game - spending much of their training hours refining kicking and catching skills.

Earlier in his career, Muliaina's focus would have been on chiming into a backline or counter-attacking from deep, something which is disappearing from a defence-dominated game.

"That's the frustrating thing, a lot of the teams who are making mistakes are the teams who are having a go," he said.

"You take your hat off to the South Africans, they are doing it really well. We're probably not as good as we should be."

New Zealand paid for their attack-at-all-cost attitude in the 19-31 loss at Durban.

Muliaina blamed himself for some of the mistakes from deep which gifted points to the record-breaking boot of first five-eighth Morne Steyn.

"It's certainly in our nature, the three of us, to counter attack and line break but still at the back of your mind you know if you're going to get isolated and gang tackled, you know three points are up for grabs," the 75-test veteran said.

"Siti is still carving up back there ... he's just backing his instincts.

"That's where I was probably being a little hesitant."

Muliaina said it wasn't just international rugby where kicking was king. Surprise Air NZ Cup leaders Bay of Plenty have kicked more than any other team this year.

"As a back, everyone is expected to know how to kick ... it's a massive challenge in terms of your skill level," he said.

"It has slowed the game down. Maybe rugby might have lost its appeal of attacking rugby because of a lot of kicking."

With the International Rugby Board ruling out any law changes until after the 2011 World Cup, Muliaina cannot fathom how the game can be opened up as a more exciting spectacle.

- NZPA