KEY POINTS:
Former coaching rivals John Hart and Laurie Mains are united in their belief that the All Blacks' need to refine their tactics to deal with the immediate obstacles if they want to change their fortunes.
It is very easy to become consumed by successive defeats but they both
know, from their own vinegary experiences, that the All Blacks need simple, concise guidance for the second Bledisloe Cup match against the Wallabies at Eden Park.
Hart and Mains were never mates during their careers with the NZRU but offered concerted advice to Graham Henry, his staff and the All Blacks. Hart and his crew suffered a run of five straight defeats in 1998 while Mains' mob lost three straight in 1993-94. "You do go within yourself and it is really important these guys retain a positive outlook because the team will be looking to them for leadership," Hart said. "It does dent your confidence, self-belief and you question yourself and you tend to talk more to people close to you. Publicly you do go within yourself."
Henry had that appearance yesterday as he discussed the All Blacks' injuries, hopes, plans and welfare.
The All Blacks have regained their talismanic captain and openside flanker Richie McCaw for this test, a boost which has been balanced by the Wallabies who have also been able to select their skipper Stirling Mortlock after he missed his side's 34-19 victory recovering from concussion.
All Black hooker Andrew Hore and halfback Jimmy Cowan reported fit for duty after being damaged last week, though there was some doubt whether they would last the entire international.
Henry accepted there was an extra edge to this test where defeat would not lose them the Bledisloe Cup but would probably cede their grasp on the Tri-Nations trophy.
The All Blacks staff had worked overtime to come up to speed with the ELVs and their ramifications but they were sure Wallaby coaching rival Deans would come up with something else to test their strategies.
"The situation at the moment is unique," Mains said. "It is exacerbated because we have lost John Mitchell, Warren Gatland and Robbie Deans overseas and that has caused a lot more scrutiny of the NZRU and Graham Henry than there might have been.
"The decisions [Steve] Tew and Mike [Eagle] have made re the All Black coach has seriously weakened the situation.
"The result has been that Robbie Deans has gone to Australia and that decision has put much more pressure on the All Blacks coach.
"It will be tough for Graham this week. I can empathise but I do not have any sympathy because you know you are going to get this at some stage in this tenure."
Mains thought the lessons from last week, the home advantage, the desperation and McCaw's return which would alter the belief in the side, would carry the All Blacks to victory.
He accepted the pressure was far greater than he went through during his tenure as All Black coach. It was unpleasant but if the All Blacks used smarter tactics they did not have a great deal to fix and should win.
Henry defended the selection of Richard Kahui ahead of other specialist wings after most of his rugby in recent seasons had been at centre. He had the skills, mentality and composure for his duel with Lote Tuqiri and he also had a useful kicking game.
All Black skipper McCaw liked the core of experience in his team but lumped a serious burden on his own game, his first in six weeks after injury, when he said his side could not afford to come second at the breakdown again.
Two months ago, McCaw publicly farewelled Deans after he had coached the Crusaders to another Super 14 title. His words were delivered with genuine sincerity but you can imagine them adorning a certain brewery billboard now.
"What a man. All the best for what you've got coming up," McCaw said. Those comments take on extra meaning at Eden Park tonight.