All Blacks: Scrum a priority for 2010

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The lack of power in the All Black scrum will be one of the key priorities to fix in 2010.

The bite of old was missing for most of the year and in the Northern Hemisphere, where the set piece still rules, the All Blacks even found themselves in real bother at times.

The first scrum of the game in Marseilles was one to forget - with the All Blacks being nudged a good two metres back before they panicked and stood up to abort.

There were even moments to forget against Australia, particularly in Hong Kong where the Wallabies were able to walk off defeated but still say they held their own, maybe even won the scrum battle.

It wasn't awful but the All Blacks are by no means the same scrummaging side they were in 2005 and 2006.

Even last year, they were a greater threat in that area and 2010 will be all about restoring the edge.

Ideally, 2010 will be the year Carl Hayman returns to New Zealand. He would make all the difference and he would make it immediately.

While the All Black coaches now regret rushing Luke McAlister back into the side after his two-year stint in Manchester, their reluctance wouldn't be so great for someone like Hayman.

"I think it would have been different if he [McAlister] had been a tight forward," said assistant All Black coach Wayne Smith.

The physical nature of rugby in Europe is such that tight forwards are honing critical skills that are vital for test football. Inside backs like McAlister are predominantly playing a style of rugby in the north that is a long way from the pace and skill levels the All Blacks require.

There is no guarantee on Hayman so the focus will have to be on fixing a few other individuals. John Afoa is the prop with the greatest all-round ability but Henry believes the Aucklander has issues with his scrummaging.

They need to be fixed and there are some who believe Afoa should be left to focus exclusively on the tighthead until he has built his technique and confidence. At the moment, the selectors want him to be able to cover both sides.

Wyatt Crockett is another who gets around the paddock well but doesn't convince in the core skill. Owen Franks impresses for someone so young but is vulnerable when he plays older, stronger, more experienced props.

There is no doubting the effort the All Blacks put in on tour. They hit the scrum machine hard at training. And that is all they can continue to do - intensely work on their strength and technique, individually and collectively.

Scrum coach Mike Cron may have to be busy during the Super 14 flying round the franchises to work intensively on some individuals and hammer the message that this is an area of the game that has to be taken seriously.

The All Blacks were the best scrummaging side in the world just three years ago ... Hard work and time at the coal face is the only way for that summit to be reached again.