Despite the All Blacks needing a four-try victory to stay in the hunt to win the Tri-Nations, coach Graham Henry says his side will play sensible, restrained rugby against the Springboks on Saturday.
With South Africa unable to secure the single bonus point they needed in their 21-6 loss to
the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday, the All Blacks are two bonus-point victories away from retaining the trophy.
However, Henry said they would not be changing their style too much for Saturday's test in Hamilton.
The All Blacks have had a miserable year with the ball in hand and must discover their attacking mojo if they are to sneak a fifth successive Tri-Nations title.
Victory is needed over the Springboks in Hamilton followed by the same outcome against Australia in Wellington a week later.
The All Blacks must snare a bonus point for scoring four tries in at least one of those tests to have any chance of winning the championship. That would require a major leap from the one try they have managed in each of their four Tri-Nations tests so far.
Two winning bonus points would hand them the title - as long as they can deny the Springboks a bonus point for finishing within seven points at Hamilton.
Meanwhile, injuries to midfield backs continue to plague the All Blacks with Isaia Toeava the latest concern.
Toeava pulled up at training yesterday with a gluteal injury.
With four midfield backs out already, Dan Carter moved to second five-eighths and Ma'a Nonu went one place further out to centre. Nonu made his All Black debut at centre in 2003, but has rarely played there since, with first Tana Umaga and later Conrad Smith being his midfield partner for Wellington, the Hurricanes and the All Blacks.
There was better news for No 8 Kieran Read whose knee is expected to be 100 per cent by the weekend.
The All Blacks are to name their side for the the test today, while the Boks are to remain on the Gold Coast until Thursday.
Wallaby lock Mark Chisholm's almost blind faith in his teammates in the buildup to last Saturday's Springbok test has earned him a new nickname to match his predictions of greatness: Muhammad Ali.
It looks like sticking too after Australia stung the world champion Springboks 21-6 for a breakthrough Tri-Nations rugby triumph.
Chisholm took all by surprise before the night's test when he prophetically spruiked Robbie Deans' rebuilding side was on the verge of "something great".
But the Brumbies second-rower, who also rightly predicted the Wallabies were fitter than the Springboks and would finish stronger than them, denied his outspoken comments were designed to build confidence in a desperate camp.
"I don't talk to pump teams up, I knew the boys were going to be great," said Chisholm. "That's what you get from watching a lot of games and coming back and playing in such a side with such skill and physicality."
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA, AAP
All Blacks Isaia Toeava (L), Dan Carter, Ma'a Nonu and Colin Slade at training yesterday. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Despite the All Blacks needing a four-try victory to stay in the hunt to win the Tri-Nations, coach Graham Henry says his side will play sensible, restrained rugby against the Springboks on Saturday.
With South Africa unable to secure the single bonus point they needed in their 21-6 loss to
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