All Blacks' travel challenge

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Adding jetlag to an intensive training schedule means finding ways to adapt

This week marks the start of seven tests in seven countries for the All Blacks, a potentially arduous schedule which the team take great care to make as fun as possible.

Flying business class helps, of course. The All Blacks arrived in Buenos Aires by way of Santiago in Chile after a little over 12 hours in the air with more legroom and comfort than most international travellers are blessed with. But, while it may be easier to get rest up the front of the plane, jetlag remains an issue - an ailment mitigated by the use of mild sleeping pills and serotonin tablets, as well as spending time outside on arrival.

Once Sunday's test against Argentina at La Plata is over, the All Black roadshow departs for Johannesburg and a test against the Springboks at Ellis Park, before returning to New Zealand.

Their next assignment will be the third Bledisloe Cup test against Australia in Brisbane on October 18, before they prepare for the tests against the US in Chicago and then England, Scotland and Wales.

Veteran hooker Keven Mealamu said this week it was important for him to make the team his family when he was separated from his own, an attitude that seems to be shared by the rest of the All Blacks.

Another key, according to Kieran Read, is making the most of your time off. If the team plays on a Saturday the players get Wednesday off (Thursday if the match is on Sunday), time often spent shopping, sightseeing or, for some, playing golf.

"You pick up tips and you certainly get a bit more experienced in the better ways to travel if you've done it a few times," Read said yesterday.

"The biggest thing is, I guess, not to worry too much if you're not feeling quite right in the early part of the week, to know that definitely by Thursday, Friday, Saturday you're going to be at 100 per cent ready to go.

"I guess it's quite tough on your body so it's important to allow your mind to relax as much as it can because that will feed your body. [It's about] doing the little things. We're in the pool every day, sometimes twice a day, when we get here; reading your book, whatever. I guess switching off is important. And then when you do your work you're doing it really well. When you get to that tour at the end of the year it's about getting excited by every challenge. If you just walk into each week then it becomes tiresome. It's important that you look to improve every week."

The conditions in Buenos Aires and Johannesburg mean the All Blacks have to be a bit more careful in terms of their security, but that too can bring a team closer.

The goal for the All Blacks this week is clearly a victory, but a bonus-point win will all but wrap up the Rugby Championship for another year.

"That's an outcome that would be great for us if we can get to that point with a bonus-point win, but our focus really is performing well over here," Read said. "It's a great place to play. It's really tough, the crowd is certainly very hostile so we look forward to that challenge."