Lee Stensness: All Black returns a blessing if foundation is set

Provincial teams look forward to receiving returning All Blacks as there are benefits in many areas. They give the team in general a confidence boost with their presence - except perhaps for the guys they are replacing - and they raise the standards at training.

They impart knowledge gained and a few touring yarns, as well as providing vital leadership on and off the field.

These are all great positives for any provincial side - but these teams must guard against thinking winning will just happen because "we've got our All Blacks back".
This is a dangerous scenario as expectations are raised; players must be mindful to concentrate on their own jobs so the team can function and the All Black is able to add to an existing foundation, not have to build it himself.

The returning All Black must also be mindful of concentrating on his own job, because no matter how professional the player, there is a natural "drop in the arousal levels", to paraphrase Sky commentator Murray Mexted. While the player may be keen to play well for the province, there is often an emotional comedown from test rugby that can result in a flat performance.

The stakes aren't as high, the crowds not as big or as noisy, trainings not as intense; it really does test the professionalism of the player. It is far easier to assimilate returning players when the match ahead is significant (like a Ranfurly Shield challenge), as their focus is assured.

The break that many of the All Blacks had or are having will mean that the high emotions of the tests will be out of their systems come their return and the innate hunger to play for their province will have resurfaced.

While it sounds positive to have returning All Blacks, does it disrupt the team?

By this stage of the Air New Zealand NPC, teams will have become settled, the incumbent players have had seven weeks of developing combinations and getting familiar with a certain individual's style of play. Depending on the number of returning players, teams can sometimes struggle for attacking rhythm.

While the incoming All Black is obviously superior to the player they are replacing, they are maybe unfamiliar to some of the incumbent players - which can disrupt the rhythm of the team as a whole.

It can take two or three weeks for that flow to be re-established but, once it is, the quality of performance will be lifted.

The team may experience short-term difficulties for longer-term benefits, which should pay off in the semis and final.

So, with many front-line All Blacks returning as late as round nine of the NPC, teams and coaches must view their return as a bonus.

Those players are the icing on the cake - but the players who have been involved all the way through will need to build a solid cake or the icing will fall flat.