Now we'll see just how good we are

Sitiveni Sivivatu in training at Trusts Stadium, Waitakere, yesterday. Picture / Dean Purcell

All Blacks coach Graham Henry doesn't believe the series win over the Lions will lead to over-confidence heading into the Tri-Nations.

The All Blacks regrouped in Auckland yesterday after a 2 1/2-week break following their success against the Lions

They leave for South Africa tomorrow, and will spend a week in Durban "away from prying eyes" before relocating to Cape Town for their opening match against South Africa on August 7.

Although they clearly dominated the Lions, Henry doesn't believe the series win will lead to over-confidence.

"I don't think there is any inflated opinion of our own ability," he said yesterday.

"We are not sure how strong or how weak the Lions were. My gut feeling was that they weren't particularly strong, but we didn't know that when we went into the series, and I was delighted with the way the guys played the game."

Although the series was one-sided, Henry believes it was a good build-up to the Tri-Nations.

"But with the Tri-Nations you have the three best teams in the world.

"We are going to know where we are after the Tri-Nations as a measuring stick."

While the All Blacks were impressive in many facets against the Lions, Henry warns fans against expecting too much.

"I think as a nation we expect the All Blacks to win every test match and don't give the other nations a lot of credit for their ability.

"We are not always the best team in the world, we haven't been for the last 20 years. We are trying to develop a team going forward and also get a few notches in the belt as we go along.

"I think these two teams are going to put us under more pressure than the Lions put us under, then we are going to find out where the deficiencies are."

With an eye on the World Cup, the All Blacks head to South Africa hoping to continue to develop quality players.

"We need to develop players across the board. To do that we have got to play them regularly outside World Cup competition," Henry said.

"We couldn't play the same team in three matches against the Lions. We probably used 26, 27, 28 players in the Lions series, and that is what we have to keep doing going through to the World Cup."

New Zealand finished last in the Southern Hemisphere competition last year, on a points countback. They faltered in the later part of the series in the away games, something Henry and his assistants have taken into consideration this year.

"I think the guys were falling off the pace because they had played a lot of rugby by that time. They were playing away from home and they met two very good teams ... that is what I am saying - we need to acknowledge that the other people can play."

The All Blacks head to South Africa having not played a match since the final Lions test in Auckland, but All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen doesn't believe match readiness will be a problem.

"They have come back fresh, physically and mentally. I guess we lose a little bit in that we haven't played a game for four or five weeks, but you have to balance that with what we really needed, which was to freshen up," Hansen said.

The All Blacks' tactics proved successful against the touring Lions, but Hansen said new strategies would be needed to combat South Africa and Australia, whose game plans differed from the Lions and from each other.

"Northern Hemisphere rugby is a bit slower. These guys are brought up in the Super 12, and it is a hit-and-run game, and then you come to test level and you add physicality to that hit-and-run game.

"It [the Lions series] has prepared us, but we have to go up another level. It is a good opportunity to check where we are at. "

First five-eighths Daniel Carter, second five-eighths Aaron Mauger, flanker Richie McCaw and fullback Leon MacDonald have recovered from the injuries which kept them out of the third test against the Lions.

McCaw, however, is suffering from a virus.

Tri-Nations

Sunday: South Africa v Australia, Pretoria

August 7: South Africa v All Blacks, Cape Town

August 13: Australia v All Blacks, Sydney

August 20: Australia v South Africa, Perth

August 27: All Blacks v South Africa, Dunedin

September 3: All Blacks v Australia, Auckland