The news got better for the All Blacks and worse for the French.
First five-eighths Daniel Carter, skipper Richie McCaw and flanker Jerry Collins are all shaping to start Saturday's second test in Wellington.
Neither Carter nor McCaw were involved in much training yesterday because of ankle andhip injuries which reduced their involvement to half a test at Eden Park.
But they were both optimistic the rest and rehabilitation would do the trick and they could stretch out fully today to prove they were ready. McCaw said he was feeling "not too bad" while Carter's only concern was whether his tender ankle would handle the kicking workload.
"But I think it will settle down. I should be fine to run and I will make a call on it after training," he said.
After just six starts in the Super 14, the injury has eaten into the matchplay Carter wanted to build up in preparation for the Tri-Nations series against the Springboks and Wallabies.
"It is frustrating but something you have to deal with," he said.
Collins was buoyant after the heel he damaged in club rugby a few weeks ago survived a full training session at Trusts Stadium in Waitakere. There was an increased intensity in the practice, illustrated when Ali Williams and Troy Flavell had to be separated by teammates during the contact drills.
Another rugged customer, lock Keith Robinson is itching to start at the Westpac Trust Stadium after hobbling out of contention in 2004 when he was chosen to play at the venue against the Wallabies.
Robinson injured his back in training and further injuries meant he did not return to the All Blacks until the trip to Europe late last year.
The French did not cope particularly well with the All Blacks' force in the opening test and coach Bernard Laporte wants his side to win the personal duels this weekend.
The All Blacks had disconcerted the visitors in the scrum and beaten them at the breakdowns as they showed why they are the early favourites for the World Cup, he said.
The young French backline could not hope to operate unless the pack provided stable scrum ball and a decent flow of lineout possession. Without the solidity up front and a steady amount of ball the backs could not hope to test the All Black defence.
