The All Black training notes. Photo / Getty Images
Those with some expertise in handwriting maintain the script belongs to Wayne Smith.
No matter the author, the details and authenticity of the All Black playbook scarcely raised a ripple with the Wallabies as the phoney wars continued in the buildup to Saturday's test.
While coach Robbie Deans was curt
in his media dealings the day before as the All Blacks ran the charm offensive, yesterday the roles were reversed.
The All Blacks were prickly about the details appearing in the Australian newspaper, while Deans saw the article only in mid-afternoon and dismissed it as irrelevant.
The page shows five All Black moves - three from lineouts and two from scrums - with the mystery about the three diagrams hidden on the other side of the page.
Trying to second guess the ideas behind the plays can be dangerous, especially for a rugby writer, but here goes.
Plans 4, 5 and 6 are lineout moves aimed at challenging the defences of Matt Giteau and rookie wing James O'Connor. No rocket science there as the All Blacks look to challenge the Wallabies' smallest men.
The final two diagrams depict attacks from scrums, with Mils Muliaina positioned on the left wing in one as either a decoy or ready for a switch in play.
The final plan has Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith running in and out decoy lines as Daniel Carter throws a long cutout pass to Joe Rokocoko to attack O'Connor's defensive judgment.
How often the chance comes for the plays to be used, who knows, but rugby coaches and technical analysts will no doubt drool over the footage on Saturday.
Who knows how many plays are on the other sheets in Graham Henry's grasp and whether Henry's team will scrap the quintet shown here.
No matter. It should also give Sky's expert analysts like Grant Fox plenty to pontificate on and compare if there are long breaks in play on Saturday.
