Rugby: Samoa first target for focused ABs

Fullback Ben Smith works the bag while Jordie Barrett goes high during training at the Trust Arena. Photo / Greg Bowker

Everyone wants the All Blacks to see red but they're not playing the game, preferring to keep a blue-eyed focus on Friday's test in Auckland against Samoa.

While most of yesterday's rugby focus was trained 1000km to the south in Dunedin, the All Blacks were in camp in Auckland, preparing for a physical examination of their own.

"I know everyone is talking about the big battle around the corner but our mentality is the best way to prepare for a battle is to have a battle," assistant coach Ian Foster said. "The fact is we're playing Samoa at Eden Park, there's a big Samoan community here [and] the last time we played them they pushed us right to the wire in Apia.

"They have a couple of significant World Cup qualifiers coming up so rest assured, this will be a full-on battle. That's the best way to prepare for anything."

And yet it's hard to view this match as anything other than a curtain-raiser, firstly for the Maori-Lions clash on Saturday in Rotorua and, most significantly, the first test a week later, in Auckland.

The fact the All Blacks won't be at full strength also adds to the feeling that this is not as much an examination as it is preparation.

"It's about putting some detail in our team, making sure we know what we're trying to do. In a shorter week you don't get as much time to test it under massive pressure but that will come Friday," Foster said. "It's a chance to give some a hit out and to build some combinations."

Foster ran the rule over the Savea brothers Julian and Ardie, two Wellingtonians of Samoan heritage.

Foster praised the younger brother's new-found adaptability, while noting that Julian has made dramatic improvements in some areas but has yet to find his running spark.

"The amount of time Ardie's had at No8 has been a real positive for him," Foster said, acknowledging the dynamic back-rower would probably prefer the No7 jersey.

"The fact he's now playing eight and growing in confidence there is another string to his bow. It's important for us going forward, his versatility, but he's been simply outstanding in either of those jerseys and offers us some really good choices. We'd still like to see a little bit more from [Julian] with the ball. He's improved dramatically in the areas he's been criticised for in the past - his defence is improving, his fitness, he's looking sharp and hungry - and the next piece of jigsaw is ball in hand and beating people.

"He's got the ability, we know that, he's got everything there so that's the next hurdle for [him]."

Ardie Savea was happy to play in whatever jersey they put on him but he would say that, wouldn't he? Julian said it wasn't really for him to judge his form, but it was a privilege to be here but he would say that, wouldn't he?

And yes, they couldn't avoid the big red subject totally. Said Foster: "It's about accumulating information ... We've got open eyes at the moment, getting our heads up and seeing what we can learn."