KEY POINTS:
EDINBURGH - The All Blacks' "less is more" approach to this rugby World Cup will reach a new level when every player takes a two-day leave pass next week.
Following their third pool clash against Scotland here on Monday (NZ time), the New Zealanders will return immediately to
their French base in Aix en Provence for a day of recuperation.
Then follows two rugby-free days when the players will have carte blanche to do what they want before regathering on Friday to begin a two-day preparation for their final pool match against Romania in Toulouse.
Manager Darren Shand said the time away had been planned as an effective "halftime break" in the campaign, providing a chance for the players to pursue other interests and spend time with loved ones.
"We think that's important given that we're here for, hopefully, 59 days," Shand said.
"You just can't live 24/7 rugby. Whenever the off-field balance or on-field balance is wrong, then this group doesn't function as well.
"We've learned that over the last three or four years."
Tuesday and Wednesday are traditionally two of the heavier training days but the All Blacks coaching staff are clearly comfortable about such a radical departure to their test week routine, with Romania unlikely to provide any real threat.
Shand said the players' partners and wives had been a major consideration.
"The feedback we got from the girls was that if they were going to come over, they wanted to have meaningful time (with the players) rather than trying to fit it in between training," he said.
Shand believed most of the players would take the opportunity to travel out of Aix en Provence on day trips and return to spend Wednesday night in the small southern city just north of Marseille.
However, it is understood others are planning to branch away and spend the night elsewhere in France.
"Obviously we have to have a pretty good idea of what everyone's doing," Shand said.
No conditioning of any sort will be required of the players although anybody carrying an injury will be asked to continue their rehabilitation work.
"But other than that, it's really just mental and physical downtime and we think that's critical in terms of this whole campaign, in particular so the girls get a decent amount of time with them."
The All Blacks have surprised observers here with their relaxed demeanour.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said the players made a collective decision to enjoy their two-month experience as much as possible.
"Up until now we've done that pretty well. We've had some fun off the field and some fun on it, along with working hard," he said, saying the balance was superior to the failed campaign of 2003.
"Perhaps looking back, it was all rugby, rugby and you got home and thought `hell, we've been to a World Cup and didn't enjoy it, regardless of the result, as much as we should have'.
"If you're enjoying the environment then you're going to enjoy the work you do on the field."
Another 2003 stalwart, lock Ali Williams, said the players had developed an ability to switch on and off rugby.
"We're just human at the end of the day. We enjoy going for bike rides and mucking around in the pool," he said.
"We allocate time to let our hair down and just chill out.
"If you don't, eight weeks of doing the same thing, you get caught up. By the end of it, you're bored."
The All Blacks left the warmth of southern France today and encountered rain for the first time in the campaign upon landing in a cool and breezy Edinburgh.
- NZPA
