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MARSEILLE - It would be hard not to imagine the Portugal and Romania squads seriously quaking in their boots after seeing New Zealand smash closest World Cup Pool C rivals Italy 76-14 here on Saturday.
Portugal face the All Blacks in Lyon next Saturday and the debutant minnows, derided as 5,000-1 outsiders to win the tournament, face serious humiliation at the hands of the New Zealanders. Likewise for the Romanians.
Asked whether the All Blacks might ease up slightly on either of the two teams, coach Graham Henry said: "There'll be some sensitivity there but not a huge amount.
"The World Cup's pretty important for developing rugby," he said, dismissing concerns that there could be serious injuries in such mismatches.
"Hopefully it'll be a positive experience for Romania and Portugal.
"It's all about taking the overall standard up higher."
For the All Black players, any thought of easing their foot off the pedal when it comes to the Lyon match against Portugal were firmly on the back boiler.
"There's 30 players in the squad here and we all want to play," was scrum-half Byron Kelleher's blunt view of things. "There'll be no easing back."
Winger Doug Howlett, whose hat-trick against Italy saw him join Christian Cullen at the top of the All Blacks all-time try-scorers' list with 46, agreed with Kelleher.
Howlett not only has the chance to become sole leader on that prestigious list but is also in direct competition with flying Fiji-born flyer Joe Rokocoko, who would walk into any other nation's starting line-up.
"We're all pushing for places," Howlett said.
"If we get a chance to play on Saturday (against Portugal), we're going to take it full-on and stake a place for the All Black shirt."
Losing Italy coach Pierre Berbizier said after his team's thrashing that he hoped any gap between New Zealand and other nations would be shortened.
"I hope for the good of the competition that other northern hemisphere teams do better than us today," he said.
He was clearly not talking about the might offered by the largely amateur Portugal and Romania teams.
"Of course we know we are not going to win. But they are number one so what could be better?" asked Portugal captain and No 8 Goncalo Uva of the All Blacks showdown.
"It is magnificent to watch the haka!"
Portugal, the last of 20 teams to qualify for the World Cup, squeezing into the finals courtesy of a 24-23 aggregate play-off victory over Uruguay, face Scotland on Sunday and vowed to play to their defensive strengths.
"We're not worried. We're prepared to take a few knocks," prop Andre Silva said. "We will play to our strengths and our intensive defence. We want the other teams to know that it won't be easy for them to beat us."
After a few days of recuperation, it will be the All Blacks, on an ever-improving curve, if flanker Jerry Collins is to be believed.
"We're trying to get into our rhythm and game pattern over the coming few weeks," said Collins. "Next week against Portugal is another building block."
- AFP
