Game does count says Deans

LILLE - The Lens match specification today says French Barbarians against a New Zealand Commemorative XV.

Under strict IRB rules, that designation does not bind players to one country for the rest of their playing days. However, this game, in reality, is New Zealand A against a near-France A selection.

Mention the game to French rugby followers and they talk of Les All Blacks, not NZ A, or the alternative team title used to remember those who fell in service in the First World War.

It is a theme the NZ A players and their coach Robbie Deans have zeroed in on. They are representing New Zealand at rugby regardless of their commission.

"Over here they will call us the All Blacks and we aspire to represent New Zealand well and we are encouraged that will happen," Deans said. "We are excited by the ability, talent and attitude in this side."

The task has moved Deans and his assistant, Steve Hansen, from the intimate knowledge of the Canterbury and Crusader set-ups into a pressure-cooker organisation of a variety of multi-skilled athletes.

They do not have time to change the players' instincts. Instead, they have to create an environment to embellish a range of their talents and styles.

Much of New Zealand rugby at the top level marches to similar patterns and methods.

"At NPC, and particularly Super 12 level, you get so much time together you can work on their habits so that you ingrain them in their subconscious ways of playing," Deans said.

"We have spent time with some individuals and we can talk to them about ideas, but the reality is that it takes a long time if you want change under pressure."

So defence has become a priority for NZ A.

"That is an emphasis we have tried to create for the team because if we can set our attitude there, get ourselves into the game because of it and get excited there, that will carry over into the rest of our play," Deans said.

"The other added advantage is that if we can stop them scoring, then we only have to score once to succeed."

Deans has been invigorated by the new challenge and the different ideas which have emerged in the short time the group have been together.

"We are giving them the tools to combine their effort. They have been selected for what they can do."

Even if the weather behaves for this game, there will be quite a dew on the ground, something NZ A and the All Blacks will encounter in all their games, except the Italy test, which is the only daytime match.

In the weekend test between France and Australia there was a fair amount of attacking kicking because players dropped the ball early when trying to pass it wide.

Yet NZ A may look to chance their backs if the team can settle early.

New Zealand A: Ben Blair, Mils Muliaina, Caleb Ralph, Scott McLeod, Orene Ai'i, Tony Brown, Mark Robinson, Koula Tukino, Justin Collins, Jerry Collins, Glenn Taylor (capt), Royce Willis, Carl Hayman, Slade McFarland, Dave Hewett.

Reserves: Rua Tipoki, David Holwell, Jason Spice, Keven Mealamu, Nick White, Kupu Vanisi, Chris Jack.

French Barbarians: Jean-Luc Sadourny, Philippe Bernat-Salles, Raphael Chanal, Cliff Mytton, Filipo Toala, Diego Dominguez, Jerome Fillol, Christophe Milheres, Thomas Lievremont, Marc Lievremont (capt), Sergei Sergueev, Ian Jones, Omar Hasan, Jean-Michel Gonzalez, Jean-Jacques Crenca.

Reserves: Pierre Mignoni, David Aucagne, Yannick Janzio, Cedric Soulette, Marc del Maso, Richard Fromont, Alexandre Audebert.

* Sky Sport begins its coverage at 7.50 am.