All Blacks: Backline under pressure to perform

All Black second-five Ma'a Nonu's place is under threat from Luke McAlister. Photo / Getty Images

DURBAN - The "heat" is coming on some senior All Blacks backs who will need improved test performances against South Africa here on Sunday morning (NZT) to ensure ongoing Tri-Nations selection.

Today's blowtorch was actually aimed by journalists at New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith, who was forced to defend his side's blunt attack so far this season.

Eight tries in the first five tests of the year is the All Black's worst return in the professional era, when the average return by this stage has been 26.

It is 15 years since they made a more dour start, when Laurie Mains' 1994 side crossed for just five tries.

Three of this year's tries came in the limp defeat of Italy in Christchurch. Since then the All Blacks have crossed the Wallabies' and Springboks' lines just once each in the Tri-Nations.

Smith said execution was the only thing letting the backline down, with last week's 28-19 loss to the Springboks at Bloemfontein a prime example.

Explaining why was another thing altogether.

"That's the $64 million question. Sometimes it just takes time, it takes time with combinations," he said.

However, Smith's patience may be running out judging by his response when asked if changes were considered to this week's backline aside from the one swap at halfback, where Jimmy Cowan replaces Brendon Leonard.

"I think some of the players played really well in the backline," he said.

"That was a pretty easy decision on them. There were a couple of positions where there's a bit of heat coming on."

In the same interview, Smith spoke volumes about the progress of Stephen Donald at first five-eighth, suggesting the players he is referring to are experienced heads such as fullback Mils Muliaina, winger Joe Rokocoko and second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu.

Rokocoko has already been delivered a public warning this year by coach Graham Henry but Muliaina and Nonu, both on the field for all 400 test minutes this season, have struggled to match their form of a year ago or that shown in the Super 14.

Uncharacteristic risks and errors have crept into Muliaina's game although it would be a major leap for Cory Jane to get a start at 15 in place of the veteran.

Nonu has struggled to breach the advantage line apart from the defeat of France in Wellington and will be conscious of the presence of Luke McAlister.

Smith said one-on-one conversations are held regularly with the players, "to see if we can get improvements in their game".

He felt the backline was gelling better at every week at training and proof was now needed on the playing field, although test matches were hard to recreate because of their sheer intensity.

"Execution's been a big thing under pressure, where we've made some critical errors," he said.

"We're improving. We're playing with better width and there's a better understanding about what we want to do."

Smith said all international sides are struggling to score tries this year, with defences improving further and forcing teams to lean on kick-and-regather methods rather than keeping ball in hand.

"The game's changed slightly. It doesn't mean it can't change back," he said.

"Something's got to be a catalyst for that.

"We're trying to play an expansive game, as we've always played, but we have to modify it as well... there were enough opportunities last week for us to execute and score tries from. We didn't quite manage it so that's our work-on."

The All Blacks' best start to a season was 45 tries in the first five tests of 1995, although that figure is warped by 21 of them coming against Japan at the World Cup during the 145-17 blowout in Bloemfontein.

- NZPA