All Blacks fired up with just one place to go

All Black captain Tana Umaga savours a quiet moment at Carisbrook. Picture / Mark Mitchell

It was a statement of All Black intent, a declaration about their business.

It was also a rarity, a sign of how absorbed the All Blacks are about tonight's Tri-Nations test against the Springboks in Dunedin.

Spectators' heads swivelled back towards the stand at Carisbrook as the All Blacks broke into an impromptu haka near their dressing room after their brief captain's run.

It was not an orchestrated rehearsal for the benefit of any cameras: the battlecry was an affirmation of their spirit, their bond and their mood.

While the crowds have been slow to take up the challenge, there has been a sense building all week that this will be a heavyweight rugby international - the type of pulsating contest the All Blacks had to endure in Pretoria in 1996 to win their first test series in South Africa.

This time it is the All Blacks defending their domestic honour, an unbeaten record at Carisbrook against South Africa who will retain their Tri-Nations title if they win tonight.

After some lean years, the Boks have been resurgent under coach Jake White and the leadership of John Smit and are a genuine threat to add to their solitary Tri-Nations win in New Zealand in 1998.

The anticipation of a thumping contest has grown, especially after the disappointing opposition from the Lions and with the Wallabies struggling with injuries.

That thunderous haka from the All Blacks yesterday said they were ready for any physical confrontation from the Springboks. Away from that combat the questions will remain.

Can the All Blacks get the right sort of possession to attack, can they unpick the Bok defensive screens and will they look to build some momentum into their game or throw the attacking switch from the start?

The feeling is that they will not back off. There has been no attempt by the coaching staff to put a brake on the side's adventurous enterprise. If they feel there is an attacking option in the first minute from their own goalline, the All Blacks will have a crack.

There is a belief among the All Blacks that given useful conditions and some reasonable possession, they can outwit the Boks, they can outmanoeuvre the tackling systems which have given them so much trouble in the last two years.

Conviction and delivery are two different issues, however.

The All Blacks will base their confidence on the fact that they made about 20 line breaks in Cape Town; they will tell themselves they can do much better than just nailing the solitary try to Rico Gear.

It would not hurt the All Blacks to test the Bok back three under the high ball.

That tactic has been absent this season. It would test Percy Montgomery's mixed nerve and also halt some of the rush defence.

Massive contests like this are about players working themselves into the right mental zone for the challenge, about psyching themselves up to answer any physical demands while keeping their minds uncluttered.

Which side will react best under pressure?

Can the Boks take advantage of Leon MacDonald's test inexperience at first five-eighths, can they choke the All Black pack, disrupt their lineout, use their offensive defence to trigger more turnover tries for Bryan Habana?

The South Africans have been relaxed, although some were still having problems late in the week sleeping properly after the time changes involved in travelling from Perth.

They believe in their coach, they trust his methods and they have developed strength from his assurance.

White had morning coffee yesterday with referee Joel Jutge, probably more as a public relations exercise than anything else as the French referee has a reputation for some rogue performances.

But it was another note about the Springboks' attention to detail and the passion they are bringing to this test.

Playing offshore used to mean automatic defeat. That boil was lanced last week in Perth; now the Springboks are bringing all the artillery to Carisbrook.

The All Blacks will not break the Boks' fervour but an early try would chip at the self-assurance and bring some of the old demons into play.

If conditions get a bit grim and the pace of the test drops, if it becomes a set-piece attrition then goalkicking will be critical. Montgomery has been a revelation with his new style but MacDonald's results are unknown.

If the All Black forwards do not get into the game the Bok loose forwards of Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Joe Van Niekerk will dictate the pace of the test.

Twice the All Blacks have started slowly or gifted points to their rivals.

A better beginning and they will go to Eden Park next week to shoot for the Tri-Nations title against the Wallabies.

* Tri-Nations, All Blacks vs South Africam Dunedin, 7.35 tonight

ALL BLACKS
Mils Muliaina
Rico Gear
Tana Umaga (c)
Aaron Mauger
Joe Rokocoko
Leon MacDonald
Piri Weepu
Rodney So'oialo
Richie McCaw
Jerry Collins
Ali Williams
Chris Jack
Carl Hayman
Keven Mealamu
Tony Woodcock

SOUTH AFRICA
P. Montgomery
Jean de Villiers
Jacque Fourie
De Wet Barry
Bryan Habana
Andre Pretorius
Enrico Januarie
Joe van Niekerk
Juan Smith
Schalk Burger
Victor Matfield
Bakkies Botha
CJ van der Linde
John Smit (c)
Os du Randt

RESERVES: All Blacks: Derren Witcombe, Greg Somerville, James Ryan, Sione Lauaki, Kevin Senio, Luke McAlister, Doug Howlett.
South Africa: Hanyani Shimage, Eddie Andrews, Albert van den Berg, Jacques Cronje, Fourie du Preez, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Marius Joubert.