All Blacks: Fitness key for Bledisloe, says Cowan

Jimmmy Cowan has attracted unwanted publicity because of his firewater problems but fitness is his new drug of choice. Photo / Getty Images

Jimmy Cowan whacks in the mileage, some of his Southland mates hit the hunting trails while Piri Weepu is a keen free-diver. The variety is limitless, but the message is the same.

If you are not fit and ultra-conditioned you will be found out in the modern game.

That will tell on the All Blacks in the next fortnight as they play tests today in Auckland then in successive weekends in Bloemfontein and Durban. Tack on the long-distance travel and it becomes a heck of a schedule.

Cowan has attracted unwanted publicity because of his firewater problems but fitness is his new drug of choice. He was always in good nick, even when he drank to excess but with that problem shelved he has ramped up his conditioning even further.

After last week's camp in Wellington, Cowan went home and hoed into further fitness sessions.

"It is something I pride myself on, to train away from the rugby field," he said. "I work pretty hard on it. I have a set schedule throughout the week and make sure I stick to that."

"Whether I am inside or outside the camp I tend to work pretty hard. I went back home and really got amongst it. I did some interval work and some long running because I think now when you get to a level of Test match rugby there is no hiding.

"It is just the way the game's going with the law changes. If you are not fit you cannot keep up.

Especially as a halfback, you have probably got to be the fittest player on the field alongside the flanker, just because you have got to go to every ruck and you have got to be thinking and trying to steer the ship.

"If you are not fit, you are not thinking right and that is when mistakes start creeping into your game."

In his youth, Cowan was into sprinting and relay running. He still likes that sharpening work but has added some mileage work though he is not a great fan. However he values the benefits.

"Long distance does not appeal because it hurts," he said.

"So does rugby but it is a good drug. When you have done the hard work mate, it is probably the best feeling in the world once you have finished it."

Cowan will square off tonight, numerically at least, against Luke Burgess. The All Black halfback took his time answering a question about his rival's qualities because as he pointed out they may clash infrequently in this test.

"He is quality in his own right, he has good distribution but we very rarely run into each other during a game. I just have to concentrate on my game.

"A year ago I would have been looking for my opposite a lot during a game but even that has changed, the game has altered so much."

Cowan wants to focus primarily on tonight but he does get a warm glow when he reflects on the corresponding Test last season and his part in that victory. The 39-10 win was a massive riposte after successive defeats.

Both Cowan and Andy Ellis were injured in the lead-in to that Test and when it was time for judgment, Cowan won the job. He did not train with the side until the Thursday before that match but came through that, followed by the Eden Park inquisition.

"There were a lot of people doubting us, the public, the media, but we came out firing and did not lose another game all year," he said.

Cowan would like a repeat scenario, starting tonight. Whatever the conditions he does not mind. He started visualising his roles from midweek. He and his cronies will need all their conditioning and resilience to cope with the next fortnight.

The All Blacks and Wallabies fly out tomorrow and one team will have the unwanted baggage of Bledisloe Cup defeat.

If it is the All Blacks they have the chance of redemption the next week, if the Wallabies fail they have to wait until August 8 in Cape Town for their next outing.

"It is a lot but it is also why we play this game," Cowan said. "It is a way to test yourself mentally. It is hard to speak on behalf of the team but I am looking forward to this challenge. Can't wait.

"There is real ownership on us to sort things out this weekend and that is why it is labelled a Test match. There is pressure and we are looking forward to it."