All Blacks: Jane ready to counter Pumas' passion

Cory Jane expects a tough match with a committed Pumas side. Photo / Getty Images

Pictures scattered around the walls of the All Black team room give them some idea of the passion involved in playing the Pumas.

Eight of the run-on side met them at the World Cup last year while only Tony Woodcock and Andrew Hore, from the bench in 2006, with Richie McCaw, in 2001, have inhaled the ferocity of rugby combat in Argentina.

Cory Jane is one who felt the Pumas' style last year at the World Cup when he got the chance to make amends after a night out drinking just days before the match.

The All Blacks were seething and Jane needed a huge response.

He delivered, but that sort of pre-match preparation will not be on his agenda this week. Not if he's learned from that 2011 episode.

Jane says he's in the zone. He reckons his teammates are too.

"This is a bit different with Argentina coming into competition. It will be a tough battle, we will have our work cut out, but we are focused," he said.

For those new to combat with the Pumas, there were pictorial reminders in the team room of what to expect.

The Pumas would bring a great deal of passion to their work and while they might not all have A-grade skills, they would bring commitment to the cause.

They would also feed from the crowd support of their compatriots. The Cake Tin should be a cauldron of colour.

The All Blacks needed to shut down or soak up the Pumas' early ferocity. That would be a crucial mental phase of the test.

"I guess the passionate teams, if it's close for a long time or you get to halftime only a few points up, then you know you're going all the way to the 80th minute," said Jane.

"But if you can crack them early, then there's a chance things might swing your way, and obviously they will come out pumping and we want to continue to build on our first two tests in this competition."

Jane agreed with those who felt the Pumas would not advance further in the series if they persevered with a kicking game and 10-man style of rugby.

The All Blacks' counter-attack had not been the best in the two tests with the Wallabies but this test was likely to be a slower pace and they would be ready to rumble if the Pumas kicked them too much ball.

"I think they will kick but they will kick smarter."

Juan Martin Hernandez was a strong tactical kicker but would also bring a better balance to their attack.

There was a buzz around the All Blacks, excitement about facing a foe they rarely met and a desire to impress with their skills which had been a shade erratic against the Wallabies.

They had talked about the prowess the Pumas would bring with their durable, dogged power.

The score had blown out last year in the RWC quarter-final but that had been a "bloody tough battle" and the All Blacks knew they were facing an awkward rival.