All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, at the All Blacks training session training. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Richie McCaw wore his camouflage training kit but there was no hiding his All Black intent.
The opening test of three against Ireland at Eden Park is only 18 days away and his mind, and those of the extended training group, is narrowing towards that task.
They have to survive another session in Wellington and two Super 15 matches before the squad is pared back to 30 by June 3.
Like most of the breakdown work during his illustrious 102-test career, McCaw is finding his timing after returning from a repeat operation on his foot.
He had played two full games and was coming right. His fitness had been tested in those games and he felt better in the last outing against the Blues than the previous match with the Rebels.
"It hasn't been as bad as I was anticipating," he said.
"I put a fair bit of work in, though I wasn't running in January, February, March and it is just sort of getting the timing right and those sort of things that takes a bit of time."
Time is Keven Mealamu's enemy. The hooker and second most-capped man in the group donned his boots for some light training yesterday at North Harbour Stadium but his damaged calf muscle is still causing concern.
Scans were taken several days ago but so far there has been no official medical bulletin.
McCaw wasn't too sure about his buddy's health but he'd watched him pack a few scrums.
"To have a guy of 90-odd tests that is going to be available is pretty important, really," McCaw said.
"But if he's not, he's not and he has to make sure that's right because there is a fair amount of rugby to go this year and to have that sort of experience floating around would be great."
The camp had been valuable without trying to cover too much detail. It was a useful foundation because when the squad was announced, they had only five days to get themselves sorted before the June 9 start against Ireland at Eden Park. There was a different feel about the squad with some new players who would be retained and a change of coaching personnel.
Finding the right balance between excitement and experience was all part of the jigsaw for the selectors Steve Hansen, Ian Foster and Grant Fox to solve.
"The last couple of days operating with guys who are all great at what they do, the work-ons and things, is pretty exciting and having that mix right has been an absorbing couple of days," McCaw said of the young players in the group.
"We have to make them comfortable and understand what it is being an All Black."
McCaw had not seen the Irish squad or heard coach Declan Kidney proclaim his hopes for a 3-0 series win to Ireland. However, he had played Ireland a number of times and always found them an awkward foe, especially in New Zealand.
Kidney has chosen 25 players but will name another four - a prop, lock, loose forward and halfback - before the side leaves.
Senior lock Paul O'Connell is missing because of a knee injury but there is speculation the 85-test veteran will be added to the party.
Centre Brian O'Driscoll returns for the first time since the World Cup and will captain the squad after proving his fitness when he led Leinster to their third European Cup triumph against Ulster last Saturday.
Kidney described the tour as "like three Heineken Cup finals" and felt Ireland had everything to gain from the trip.
"We're eighth [in world rankings]. The gap between Ireland and New Zealand is there and there's nothing to lose. We must perform well," he said.
"You don't experiment in matches against New Zealand. It's akin to experimenting in Heineken play-off matches. You need to go for it."
IRELAND V ALL BLACKS
First test: June 9, Eden Park
Second test: June 16, Christchurch
Third test: June 23, Hamilton
Ireland squad
Backs: Darren Cave, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Conor Murray, Brian O'Driscoll (c), Ronan O'Gara, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble, Simon Zebo
Forwards: Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Stephen Ferris, Declan Fitzpatrick, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien, Donncha O'Callaghan, Peter O'Mahony, Mike Ross, Donnacha Ryan, Mike Sherry, Dan Tuohy