KEY POINTS:
The All Blacks hope they will not need the help of referee Jonathan Kaplan as they seek a more fluent performance in the second rugby test against England in Christchurch tonight.
South African Kaplan has been a quirky figure this week for several reasons, not least because he
is staying at the New Zealand team's hotel.
England's acting head coach Rob Andrew has been silent on that subject despite having criticised those who booked Welsh referee Nigel Owens under the same Auckland roof as the All Blacks ahead of the first test which the home side won 37-20.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry was at his dry best when informed of this week's booking.
"I haven't seen Jonathan. If he's at the same hotel that's very unusual, but I haven't run into him," Henry said.
"If I do I'll certainly have a chat because we go back a long way."
Kaplan, who will control a record-equalling 12th All Blacks test, will need to be firm at the breakdown.
That area of the game became messy last weekend, with both sides adamant they weren't treated well by Owens.
Andrew accused All Blacks flanker and captain Richie McCaw of entering rucks from the wrong side while the hosts were unimpressed at the number of English forwards leaving their feet.
McCaw suggested Kaplan's introduction could aid the supply of clean ball but called on his own team to force the issue, something they only did in patches at Eden Park.
"With the forward pack England have got, they put a lot of heat on at the breakdown, they're physical men and they get in there," McCaw said.
"I don't think this game will be too much different and the way Jonathan controls it, hopefully he just takes control of the guys that are on the ground, making sure that we can get clean ball if it's done right.
"If we do our job right and there are infringements, then he'll get them."
This week has been dominated by the off-field controversy dogging the tourists.
McCaw is unsure what impact the police investigation into an alleged incident of sexual assault by four players will have on England's performance.
Referencing his seven losses from 61 tests, McCaw suspects England will harbour more fizz than usual at AMI Stadium.
"Whenever you come off defeat you get a bit tighter, backs are against the wall and you come out and throw everything into it."
Andrew continued avoiding all reference to the police investigation yesterday but agreed his side were stung by last weekend's 17-point loss, a margin that would have been far closer if defensive execution had matched their forward intensity.
"I'm not sure if anger is the right word," he said.
"When you play in any big test match you need a degree of incredible steeliness and determination.
"Particularly in New Zealand in the second test, when you've lost the first test, you have to have that in enormous amounts.
"The signs that the players are giving off are very much along those lines."
Andrew said both teams would have addressed their weak points from Auckland, with the All Blacks sure to unveil a better lineout.
"I'm sure they'll want to move their game on a little bit and challenge us in slightly different areas to the ones they challenged us in last week," he said.
After nearly 12 months of activity, England's players will take a break after this test, with international duties resuming against the Pacific Islanders at Twickenham on November 8.
They play four home tests that month, ending with a match against the All Blacks on November 29 that could provide the tourists with a Grand Slam.
By then it will be England's 11th test of the year and New Zealand's 15th.
- NZPA
