All Blacks: Players in charge of build-up to Aussie test

Captain Richie McCaw runs some moves with the All Blacks in training yesterday. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The All Blacks have driven this week's test build-up as they search for a magic bullet to cure their mediocre season.

Usually the coaches set the agenda but this week the players requested a change of pace in their schedules after they slumped to a four win-four loss season record with their latest fall in Hamilton to the Springboks.

"The players instigated this, we had a discussion about it," captain Richie McCaw revealed.

Defeat tomorrow against the Wallabies would send the side into the unwanted entry section in the record books as the only All Black side to suffer three domestic defeats in one season.

McCaw has forged a glittering career but his team has been beaten twice at home this year by France and the Boks.

However, the skipper was very bullish about his team's build-up and their chances of cementing a season's hat-trick of victories against the Wallabies in Wellington.

The key for the multi-decorated flanker was the way the squad soaked up their errors last week against the Springboks then moved quickly into plans for the Wallabies.

"The big thing is not to dwell on last week," McCaw said.

That was counter-productive. It happened at times and players suddenly found they were in the middle of a week and had not really concentrated enough on the next match.

"So we wanted to take our learnings from that and move on as quickly as possible. The guys to some extent have done that. We have not bashed each other all week and I think that was the right thing and the coaches did too.

"If we are excited and have petrol in the tank we should be pretty good."

This season there had been large breaks in the Tri-Nations programme and it was easy for players to forget or let things slide when they had significant gaps between assembling for tests.

Then there was usually some catch-up or remedial work which had to be completed and that often bit into plans for the next match.

But the All Blacks had been together for the last fortnight, they knew what they had to do, they had done the training work, they had noted the fix-it list and could move steadily towards tomorrow's domestic conclusion.

"We have just been making sure we are sharp," said McCaw, who will captain the side for the 39th time.

McCaw missed the start of the season because of a knee injury and since his return has suffered the unusual fate of being the losing captain in three of his five tests.

He plays his 76th test tomorrow in a new-look side who will be intent on keeping their foot on the throat of his former mentor Robbie Deans and his Wallabies.

McCaw said the changes had to be made to freshen the team's energy and mental edge.

"It also sends a good message that if the team does not perform there are consequences and that is what has happened this week," he said. "I guess this year with injuries it has made it a little bit harder to do that but we have got to the point where they had to be made."

Blindsider Adam Thomson had played outstandingly for Otago and deserved his chance in a revamped loose trio which will be up against George Smith, David Pocock and Rocky Elsom.

The All Blacks had been brutally honest with themselves and their work inside the camp in the last week and wanted to finish their domestic programme on a high.