All Blacks prepare to face defiant Springboks

Sam Tuitupou (L) kicks the ball while teammates (2nd L to R) Isaia Toeava, Neemia Tialata and Mils Muliaina joke around during the captain's run in Wellington today. Picture / Reuters

WELLINGTON - A little role playing is occupying the All Blacks' time heading into the Tri-Nations rugby test against South Africa at Westpac Stadium in Wellington tomorrow night.

It is not charades and will not attract the attention of any amateur theatre directors.

Instead, the players are putting themselves in the minds of their Springboks opponents, trying to imagine the full horror of South Africa's humiliating 0-49 loss to Australia in Brisbane last weekend.

The reaction in New Zealand to such a result for the All Blacks is almost unfathomable but assistant coach Wayne Smith said senior squad members were putting that very scenario before every player.

"They've taken a really big role in making people put themselves in the 'Bok shoes," Smith said.

"How would we feel after a 49-point hiding? What sort of pressure would we be under from our public? What sort of pressure would we be under from the media? And how would we then come out on Saturday?

"It's pretty easy to answer so everyone's realistic about what to expect."

Smith knows the Springboks will be in a fanatical frame of mind but is in two minds about what tactics they will bring.

On one hand, desperation may push them to jettison a gameplan based on forward pressure and aggressive defence in favour of the expansive style he is convinced they are capable of.

The other theory, possibly more realistic because of the wet weather in Wellington this week, is that the Springboks will be more direct than ever.

That is even more likely if Butch James wears the green No 10 jersey ahead of the youngster he is bracketed with, Meyer Bosman.

Smith reckons James will be the man to start opposite classy All Blacks playmaker Daniel Carter, creating a fascinating confrontation.

There is an extra focus on Carter because he starts his first major test without the influence of either Aaron Mauger or Tana Umaga one place outside him.

Mauger has been rested to give the nuggety Sam Tuitupou a crack at second five-eighth but Smith does not think the All Blacks will miss the direction of the man who has evolved into their backline leader.

"Daniel Carter's pretty exceptional at the nerve centre, reading it and applying it," said Smith, who also admired the decision-making skill of Mils Muliaina at centre.

Between them is Tuitupou, who performed strongly against Argentina last month and who Smith said had proved he warranted a return after two years' absence from the international game.

"I thought he went through a period where he lost some of his sharpness," Smith said.

"He's cleverer. I'm very impressed with his skill set, we've not seen that applied consistently in games.

"He's got a really good drop punt, for example, but you never really see it applied. Very good hands but he's such a good penetrater that he often plays that sort of game."

Muliaina and Tuitupou are to renew a midfield liaison that began at Kelston Boys' High School and has continued sporadically with the Blues and Chiefs franchises.

Tuitupou is determined not to throw silly passes in the face of the Springboks' rush defence, something endorsed by Smith, who said every player had to concentrate on "dominating the collision" when gaps were not forthcoming.

Springboks coach Jake White said the rush defence would remain a key part of his side's armoury, even though it was picked apart effortlessly by the Wallabies.

"There are a lot of reasons why it didn't work. The most important reason is that we've got different personnel," White said.

"When you're playing your first test and you don't know the guy next to you ... it's very very difficult.

"We've had four centres and two flyhalves who've played in the last two years and, of those, five of them aren't available.

"It does have a huge effect, especially when you're playing against a backline which is probably the most capped backline (Wallabies) in the history of rugby union."

- NZPA