All Blacks: Refreshed and ready to rock

Conrad Smith. Photo / Getty Images

For the first time in his career, Conrad Smith felt like he needed a prolonged break from rugby after the Tri Nations.

The All Black centre said even before he played the final test of the campaign, he was feeling mentally and, to a lesser extent, physically fatigued.

In typically candid fashion he admitted that was a major factor in an uncharacteristically mistake-ridden performance. In his seven-year test career prior to that match in Sydney, he'd barely missed a tackle - or at least not one that had any real consequences or anyone could specifically remember.

That night six weeks ago, he missed two in quick succession. They were glaring - Kurtley Beale handing him off on both occasions, leaving Smith prostrate on the turf.

He'd never played every game of a campaign before and, for all his experience and poise, he was stretched by game No6.

"I was mentally tired by the end of the Tri Nations," he says. "You only have to be off your game by five per cent and you get found out. We talked about that [being tired] after the game and also a little bit before which is never a good sign."

For an older generation, such talk of fatigue will be hard to fathom - but Smith is not the sort to find excuses. He was outstanding for most of the season, his work tapering off as the crunch and bite of the endless epic encounters took its toll.

Mils Muliaina felt similarly fatigued at this point last season and showed the value of a total break from rugby when he stormed back on the end of season tour, confirming his place as one of, if not the world's best fullback.

Smith is confident he's now fully recharged - that a battery once flat is ready to power him through the next month.

Smith, Richie McCaw, Cory Jane, Kieran Read and Tom Donnelly were the only fully fit All Blacks not to feature at all in the ITM Cup. In previous years, resisting the lure of Wellington has been tough for Smith but this time he feels his non-appearance has left him burning to get back into All Black action.

The constant round of Grand Slams might create some weariness among fans, but for Smith, the northern hemisphere trips remain his favourite All Black experience.

"It is always my most enjoyable part of the season," he says. "I don't find any difficulty in getting up for these games."

Nor, he says, will there be any motivational challenges in playing Australia in Hong Kong. There are two separate records to keep minds focused.

Having won their last 10 against Australia, the All Blacks are keen to extend this record streak. Test rugby is a cruel business and every All Black fears that one day the tables could be turned - and that if the Wallabies were on a similar roll, they would show no mercy.

Connected to this series of wins is the bigger goal of breaking the record of consecutive test match wins against all opposition.

There is some debate as to who holds that. The All Blacks won 17 in a row between 1965 and 1969 as did the Springboks between 1997 and 1998, but Lithuania won 18, their run ending earlier this year. The Baltic state amassed its wins against international lightweights such as Serbia which is why the All Blacks will deem 18 victories as the landmark to chase.

Currently the All Blacks sit on 15 and the Wallaby test is the big hurdle as, with England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales to come, the record looks achievable should win number 16 be secured this Saturday.

"It's not something we have sat down and talked about yet as a group," says Smith. "But I think it is something most of the players will be aware of."

The senior players will talk about how they handle the growing pressure that will inevitably come should they win in Hong Kong.

They, in conjunction with the coaches, will also determine their tactical approach on tour knowing the All Blacks need to try something a little different against Australia.

"I think they have played smart rugby against us," says Smith. "They have improved each time we have played them.

"We haven't adjusted too much which is often the case when what you have been doing has been working. But I think South Africa would be the first to admit that they were riding high and rested on the same tactics this year while everyone else adjusted."