All Blacks: Revenge not a factor - Smith

It seems 616 days is long enough to heal old rugby wounds - even the deepest of cuts.

That's the length of time between this Saturday's first test between the All Blacks and France at Carisbrook and their previous meeting on October 6, 2007.

New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith today made it clear that match, the 20-18 World Cup quarter-final defeat at Cardiff, had been thrust into the pages of history and had already started gathering dust.

"It's a different (French) team, a different coach. We've got a different team, what happened, happened," Smith said.

"We moved on from that last year."

There are only three starting survivors from Cardiff who will run out on Saturday - fullback Mils Muliaina, winger Joe Rokocoko and prop Tony Woodcock - while Luke McAlister is on the reserve bench.

Of them, McAlister may have more motivation than anyone.

His sinbinning early in the second half sparked a French renaissance while his last act was a desperate dropped goal attempt from about 50m, with the team having earlier declined opportunities to take a pot from close range.

Smith couldn't speak for the players but he said there was no desire for revenge from the coaching staff of he, Graham Henry and Steve Hansen, who inched back into the good books of the New Zealand public in 2008 when the All Blacks won 13 from 15 tests.

"Last year we worked really hard to re-establish this team and we're just continuing on with that," Smith said.

"I can think of losses through my career that, if you let them concern you too much, you wouldn't coach.

"This is a new opportunity, we've got a new team. I would love to get (the season) off to a great start."

- NZPA