KEY POINTS:
The All Blacks have turned to American football for help in the final stages of their conditioning programme.
A mechanical gauntlet made its debut yesterday in Wellington, a resistance apparatus which is a regular training companion for running backs in the NFL.
"We are looking for our players to drive through the arms with the proper body position otherwise they get a real kick back," fitness coach Graham Lowe said. "It helps with their strength, getting into space and ball security as well."
Lowe said the machine produced the sort of resistance usually generated by several players holding hit shields or tackle bags. "This way it allows all those players to be still involved in their training drills."
The 4m-long machine with about 35 mechanical arms made its first All Black appearance yesterday as the 22 players on reconditioning duty completed their final camp in Wellington.
