All Blacks: Slow start one area where performance could improve

When you go out each week looking for the perfect performance, as the All Blacks do, consistency is the key, and in this respect they aren't there yet. Photo / Getty Images

As the All Blacks approach their penultimate test of the year it's not difficult to work out what their major goal will be - an 80-minute performance against Scotland at Murrayfield after being able to achieve that only once so far this year.

That 51-20 thrashing of Australia at Eden Park is a high-water mark for the All Blacks, who have a record this year of 10 wins, one loss and one draw from their 12 tests.

The record is good, on the whole, and there has been some good stuff in almost every test - the first half against England in Hamilton in June, the defence against Australia in the disappointing draw in the Sydney drizzle (which might have been the boost the All Blacks needed for the following week in Auckland), the mental fortitude in Wellington when the Boks nearly took it at the death, the comeback after giving away a big lead in their Ellis Park defeat and a successful fightback in the final Bledisloe Cup test in Brisbane before coping magnificently when going a man down against England last weekend at Twickenham.

They were good against the USA in Chicago, but should have been given the Eagles are not a tier one test nation.

When you go out each week looking for the perfect performance, as the All Blacks do, consistency is the key, and in this respect they aren't there yet.

One of the more noticeable of their issues is their propensity for a slow start. We saw it against England in the 24-21 victory at Twickenham and in their two previous tests - against the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium and before that the South Africans in Johannesburg.

"One of the things we've been working on has been [fixing] our slow start," said veteran hooker Keven Mealamu. "We're trying to find some remedy around that. It's not something we can actually pinpoint at the moment because there are a lot of different things adding up to it. We're just really focusing on some real simple things we can do to get us off to a good start that means not having to do it so late in the game. I'm always proud of the way we work hard ... for the 80 minutes, but if we could start a lot better it would give us a better chance at the end."

He added: "We always expect the opposition to be at their optimum at the start and what we want to do is match that from the start. There is never a point when we go into a test not 100 per cent but ... we want to match it at the start and finish well as well."

Scotland, under new coach Vern Cotter, a New Zealander, have the potential to be difficult opponents.

Cotter's determination to instil a winning mentality is paying off - the hosts' 41-31 victory over Argentina, which was more dominant than the final score suggests, has made the All Blacks sit up and take notice.

The All Blacks won't be happy until they put all the pieces together. Time for a full 80-minute performance.