All Blacks: Tialata urges doubters to keep faith

Neemia Tialata does not dwell on personal criticism, although the All Blacks prop does have a long memory when it comes to New Zealand's underwhelming start to last year's international rugby season.

The 34-test front rower has not been immune from the damning assessments issued in wake of the All Blacks' uninspiring June tests - a drawn series with France and an unsatisfactory win over Six Nations easybeats Italy.

But he reminds critics to cast their minds back 12 months ago when the All Blacks faced an even worse predicament after dropping tests against the Springboks and Wallabies.

Losing to South Africa at Carisbrook in Dunedin for the first time and giving Robbie Deans the perfect start as Wallabies coach seven days later in Sydney made for an ugly start to New Zealand's defence of the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup.

A week after the Wallabies sauntered to a 34-19 victory the All Blacks faced a rematch in Auckland, and responded to the premature obituaries by drubbing the Australians 39-10.

Eight more victories followed in 2008 as the All Blacks retained the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup before completing the second Grand Slam of coach Graham Henry's reign.

Tialata believes there is similar resolve within the current All Blacks squad to atone for a poor start to this season when the Wallabies return to Eden Park here on Saturday night.

"We're in the same situation as last year, and like then we didn't panic," he said.

"We didn't listen to any pressure put on us by the media and the fans. It comes down to the players sticking together and individual belief."

The recovery process started in Auckland yesterday when the squad had their first hitout ahead of the first of four trans-Tasman encounters.

And with loose forwards Richie McCaw and Rodney So'oialo available for the first time this year there was a positive vibe in the camp.

The likelihood of Luke McAlister and Stephen Donald both being available after injuries threatened to sideline the first five-eighth options was also encouraging.

The pair were to be put through their paces again today before Henry and assistant Wayne Smith decide who will mark Wallabies playmaker Matt Giteau.

Meanwhile, Tialata is hopeful of returning to the starting 15 in place of John Afoa after missing the patchy defeat of Italy in Christchurch on June 27 due to a neck problem.

Tialata sustained the injury during the Hurricanes' Super 14 semifinal loss to the Chiefs on May 22 and admitted it had hampered his performance during the tests against France.

He originally thought a badly timed tackle was simply a dead arm but after being put through the mill by French loosehead Fabien Barcella he had scans that revealed a bulging disc had stretched a nerve.

"It put me back a bit (against France) but now I have to accept I have a problem there and not think about it too much," he said.

"I just have to manage it, I'm around 80-85 per cent (fitness)."

Tialata admitted the injury had made him slightly tentative at the engagement - and his performance was criticised, particularly after the French pack was dominant in Dunedin.

"All you can do is take it (criticism) on board and keep performing," he said.

"I don't really mind, it makes you a better player. You can't take it to heart."

- NZPA