All Blacks: Up in the air

Mils Muliaina will be seeking to make amends tonight. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The All Blacks face as much danger from themselves as they do from France if they are to square the test series tonight at the Cake Tin.

The despair of Carisbrook will have been gnawing away at them all week, testing their confidence and dominating their thoughts as they ponder their chances of retribution.

That, as much as the ability of the French, will be a threat for the All Blacks. They have to free themselves from the theory and instruction which will have been rammed at them all week and let their instincts flow.

If they over-think, over-analyse and over-manage their play, the All Blacks will suffocate their strengths. They have to let their normal game breathe.

Easier said than done when you are a test down in a two-test series and facing a French side whose confidence is increasing.

"I think we have to back ourselves a bit more," new No8 Kieran Read said.

"We have some exciting players and if we all play to our potential then a lot of good things could happen."

The All Blacks will be playing with many burdens though.

Selections have delivered a rearranged loose forward trio who may need time to gel, all the work this week on repairing the scrum may have taken the emphasis away from other areas while the smell of defeat and the anxiety of copping another will test some temperaments.

Meanwhile, like their victorious 1994 predecessors, the French will have been watching with some amusement how the demands of the rugby public have been encircling the All Blacks. The French are only under pressure to perform well again.

They would like to emulate their countrymen of 15 years ago but hell will not freeze over if they miss out. They have already exceeded some expectations by winning at Carisbrook, they have boosted the coaching kudos of Marc Lievremont, they have raised their self-esteem.

If they play well but finish second, the French will accept the benefits of this tour to New Zealand. They have less heat on them and that may make them an even more dangerous side tonight.

Many of their side are young, they are on their way up the French rugby ladder and will see tonight as a gilt-edged chance to push their claims for a return to our shores in two years time for the World Cup.

Meanwhile those wearing the black jersey may ponder their tenure in the famous strip if they come second tonight.

Their reaction to this adversity will be the most fascinating part of this test. Will they open methodically as they should have in Dunedin, playing the percentages to get into a first quarter rhythm before testing their more exotic strategies?

A barometer of the All Blacks' intensity will be shown in their defence. It was way too sloppy for an international side in Dunedin. Francois Trinh-Duc left all three loose forwards and fullback Mils Muliaina flailing on the deck when he scored and hooker William Servat plopped over through some soft close defence.

The next check will be at the scrum to see whether Neemia Tialata and his crew have sorted out their chores. Set piece coach Mike Cron admitted they were out of sync a week ago but those failings had been remedied this week. If the deeds match the words then the backline should get faster possession and a fraction more time to make their plays.

Five-eighths Stephen Donald has been a longtime member of Waikato and the Chiefs who use the rush defence to squeeze their rivals. He should also have a working knowledge on how to unlock that defensive system which France threw so effectively last week at the All Blacks.

Crosskicks, grubbers, width on passes to blindside wings - Donald needs to mix up his answers as do his cohorts who all looked a little mesmerised as they tried to unlock the puzzles provided by sloppy possession at Carisbrook.

There is heat on everywhere, for the coaching staff and the players. It is a fine line.

Victory will assuage some of the criticism and the All Blacks' acceptance of their defects a week ago while defeat, and especially one without substance, will create more doubt about the selections and test quality of a number in this group.

Who wins? Two mediocre teams, toss of the coin with the desperation of the All Blacks edging out the visitors.