KEY POINTS:
Distractions have increased for the All Blacks as they head for the third episode in their Grand Slam quest.
At a stage of the tour when minds and limbs are growing weary from travel and training, when there have been injury and judicial distractions, when thoughts turn to home, family, diet changes and summer, the All Blacks have to push through the final stages of this trip. Starting with Wales tomorrow in Cardiff.
Wales have made gains, they are the Six Nations champions, they have a very demanding coach in Warren Gatland, they want some All Black blood to mix with that last shed in Cardiff 55 years ago. It is the sort of stain Wales want to regain.
They want to emulate the All Black model, to push towards the levels of consistent excellence and results which have permeated New Zealand's rugby history.
The hosts may have gone some way towards conquering their mental woes - though a look at their two outings this year against the Springboks and Canada were not great indicators - but the question is whether they have the muscle and acumen to make the next strides.
Most rugby pundits in the Northern Hemisphere believe Wales, like their regular test foes, are still playing at a level below that which the black invaders can muster regularly. They may have conquered the mental blocks which used to afflict them but they still have a skill and combination deficit.
Individuals like Shane Williams, Ryan Jones and Andy Powell have great credentials, but too often it has been as solo performers and for Welsh supporters, they have been too dormant this year.
It could change, they could gather the venom they did when Graham Henry paid his first return visit in 2004 as All Black coach. But for a late Joe Rokocoko try - sounds familiar this week - Richie McCaw's first outing as All Black captain would have coincided with a loss to Wales.
Eight of that All Black mob return tomorrow and the same number who smelt the cold stench of World Cup rejection last year at the Millennium Stadium, move back into the international fray in that arena. McCaw said he had not given that match any thought ahead of tomorrow, that this was a new era.
But pictures in the local newspaper this week of McCaw grasping lock Ali Williams in despair after the calamitous 18-20 loss to France, and the All Black skipper still in despair at media briefings long after the game, are images that hurt most New Zealanders.
To fall tomorrow would be equally grievous. That desolate feeling was four minutes away for the All Blacks in Limerick midweek and the senior players should have felt, digested and made a pact that similar tremors would not befall them in Cardiff.
Their form has threatened without ever quite exploding.
They regrouped in the second half against the Wallabies while a withering scoring burst against Ireland did the job at Croke Park.
This time, the All Blacks have to ignore the front row injuries, illness and judicial appearance, and the potential questions about the health of Tony Woodcock and Neemia Tialata, just as Wales have to dispense with any historical burdens.
This test is all about who fronts to all the issues and conditions - with the roof likely to be shut because of adverse weather forecasts - until referee Jonathan Kaplan blows fulltime. Nothing more.
The All Blacks brought a whopping 36 players to start with on this tour, including one-stop wonder Greg Somerville, and have called for two replacements - and perhaps a third now - for injuries. Next they will be whistling Somerville back again as cover for the England test at Twickenham.
The All Blacks have to press Wales early, make them chase the match. Much of their kicking in earlier tests may have been a dress-rehearsal in how to beat the blitz defence which Wales is likely to employ. Both Daniel Carter and Stephen Donald seem to have embraced the ploy excessively but it may be aimed at Wales' tactics.
First though, the damage has to come up front. Less of the froth, more of the accurate bludgeon. "Mash them early" must be the call, set some targets, rumble through the sets until the defences sag, hit them with the Ma'a Nonu invasions, then recycle-and-shift to the speed merchants.
Wales may feel a new dawn but the All Blacks should reawaken to reapply their historical chokehold.
