Break after big test series could leave All Blacks rusty

Star first five-eighths Daniel Carter was on the injury list after the Lions series but is expected to be fit for the Tri-Nations. Picture / Brett Phibbs

The Springboks might have the wood on the All Blacks in terms of intelligence-gathering, but they could also be falling into the same trap which cost the Lions dearly.

That is the message from All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen days out from the reconvening of the test squad in Auckland.

South African coach Jake White has made nine changes and a positional switch for tomorrow's return Mandela Challenge match against Australia at Ellis Park.

While South Africa and Australia duke it out in three consecutive tests, the All Blacks are cooling their heels on the sidelines. Their first assignment in this year's Tri-Nations is against South Africa at Cape Town in a fortnight.

They will not have played for four weeks by then, and Hansen said tough training sessions in Auckland would aim to get the battle-hardness back into the players.

One of the sessions will involve local players providing opposition. The All Blacks leave for South Africa on Friday.

"The gap has been good, considering what we went through with the Lions," said Hansen.

"It takes a lot out of the players emotionally and physically, playing three big tests like that on consecutive weekends, which is why we're trying to increase the base of players.

"We always felt that, under the circumstances, it was ideal to give the players the opportunity to freshen up and work on niggles.

"You've got to weigh up the pros and cons, but it's better to go in a bit under-prepared and fresh, as opposed to over-prepared and stale.

"Clearly, though, we have got to get some physical training in that will replicate the style of playing before we leave, and then use the time in South Africa to freshen again so the players have a full tank come test time."

One disadvantage was that the All Blacks had to bring out their A game against the Lions, thus showing Australia and South Africa how they want to play.

"Just how much Australia and South Africa have done that in the two Mandela games is debatable. Maybe Australia did against France, but, certainly, South Africa is not showing as much as they did in last year's Tri-Nations.

"There is a trial look to what they are doing and he [White] is aware he needs to give everyone game time, and is playing his cards pretty close to the chest. We've just got to hope that it isn't helping their preparation, just how it didn't help the Lions."

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones is expecting a vastly different approach from the Springboks, who, he says play with far more panache - and less kicking - when they are at home.

Jones has likened the Springboks to soccer teams who take different approaches to home and away fixtures.

But the Springboks were labelled soft by dual Springbok/Wallaby loose forward Tiaan Strauss, who had delivered the South Africans' pre-match speech before their 30-12 defeat in Sydney.

Even their own coaching staff conceded the Springboks aimed tackles too high against the Wallabies, who exposed South Africa's problems against skilled sides who keep the ball in play and run the big Bok forwards around.

In turn, South Africa shot themselves in the foot by shovelling the ball across field without committing the defensive line.

But it still begged the question: What do the Springboks have up their sleeves?

The Tri-Nations champions have suddenly found themselves under siege and are expected to come out firing against the Wallabies, who often struggle in South Africa.

The Wallabies and Springboks open the Tri-Nations series in Pretoria next week, and by the time they play the All Blacks, the Springboks will be on their fourth test in five weekends.

Hansen believed the All Blacks were in good health, including Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Carl Hayman, who missed the final Lions test.

"But you only really know when you hit the training paddock."

* TRI-NATIONS

July 31: South Africa v Australia, Pretoria
August 7: South Africa v All Blacks, Cape Town
August 13: Australia v All Blacks, Sydney
August 20: Australia v South Africa, Perth
August 27: All Blacks v South Africa, Dunedin
September 3: All Blacks v Australia, Auckland

* ALL BLACKS

Backs: Dan Carter (Canterbury), Rico Gear (Nelson Bays), Byron Kelleher (Waikato), Luke McAlister (North Harbour), Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Aaron Mauger (Canterbury), Mils Muliaina (Auckland), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Tana Umaga (Wellington, captain), Piri Weepu (Wellington).

Forwards: John Afoa (Auckland), Jerry Collins (Wellington), Carl Hayman (Otago), Marty Holah (Waikato), Chris Jack (Canterbury), Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), James Ryan (Otago), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Ali Williams (Auckland), Derren Witcombe (Auckland), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).