Mauger given tactical key against Boks

Chris Jack and Greg Somerville run into Piri Weepu during an All Blacks training run in Dunedin. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Midfielder Aaron Mauger has been identified as the All Blacks' crucial cog in their struggle to repel the Springboks rushing defence.

Mauger will be the All Blacks scout from set-play, the decision-maker responsible for tactics used by new first five-eighths Leon MacDonald to thwart the Bok onslaught at Carisbrook tomorrow.

From phase-play others may slip into the role of second receiver but from scrums and lineouts, assistant coach Wayne Smith said Mauger was to be the eyes and ears for the side's tactical reactions.

"The key person in your attack is second five because he has both the time and space to look and see what is happening, "said Smith.

"He is close to the outside backs so he can receive information and he is the only one with any real influence over the first five. First fives tend not to listen to anything outside the guy next to you so whoever is second receiver is a key person in the attack.

"Aaron, I would say is one of the best in the world in that role, at picking things up, understanding the implications on the game and communicating it but he is not always at second receiver."

MacDonald would need all the guidance he could get in his first test start in the No 10 jersey.

As the backline director he needed Mauger to give him solutions not problems and that was where Mauger had a huge responsibility in tomorrow's international.

"You've got to get used to 'this is what we are going to do' rather than 'they are standing deep' or 'they are coming up fast'.

"You want a call which is pretty direct and clear," Smith added.

Conditions are expected to be cold with some dew about at least and the All Blacks will need to modify their depth on attack and perhaps have a closer alignment as well to make certain their passes stick. Smith would not discuss any specific tactics but reiterated the intention to play to their strengths which suggests they are not going to button off on attempts to break the Boks' defensive stranglehold out wide.

Nor will they abandon the crossfield kicking which was unproductive at Newlands. It was a case, said Smith, of punting better. The All Blacks worked out after one game how to beat the Boks' defensive screens but it was still a work in progress getting the ball to areas where the All Blacks could convert.

The return of de Wet Barry to midfield had increased the defensive impact the Boks could generate.

While Smith acknowledged Barry's punishing hits, his analysis of Barry's last five tests did not indicate the midfielder was tackling dangerously or leaving space.

"I was hoping to see a weakness there but I think they have probably made a good decision," he said. "He is physical, he does tackle high but I did not see one that was penalisable or significantly high."

South Africa had shown some remarkable pugnacity in this year's Tri-Nations - a huge spirit which was not easy to break down. How long could they maintain that intensity? Probably as long, said Smith, as they were winning the collisions.

They thrived on the physical combat and if winning those exchanges, even without the ball, they would remain confident.