Rugby: Defence the priority for All Blacks

The All Blacks coaching staff are putting an early priority on defence as their preparations begin. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks' defence is emerging as a priority as they begin preparations for a momentous year which will end with an attempt to retain the World Cup.

There are 12 players missing from the Hurricanes and five from the Highlanders due to those teams' involvement in the Super Rugby playoffs, but the remainder of the 41-player squad, plus extras in halfback Brad Weber, prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi and midfielder George Moala, have gathered for the preliminary messages in this year of all years.

The medical, training and logistics staff have been heavily involved as usual at the start of a campaign, but one theme in terms of playing performance has already emerged - how the All Blacks defend.

Coach Steve Hansen said today that Wayne Smith, back as an assistant coach at the All Blacks for the first time since the World Cup final of October, 2011, has already made a presentation on defence, one that he delivered with his usual enthusiasm.

And when asked about where he wanted to take the All Blacks' game for the two-month tournament in England which starts in September, Hansen was unequivocal.

"There's been a plan from day one and part of that plan was making sure we've got an attacking game we're really comfortable with," he said. "Obviously you've got to keep adding to that otherwise you become predictable, and hence that's probably why our defence hasn't been a big priority... now we've got Smithy back so there will be a little shift over to that side and let's see if we can sharpen up our defence.

"We know we can't sit on the game we've got. If we do that then someone's going to go past us like a shot."

No 8 Kieran Read, likely to have an increased leadership role this year as skipper Richie McCaw prepares for retirement, said of Smith: "He's got a great analytical mind and he brings that to his defence.

"There are subtle variances that Smithy wants us to use. That's probably an area we can improve on as a team.

"He presented us a little bit of stuff to us yesterday. He keeps it pretty lean and he had a few ideas and it was really the basics yesterday, an overview of where we want to head, but they're important messages."

One only has to go back to the 2011 World Cup final - an 8-7 victory to the All Blacks - to see the importance of defence at the tournament and clearly Hansen is expecting a similar grind in the knockout matches of this year's edition.

The All Blacks will re-assemble next week to begin specific preparations for the Samoa test in Apia on July 8, an historic test which is likely to see a return for halfback Andy Ellis. However, his Crusaders teammate Israel Dagg, who has been struggling with a calf problem, may not play in Apia due to his lack of game time over the last 12 weeks.

So while these are early days in 2015 for the All Blacks, many of whom haven't even gathered yet, there is no getting away from the end goal.

"We can't hide from the fact that it's Rugby World Cup year," Hansen said. "It is the big prize at the end of it. At the same time, while we're really excited about that, we're probably more excited about being back together as a group and then laying the foundations. It's in the back of your mind and it's probably moved to the front of it... but there are still things we have to do immediately and they're the main focus."