KEY POINTS:
As England's misery built with an allegation of sexual impropriety against four members of the group, the tourists and the All Blacks tried to focus on this weekend's final test at Christchurch.
It was a clandestine day from the tourists and minders before Richard Smith, QC, entered the
room but not the fray, offering a no comment to any questions after interim coach Rob Andrew read out a brief statement again. Once Andrew repeated his earlier statement that no formal complaint had been laid against members of his side, he added a brief comment.
"And I would just add, can I simply add, the players concerned have the complete support of all players and management," he said.
"I am sure you will understand and respect the fact that no further comment can be made or questions asked of either myself or the players on this matter."
The latest upheaval follows a heavy 37-20 inflicted on them by the All Blacks last Saturday and earlier accusations of heavy midweek drinking by a group including massive prop Andy Sheridan who has been invalided out of this test with a serious wound under his left eye.
Sheridan is the sole absentee in the pack, replaced by Tim Payne, while the selectors have been far more ruthless in making five backline changes as they work towards their next July 1 squad announcement.
That severe culling of the backs reflects the poor opening test performance of the inside backs and the physical threat posed by the All Blacks in that area of the field.
Toby Flood and Jamie Noon have been brought in by England to shore up that inside backs defence although it is felt that may be just a holding pattern and offer even less on attack for the tourists.
It seems odd that England are now in an experimental stage but Andrew said these short tours were all about putting some under further scrutiny.
"We have had a three or four-week get together which has given [assistant coaches] John Wells and Graham Roundtree a chance to work with them, gathering information all the time and trying to make selections for a test match that we believe we can win," Andrew said.
"We were disappointed in the way and the manner we allowed New Zealand to score some fairly soft points at international level," he added.
"And if we can match them in that area and improve in one or two other areas that we have identified then we are looking to go into this game to try and win it."
Defensive coach Mike Ford accepted there had been defensive system errors and individual mistakes. Any ideas about variety on attack would probably have to give way to solidity on defence.
"We have to front up and defend against these guys at the weekend. We have got to be with them to stand any chance of winning and to do that you have got to defend," he added.
Forwards coach John Wells said there were still questions about the England pack but they had acquitted themselves well for most of the opening test and deserved another chance.
Lock Tom Palmer was a strong example. A review of the video suggested he completed a great deal of graft, ruck clearances and tackles.
"He matched his New Zealand counterparts, many who were far more experienced. The backrow was a quality effort against very experienced men. We need to see if we can back up with even better performances against a fully-informed New Zealand team."
Andrew said he was not confused at all by the selections.
"It is very important that we get them right," he said.
"Because it is something over the last three or four years I think we have all seen and accepted, that quite frankly too many players have played for England over that period of time and that is something we have to move away from," he said. The All Blacks had their concerns about the bulk of the pack playing three consecutive tests while the only rotation came in the backline. If winning was a priority it was not possible to change the locks or captain Richie McCaw, whose leadership was critical and improving in every match.
"We're trying to bring in [Anthony] Boric as a substitution to get the experience locking scrums," coach Graham Henry said.
"He hasn't had a lot of experience at locking at the level below so it is an ease-in process and a lot of work on him at training and hopefully he will get quite a bit of gametime at the weekend. We just want to start with experience and hopefully bring the other guy on to give him some experience as the game goes on."
"We also think Neemia [Tialata] has earned his place by right and Woody will go about earning it back," said Hansen.
Injured halfback Brendon Leonard was better in the camp undergoing his rehab. He probably needed to play some rugby soon but a Tri-Nations start was still very debatable.
