KEY POINTS:
Canvass the World Cup aspirants and there is positive feedback about their physical conditioning.
"Hellish hard work" was the widespread assessment, but the greatest benefit was that the squad had regained their appetite for rugby.
All Black captain Richie McCaw said he was "absolutely knackered" each Friday but rugby-free weekends had been a huge boost in what loomed as a momentous season. It had been a welcome change to relax at the weekends, and had restored his mental freshness and enthusiasm.
Any thoughts of getting on the rugby treadmill or "here we go again" had been banished as the prospective All Blacks underwent their three-months conditioning schedule, designed to return them to Super 14 late next month.
Squad members who had been retested this week in Auckland were in good shape and any scepticism about missing the initial Super 14 games had been dispelled.
"We have noticed a significant improvement in their statistics," said team trainer Graham Lowe.
"The challenge is how we can maintain that improvement through the competitions and then reactivate it for the World Cup."
Coach Graham Henry was equally effusive, saying the break was a necessity. Some like Byron Kelleher had been on the rugby merry-go-round since 1999 without being able to do a serious conditioning programme.
"They are much more mentally stimulated and leading normal lives."
Many would have been "dead" during the World Cup if they had been involved in pre-season trial games, a full Super 14 programme and then the internationals, Henry said.
"This is a blessing in disguise, and I think there will be some remarkable results at the end of this."
McCaw said his typical week involved speed and endurance sessions, mixed with weight-training, Pilates, boxing, stretching, yoga, agility work, conditioning games and strongman competitions. The trick next month would be getting used to the contact needed to cope with match-hardened Super 14 players.
Lock/blindside flanker Jason Eaton said he had benefited from nutritional advice and gained 8kg. It had not been easy sitting out the Super 14 but the test results vindicated the decision to rest the All Blacks.
Halfback Piri Weepu had been on a different programme and had shed 8kg in his quest to get in better shape. "It's been very tough but worth it."
