KEY POINTS:
Breaking the world record for consecutive test rugby wins on home soil should have no bearing on the All Blacks' World Cup campaign. Theoretically.
Yet recent history shows such a streak may be the springboard for long-awaited Cup success.
Graham Henry's men will stretch their unbeaten test run
at home to 23 if, as expected, they beat the depleted French in the second test at Westpac Stadium here on Saturday.
It will come at the same ground and nearly four years to the day since they were last toppled on New Zealand turf, 15-13 by England.
That very same English outfit were in the midst of their own golden period at the time, an undefeated record of 22 tests at Twickenham which is now set to fall.
Their coach Sir Clive Woodward and captain Martin Johnson remain adamant that banking such an enormous deposit of success in the leadup gave them confidence and momentum -- ultimately translating into triumph at the 2003 World Cup.
The All Blacks could yet take an unbroken home record of 26 with them to France, with tests here still to be played against Canada, South Africa and Australia.
The record run, which has seen a mix of indifferent and decisive All Blacks' displays, began in the most emphatic manner.
A week after the humbling loss to England, then-coach John Mitchell made eight changes for his team to face Steve Hansen's Wales at Hamilton.
One to make his debut that night at second five-eighth was a bright-eyed Daniel Carter, who scored 20 points as the hosts humiliated the Welsh 55-3.
Carter has since carved out of a glittering career.
Yet pinning the All Blacks' imperious home run on the Canterbury playmaker is too easy -- even if he has been a matchwinner more than any other player.
Quite simply, the All Blacks have transformed into one of the genuinely strong teams of the modern era -- at least the equal of England in their pomp.
Under Henry, they have developed depth and all-round strengths which can adapt to whatever conditions prevail for the ubiquitous 7.35pm mid-winter kickoffs.
There's no doubt New Zealand are at an advantage against tired, under-manned northern hemisphere opposition who arrive at the end of long European seasons.
Indeed, the closest the All Blacks have come to losing is to Tri-Nations rivals South Africa, with last-gasp tries needed to down them at Christchurch in 2004 and in Dunedin a year later.
Among the 22 wins to date, three could be singled out as the most memorable:
- A comprehensive 36-3 thrashing of world champions England at Dunedin in 2004 to kickstart the Henry coaching era.
- Led by Carter, a 48-18 second-test demolition of the Lions at Wellington to seal the 2005 series.
- Pipping South Africa 31-27 in Dunedin that same year through a last-ditch try to Keven Mealamu. That night the All Blacks unveiled their Kapa O Pango haka.
Ironically the three players most heavily involved in New Zealand's winning streak are not starting this weekend -- fullback Mils Muliaina, lock Chris Jack and hooker Mealamu. Muliaina and Jack have played in 21 of the 22 tests.
France manager Jo Maso, who tasted three defeats on the 1968 French tour here, said winning in New Zealand was traditionally the stiffest task in world rugby.
Little had changed, in fact it had only become harder.
"Professional rugby works better here than anywhere else," Maso said.
"All the details work very, very well.
"They always have great players. When I came there was Colin Meads, Brian Lochore, (Ian) Kirkpatrick, (Kel) Tremain.
"Now all the Polynesian players are brought into the team. They are extraordinary players who bring great skill."
New Zealand have the best historical home strike rate of any nation, at better than 80 per cent, having won 163 of 203 tests. Six have been drawn and 34 lost.
New Zealand's previous unbeaten home runs of 16 (1987- 90) and 18 (1994-98) are the envy of most other nations. Only England's golden run and France, who enjoyed a 17-test unbeaten streak from 2001-04, can compete.
Yet it is overseas, in France in October to be precise, where Henry and his men face their ultimate test.
ALL BLACKS HOME RECORD
Best unbeaten home run for leading nations:
22: England 1999-2003, New Zealand 2003-07 (unbroken)
17: France 2001-2004
14: Wales 1973-78
13: Scotland 1989-91, South Africa 2004-06 and 1994-96
11: Australia 1985-87
9: Ireland 2003-05
All Blacks' unbeaten run results:
2003: Wales 55-3 at Hamilton, France 31-23 at Christchurch, South Africa 19-11 at Dunedin, Australia 21-17 at Auckland
2004: England 36-3 at Dunedin, England 36-12 at Auckland, Argentina 41-7 at Hamilton, Pacific Islanders 41-26 at Albany, Australia 16-7 at Wellington, South Africa 23-21 at Christchurch
2005: Fiji 91-0 at Albany, British and Irish Lions 21-3 at Christchurch, Lions 48-18 at Wellington, Lions 38-19 at Auckland, South Africa 31-27 at Dunedin, Auckland 34-24 at Auckland
2006: Ireland 34-23 at Hamilton, Ireland 27-17 at Auckland, Australia 32-12 at Christchurch, South Africa 35-17 at Wellington, Australia 34-27 at Auckland
2007: France 42-11 at Auckland
Most involved players in unbeaten run (minutes played in brackets):
21 tests: Mils Muliaina (1581), Chris Jack (1542)
19: Keven Mealamu (1370)
17: Joe Rokocoko (1360)
16: Tana Umaga (1249)
15: Jerry Collins (1067), Richie McCaw (1054), Ali Williams (953)
14: Doug Howlett (1120), Daniel Carter (1039)
Best New Zealand unbeaten runs at home
22: 2003-07 (unbroken)
18: 1994-98
16: 1987-90
11: 1982-86, 1965-69
10: 1961-64
- NZPA
