Manu Samoa will hope to ask a few questions of the All Blacks tomorrow night and answer a few questions of themselves.
They are of course rank underdogs in their first test at Eden Park against the All Blacks in 24 years - the All Blacks will look to put at least a 30-point margin on them - but some of those questions might be: can debutant Kieron Fonotia and Alapati Leiua become a compatible midfield combination for the Manu, and can Faatiga Lemalu and Chris Vui offer the grunt and lineout authority they seek from their second-rowers? Can Albert Nikoro land a long-range bomb from his half?
It would be foolhardy in the extreme for Samoa to try and take the All Blacks on at set-piece, so watch for short lineouts, quick lineouts, and swiftly clearing ball from the scrum. Prop Census Johnston is a wily old customer, who has retired at least once, but he will still want to make his presence felt on Joe Moody.
"The boys know they are playing the best team in the world and they know if they don't get it right it's going to be a long day. We have to be smart. But the All Blacks are the All Blacks. They are very good at picking weaknesses," says Manu Samoa coach Alama Ieremia, who has lent on Richard Watt, Dan Cron and Grant Henson to come up with strategies for the pack to trouble the All Blacks.
"The set-piece is always contestable for us... the forwards will definitely have their work cut out, but it's an exciting challenge for them," he adds.
