Rusty start for All Blacks but we'll take that

Troy Flavell celebrates his try against the Irish in his successful return to All Black rugby. Picture / Dean Purcell

Halfback Byron Kelleher has been cleared of concussion, and the All Black selectors are suggesting few changes for the second test against Ireland on Saturday.

Kelleher did not complain of any side-effects yesterday when he was reassessed after being replaced during the 34-23 opening test win at Hamilton.

Assistant coach Steve Hansen said Kelleher's greatest problem had been blurred vision rather than any concussion.

There was no plan to call in anyone as cover, nor did there appear to be any other injury worries, although that would become clearer when the squad trained at Trusts Stadium, Waitakere.

The second-test team will be announced tomorrow, and Hansen said he did not envisage many changes for the Eden Park match.

Further analysis of the international at Hamilton confirmed most of the "gut feelings" he had after the match.

"We were pretty ordinary at lineout time, very good at scrum time, we allowed ourselves to be slowed down at the breakdown and therefore creating timing issues," he said.

"We probably played too deep in the backline at times as well. But we still won the game. We got all the lessons of a loss but not the big pain of it."

The All Blacks selectors were glad they used the Richie McCaw/Marty Holah combination, a plan that had to be tested.

Some parts were good, but the side also suffered with a smaller lineout. It was a matter of getting the balance correct.

Despite the lineout troubles, there was no move to introduce Anton Oliver. Hookers always seem to carry the blame for the woes but any problems were the responsibility of every forward.

Everyone had to work hard at creating space and some of the All Blacks' inexperience showed when they got rattled.

Ireland had a powerful lineout, they competed well, they were able to put pressure throughout the line and also work on the referee.

It was clear that the involvement of those in the Super 14 playoffs affected their contribution at Hamilton. The extra matches, the more physical nature of the series and the extra travel all had an effect.

They had not had the break they needed for reconditioning and recovery.

This week the All Black management and coaching staff face a taxing timetable, with the squad to travel to Argentina also arriving in Auckland.

The coaches will run alternate sessions for both the All Black squads before the one to play the Pumas, under the captaincy of Jerry Collins, leaves for Buenos Aires.