KEY POINTS:
CARDIFF - The All Blacks are pretty sure France are not foxing about their stated desire to kick the ball to all corners of Millennium Stadium.
So they will adjust accordingly for Sunday's (NZT) rugby World Cup quarterfinal here.
Step forward fullback Leon MacDonald and wingers Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu, who will be on high alert for counter-attacking chances, but not so keen to engage in kicking duels with opponents who have been selected for their prodigious boots.
MacDonald was excited about linking with the Fijian-born flyers for the first time since the record 61-10 thumping of the second-rate French tourists at Wellington in June.
The stakes are far greater on Sunday but that will not stop Rokocoko and Sitiveni playing the unstructured style that makes them so hard to defend against.
"They've got a licence to pop up anywhere," MacDonald said.
"We see Siti taking the ball at 10 a lot and just arriving all over the show.
"I think that's brilliant for the team.
"Both wingers have an amazing rugby game and natural talent. They've got great anticipation and hands."
MacDonald believes there is little risk of anyone in the New Zealand team suddenly clamming up when the game they have all been waiting for finally rolls around.
"I suppose if someone gets too nervous it can paralyse the team but I think we're excited about the challenge," MacDonald said.
"We're not apprehensive and we're not bogged down and worried about it, we want to get out there and play.
"We've been training for this moment for a long time. The game can't come round quick enough for us."
Rokocoko, who pipped the in-form Doug Howlett for the right wing berth, suspects it will be a stretch for France to suddenly change the habit of a tournament.
Their only try in the two-test series in France last November came via an up-and-under early in the 11-23 loss at Paris which MacDonald spilled.
"In the past few games they've gone for their go-to bomb," Rokocoko said of the increasingly-conservative French.
"It's pretty much work the bomb and feed off mistakes.
"That's one thing we can't afford, little mistakes from not catching high balls on the full."
Rokocoko remembered how frustrated the All Blacks forwards became durin g that Paris test as the kick-happy hosts failed to engage them.
"Guys like Jerry (Collins) like to run around and make a few tackles and he didn't get to do that," Rokocoko said.
"Obviously we're expecting a similar sort of gameplan but they can always change that. This is quarterfinals rugby."
Rokocoko is New Zealand's leading tryscorer in tests against France, with eight from six appearances .
A man who thought he may have a bigger role to play in the back three this weekend is Mils Muliaina, who instead is restored at centre.
Of the 22 All Blacks in action, Muliaina is headed off only by locks Keith Robinson and Ali Williams for the smallest playing workload this year.
Two Super 14 appearances for the Chiefs were his only first-class domestic games of 2007 while injuries had impacted on his All Blacks output as well.
Muliaina has subsequently spent ample time in the gym, one of his least-favoured places, but has noticed the physical benefits.
"I've been able to sustain 93kg. Usually at this time of year I'm struggling to push 90kg," he said.
"I've eaten a lot more than what I used to."
- NZPA
