KEY POINTS:
Statements are often delivered like cliche confetti at World Cups.
But there was a detectable thumping message from All Black captain Richie McCaw as he spoke about his side's aims for their next match against Scotland in Edinburgh.
And there was an edge about their work at training
as the forwards whacked into the scrum machine under another broiling sun in Aix-en-Provence.
Two games gone - two romps against Italy and Portugal - it was time to ramp up the power against Scotland on Monday; time for the campaign to change gear.
"This will be a tougher challenge and we have got to get it right," McCaw said with a gritty determination as he also revealed he was "likely" to sign on soon to continue to play in New Zealand next year.
The All Blacks had not been satisfied with their set-piece work in the tournament, they had only two pool matches left to lift their levels and Scotland's large pack would gauge that necessary boost.
Just what the Scots needed to hear when they had three days less than the All Blacks to recover after they played their second pool game yesterday against Romania.
Quite how the Scots will respond with their selection for Monday is still speculation, although there has been a constant threat they will choose their alternate XV.
Not the All Blacks. They have been shorn of fullback Mils Muliaina and lock Keith Robinson because of injury, but have picked a near full-strength unit as another test case for their anticipated quarter-final in Cardiff.
"In the next five weeks we have got to be on top of our game all the way through," McCaw said.
The All Black captain said he had been surprised at the struggles of Ireland but thought France would still be a threat in this World Cup.
If the All Blacks happened to play them in the quarters they would worry about that clash then.
"We have just got to prepare well and win them all, I have not thought that far ahead just yet," he said. "It is better to settle on what we are doing."
That meant sorting out the Scots who would provide a strong physical response. The All Blacks have balanced their sharp practises with plenty of cross-training in canoes, biking, golfing and alternate workouts to keep them fresh.
Murrayfield on Monday was the time to get more specific.
Scotland have met the All Blacks five times in either World Cup pool matches or playoffs and have lost the lot. The closest was the third and fourth playoff in 1991 when the All Blacks battled to a 13-6 win.
Meanwhile, McCaw has reiterated a desire to stay put next year as the October 12 deadline looms for his signature with the New Zealand Rugby Union.
McCaw didn't want to discuss what the sticking points were yesterday, but admitted it would have been preferable to have had the issue settled before the All Blacks embarked on their World Cup campaign.
The 27-year-old hoped to have put pen to paper before the tournament quarter-finals.
He said it wasn't any sort of distraction as he prepares for this weekend's pool match against Scotland.
"Ideally it would have been done before now. That's why I get people at home to keep an eye on that and that'll be sorted in the next couple of weeks hopefully," he said.
McCaw has always said he wants to remain in New Zealand next year and when asked if that was still the case, simply replied: "Yep".
The International Rugby Board World Player of the Year in 2006, McCaw would be among the most prized targets of all the rich club owners in Europe.
Seven of the 30-strong New Zealand Cup squad have signed to play in Europe next year. They are lock Chris Jack (Saracens), halfback Byron Kelleher (Toulouse), second five-eighth Aaron Mauger (Leicester), prop Carl Hayman (Newcastle), hooker Anton Oliver (Toulon), winger Doug Howlett (Munster) and second five-eighth Luke McAlister (Sale).
- additional reporting NZPA
