KEY POINTS:
The All Blacks have been playing drinking games in the build-up to Saturday's Rugby World Cup opener against Italy in Marseilles.
They have been having boat races and sculling back drinks, but all is not as it seems. The tipples were merely water. It was all part of a team building exercise at this morning's training session and also involved a game of tug of war.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks are doing their best to come to grips with the French language. The team has an interpreter, but hooker Keven Mealamu said it is important they make an effort with the locals.
"Someone was saying to me just stick to the bons because there are a lot of things that go with it, 'bon voyage,' and 'bonjour'. So if you can work on your bons, it shouldn't be too bad," he said.
The All Blacks may have to pull out all the stops tomorrow when they have lunch with French soccer legend Zinidine Zidane, who does not speak English.
- NEWSTALK ZB
