All Blacks raise intensity

By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE - Stuff.co.nz

The All Blacks squeezed in a bit of extra training on Wednesday but the coaching staff are also wary of information overload on their young charges immersed in a game of catchup with France.

A morning practice and a goalkicking session in the afternoon have kept the All Blacks busy in their quest to try to square the series in Wellington on Saturday night after last weekend's shocker in Dunedin.

"We are trying to raise the bar and raise the intensity this week as we should be," was how assistant coach Wayne Smith explained the extra work, adding that Monday had been disrupted by head coach Graham Henry attending a funeral.

And there was no shortage of work to be done - bolstering defensive systems that leaked three tries at Carisbrook, boosting attacking options against the French rush defence, invigorating the chase game to go with the field kicking and generally getting more aggressive in both the forwards and backs divisions.

But with so many new players involved as injuries bite deep into the All Blacks stocks, Smith said there was also a need to keep things simple.

"They are under the pump now with the public," he said, clearly understanding the national disappointment with last week's effort.

"These guys have lived their lives trying to be All Blacks. They know what it means when they get there. Our job is to keep them excited, enthusiastic and learning ... coaching is an art rather than a science.

"At the end of the day it's a green rectangle they are playing on just like it is in their home town - that's our philosophy. They are great rugby players they have just got to put it into the international arena."

Smith is enjoying the challenge that comes with trying to knock this new bunch of players into shape.

"You get groups of players in from diverse teams from diverse styles and you just have to work with them and stamp your style, get excitement around it and keep improving," he said of blending Super 14 players from different franchises into the test squad.

"It's not a problem, it's just a challenge.

"There's no magic wand. I have been in this game a long time and you just have to work with people, help them improve, and concentrate on the process."

He had no doubt that the challenge would go up this weekend with the French tinkering with their winning side, making three changes to the starting XV - placing Sebastien Chabal at lock, Nicholas Mas at tighthead and exciting youngster Maxime Mermoz at centre.

"Chabal is a high impact player who makes his mark on a game," said Smith, stating the obvious. He had high regard for Mermos after watching his performances in the French championship playoffs.

Mermos plays for Dan Carter's Perpignan club and the Smith had spoken with his injured star about the centre and other players. That information would be passed on and backed up by the usual video analysis but Smith added: "The players have to do their own homework, we can't spoon-feed these guys."