Favourites and the world's in-form team they may be, but the All Blacks understand just where they lie in Melbourne's priority list this week.
The team has wiped Friday's scheduled captain's run from the slate after Etihad Stadium organisers said the ground needed to be free for the afternoon ahead of an AFL game that night.
The goal-kickers would be given access to the stadium on Friday, but would likely be taking their pot-shots at AFL poles: meaning no crossbar.
The captain's run will instead be on Thursday, meaning they will have only a limited perception of how it will be to play in the vast cavern under a closed roof, and meaning they will only then be able to get a feel for the pitch which has been much-criticised this week for the instability of the turf.
All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith revealed the players had been advised to change their boots from the now preferred blade-type sole to traditional sprigs which should allow better grip.
He downplayed the changes to the All Blacks buildup, saying the captain's run was more a case of getting a feel for the venue rather than a normal practice.
"We will make an appearance there," Smith said.
"The captain's run doesn't really matter where you train. We were going to have the captain's run at a different venue and just have a walkover (at Etihad). The goalkickers are going there for a bit of a kick."
A similar conundrum faced the team for Monday's training at Trinity Grammar School. The team practiced on an Aussie Rules oval and had to mark out their own rugby field - with no rugby goalposts.
"We are just grassroots rugby players from simple backgrounds. We can handle it," laughed a diplomatic Smith.
"It was a great pitch we trained on. So there was nothing wrong there ... we marked it out like a rugby field. It's a pretty good surface."
Meanwhile, a decision has not yet been made on whether Piri Weepu will definitely return ot the starting XV after missing a few days to be in Wellington for the birth of his daughter.
planetrugby.com
26/07/2010
