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All Blacks start ten test countdown to World Cup
by James Mortimer - (22/08/2010)
A Grand Slam attempt and a shortened Investec 2011 Tri Nations are all that remain as the All Blacks begin what is effectively a 10-test countdown to their first World Cup match against Tonga.
That game, the opening encounter of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, played on September 9, will see the All Blacks - as it stands - likely begin the tournament as warm favourites.
Preparations will now switch to the secondary area of development for the team, now that the on-going primary goal of the team has been achieved.
Unbeaten in 2010, with the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup secure, Richie McCaw and his men, currently on a 14 test winning streak, are setting all the neccessary platforms in place for next year; irrespective of talk of early peaking and the like.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry has nominated two key aspects that are all important to the team, with winning and producing results the key focus for him and the side.
The 29-22 win was Henry's 73rd test win since assuming command of the All Blacks, to keep his winning percentage impressively high at 85.9 percent.
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The All Blacks will play England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales to attempt the Slam, while they will play the Wallabies in Hong Kong in what could be the last "neutral" Bledisloe with the calendar filling up with an extended Super rugby tournament and Tri Nations in the coming years.
While no doubt the first goal will be to achieve test wins and perhaps for just the fourth time in history record a touring sweep of the Home Nations, Henry said that there will be room for development on the All Blacks end of year tour.
"We'll take 30 players on the end-of-year tour and we want to make sure they get an opportunity to develop on that tour, so they need to play and we've got five test matches.
"After that we've got a truncated Tri Nations where we play home and away against Australia and South Africa, then two weeks later we're into the world cup."
"The Tri Nations next year will be about building the team and trying to get better with each game you play, so that you reach the world cup in good shape. That's what I think will be the major focus of the Tri Nations next year."
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