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1956
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Momentum vital as All Blacks hit the road
James Mortimer
It has been a wonderful start to the season for the All Blacks, winning seven from seven and putting themselves in an almost unassailable position to win their tenth Investec Tri Nations crown.
Most boxes have been ticked and there would be little substance to an argument against the fact that Richie McCaw and his men are back on top of the world.
They have not lost on New Zealand soil since losing 32-29 to the Springboks, and surely one of the key objectives was to keep their enviable home record (183 wins from 226 tests – 81%) intact a year out from hosting the World Cup.
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Seven tests on the road, one in South Africa, one in Sydney, one in Asia, and then a Grand Slam tour that will be challenging as the home nations would dearly love to take an All Blacks scalp to build their own momentum coming into 2011.
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NZ will play strongest team in Soweto
New Zealand coach Graham Henry has said he will resist the temptation to experiment with his squad until after their trip to South Africa.
The All Blacks have all but regained the Tri-Nations crown following four crushing wins over the world's second and third-best sides.
And, with just a single point needed from their clash against the Springboks in Johannesburg next Saturday, the urge to blood new players in preparation for next year's World Cup is strong.
But Henry said that the selection panel are still haunted by last year's thumping losses to eventual Tri-Nations champions South Africa.
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New Zealand have notched up thirteen successive victories with their current battle-hardened lineup.
And last week's 20-10 Bledisloe Cup victory over Australia in Christchurch saw the All Blacks equal their record nine-game winning streak against the Wallabies.
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The All Blacks face South Africa at Soweto's National Stadium on August 21.
And Henry expects the Springboks to be a completely different side on home soil to the one that sank to three straight defeats during their Australia and New Zealand tour.
The New Zealand coach believes that opposite number Peter de Villiers will go back to basics after the intense criticism his Springbok side has drawn back home over the last two weeks.
"They will be extremely physical, they will try and bully us and I think they will revert to what has been successful for them in the past," he said.
"They will play a big field position game, they will put a lot of pressure on us with their kicks to try and get into position where they can kick goals and drive lineouts in the 22.
"This game is what the All Blacks need now. Once this test is over and depending on the result, we may have more freedom for some of the guys who need to play international rugby."
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Cowan cleared to tour
New Zealand scrum-half Jimmy Cowan passed a fitness test on Thursday and is now free to tour South Africa.
Cowan had been suffering from a rib cartilage injury suffered against Australia in Melbourne a fortnight ago, with Piri Weepu taking his place and excelling in his absence.
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