Back >>

Back up vital for New Zealand

Seething anger was a driving force behind the All Blacks emphatic victory over the Springboks in Auckland but Conrad Smith summed up how unflattering it will be if New Zealand does not perform in Wellington this week.

Monday, 12 July 2010

Sportal.co.nz

Seething anger was a driving force behind the All Blacks emphatic victory over the Springboks in Auckland but Conrad Smith summed up how unflattering it will be if New Zealand does not perform in Wellington this week.

"Good teams back it up the same way they did last year," Smith, an important cog in a maturing All Blacks machine, said.

The All Blacks had 350 days to stew over their first lost to South Africa in 2009 – and there were to be two more.

Smith said that's where New Zealand had derived its aggression in every facet from and the 32-12 win would be one entrenched in the memory.

"It's one I'll savour in the black jersey. I love playing the Africans," he said.

The 29-year-old believed the All Blacks would have to find a new kind of inspiration this week as South Africa would be the hungry hunter.

"They'll be the ones with the intensity. They'll be hurting - just like we were this whole time after the results last year. It'll be a massive challenge to put in that performance again. It's going to be a totally different game. They'll have all the motivation," the battered and bruised 36-Test Wellington centre said.

In the lead up to the Test, the All Blacks played down the significance of the now 22-match unbeaten record at fortress Eden Park. Smith hinted the venue was a trump card New Zealand had up its sleeve for next year.

"When you're used to succeeding at a ground there is a confidence you carry," he said.

"I love the place. Even with the Hurricanes when the crowd's cheering against me it's awesome. When they fill the ground with the shell, it's going to be an amazing atmosphere. The noise was awesome and it's only going to get better."

The fast-paced nature of the new laws meant the ball was in play more and that suited the All Blacks attacking style, Smith said.

No.8 Kieran Read was at the heart of the physical domination imposed on the Boks heavyweight pack. He said aggression, desire and accuracy led to the All Blacks superiority at scrums, lineouts and in the clean outs.

"Anyone can act as a halfback," Read said. "The quicker the ruck ball is the more holes there are to exploit out wide as defenders are stretched and still recovering from the last phase."

Smith foreshadowed what challenge was now infront of the world champions.

"It's amazing what results can do for your confidence," Smith said of the All Blacks 10 consecutive Test victories. "Things work and suddenly the game seems easy and there's options. Coming off a loss the pressure's on and it seems like nothing's on. The mental thing is a massive side of the game."

Back >>