Astute All Blacks looking beyond scoreline

Match against Canada all about building towards place in the knockout rounds

Publicly at least, the All Blacks could be on a hiding to nothing in their second World Cup pool match. The top ranked team against Canada, world No 22, necessitates a blowout is expected by everyone.

Anything less and New Zealand’s anxiety beads will no doubt come out in force.

Oita’s impressive roofed stadium, which will host two quarter-finals and remain closed for kickoff in this match unless a typhoon off the Japanese coast changes course, only fuels potential for the All Blacks to run rampant.

Canada did, after all, lose to Italy by 41 points last week.

Steve Hansen naming a much stronger side than many expected also gives rise for a potential record margin against the Canadians.

For the All Blacks, though, this twogame block, with Namibia to follow four days later, is about everything other than the scoreline.

As Hansen stressed at this same point four years ago, the pool stages are about forming gradual growth steps.

That’s why the All Blacks retained Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett, to give their twin playmakers more time to hone their combination with those around them.

It’s also why they have roomed together this week.

“It’s given us a good chance to talk about things that aren’t related to footy,” Mo’unga said. “It all helps when you’re on the field to create a special bond, a friendship, so we can trust each other and we’re confident in what we’re trying to do.”

The challenges heat and extreme humidity are having here is widely evident.

This alone is where the All Blacks should soak up lessons.

Scotland’s 34-0 victory over Samoa suggests this was a cakewalk but the handling in that match in Kobe was terrible due to the sweat on hands, arms and the ball.

Elsewhere we’ve seen the success Japan had in their stirring upset of Ireland. Playing at such a furious pace, passing at every opportunity and chasing width throughout, Japan left Ireland out on their feet in the final quarter.

This is where the All Blacks are attempting to evolve their game too.

A 10-day gap between their opening win over the Springboks has allowed the All Blacks to endure heavy conditioning sessions in these foreign conditions.

Other than individuals seeking to impress, Canada presents another chance to grow their collective understanding of what could prove successful later in the tournament.

“We’ve got to keep building combinations and the tactical side of our game,” All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster said. “We’ve got to learn about the conditions in this country. The Canadian game gives us a fantastic opportunity to try and grow where we are at.”

So, sure, it’s fine to expect the All Blacks to dominate Canada in a fashion they would any New Zealand provincial side.

But perhaps look a little closer at what they’re trying to achieve and ponder how that could work against, say, Ireland in a quarter-final.

There’s always more than meets the eye with the All Blacks.