ABs focus on their attitude

Gatland turns off ‘explosives’

It’s not often you hear this from the All Blacks, but the world’s best rugby team are demanding an attitude adjustment.

They have been put on notice about sub-par mindsets at Murrayfield last weekend, and given a stern message about what it will take to continue their 64-year dominance of the Welsh at Principality Stadium.

As thoughts inevitably turn to summer breaks, beaches, barbies and beers, the coaching staff are working furiously at keeping those minds from jumping on a plane before the bodies are due to at Heathrow on Sunday. It’s a delicate balance.

These are grown men. They know what’s what. They can read calendars. Never mind that ‘‘endof-year’’ has been banished as a tour descriptor, and that workloads have been managed furiously to ensure that there’s juice in the tank this very week.

But last weekend may have been the injection this one needed. That was the indication when experienced flanker Sam Cane revealed some tasty titbits around the fallout from that shaky 22-17 victory over the gallant Scots in Edinburgh.

There have been no fingers pointed, nor names shamed. But the All Blacks have been put on notice around sub-par attitude levels that very nearly cost them that test.

‘‘There wasn’t a heck of a lot of footage shown but there were a lot of discussions around different players’ processes in terms of turning up at kickoff ready to rip into it at 10-out-of-10 level,’’ said Cane of the Murrayfield rake-over.

‘‘It was a reminder that every team are playing the games of their lives against us, and we need to prepare to a really high standard. We probably turned up with the attitude a fraction off, and it doesn’t take much.’’

Cane is probably just stating the obvious. As improved as the Scots are, they shouldn’t go toe to toe with the All Blacks over 80 minutes unless something is off.

The desire is this week it won’t be. That Warren Gatland doesn’t get another career highlight at New Zealand’s expense.

‘‘Bone deep’’ is the phrase Hansen likes to use in conjunction with preparation. When the All Blacks go down to their marrow, they are almost unbeatable. When they don’t, well ...

Cane admitted sensing some doubts round one or two of the group last week, but by then it was too late. Now they’ve moved on, and it’s all about that desired finish to the year.

To do that they’ll have to deal with more line-speed (all about quickness of ruck ball, says Cane) and ‘‘one of the great stadiums in world rugby’’. Turns out Warren Gatland can chuck bouquets as well as lob grenades.

The Wales rugby coach, proud Kiwi and chief of the recent British and Irish Lions team that drew against the All Blacks in New Zealand mid-year, fronted for a surprise media appearance at training HQ yesterday.

He backtracked a bit on claims in his recently published book he has ‘‘explosive’’ inside info on the All Blacks that he’s keeping up his sleeve. ‘‘Explosive is an exaggerated word,’’ he admitted, as he spoke in the wake of the weekend’s hard-fought victory over Georgia and this muchawaited matchup against the New Zealanders at the Principality Stadium.

As Wales coach he is 0-10 against the All Blacks (0-5 since Steve Hansen became coach), though he does have that 1-1-1 mark for the Lions. So he was respectful regarding the supposed ‘‘vulnerability’’ of the world champs after former national captain Gwyn Jones declared the New Zealanders no longer the fearsome unit of the past after their 22-17 win over Scotland.

‘‘I think if you utter those words it comes back to bite you,’’ said Gatland, well aware of his own side’s fallibilities, after being toppled by the Wallabies 29-21 and struggling to a 13-6 victory over Georgia so far in November.

‘‘I’ve never seen an All Black team that’s been vulnerable. The quality and depth they have, they would be hurting and disappointed they didn’t play better [against Scotland]. In saying that, they coped with the pressure and won the game.

‘‘The All Blacks have commented themselves they have dominated the game for too long – and people want to see them come under pressure. We want to see those close contests where teams that perform on the day are able to push the No 1 team in the world really close.’’

Gatland felt the New Zealanders were battling through a heavy injury period.

‘‘They were pretty good against France but they’ll be disappointed with Scotland,’’ he added. ‘‘The Scots took it to them. But they still won the game and they had that X-factor when they needed to turn it on.

‘‘In fairness to Scotland they kept going. In the past they may have capitulated when they went behind and conceded some soft tries, but they kept playing. I was impressed.’’

"It was a reminder that every team are playing the games of their lives against us." Sam Cane

Given two more front-liners will be absent, there will also be a couple more new faces to transition (possibly Patty Tuipulotu and Seta Tamanivalu).

‘‘We’re really keen to finish the season with a bang. It would be awesome to sit in the sheds on Saturday really proud with how we went.’’