“Reset Back to Zero” – All Blacks Eye Freedom Cup in Capital Clash

Having completed their first task with a 24-17 win over South Africa in the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship at Eden Park, the All Blacks now look to Wellington to secure the Freedom Cup and key points in the Championship on Saturday.

Assistant coach Jason Ryan said on Sunday the intensity of the Test match was 'right up there' and there were some sore bodies the morning after.

"Getting us fresh and reset back to zero will be important for a good training week. We're expecting a big response from South Africa, so I'm expecting a big response from us."

New Zealand would need to show some different pictures in their next outing because they expected it could be as physical, if not more, in Wellington.

"It could be a wet night again in Wellington, so we'll prepare accordingly. And they would have seen opportunities with us."

Both hooker Codie Taylor, who failed his HIA, and wing Emoni Narawa, who has a rib injury, won't be considered for the Wellington Test. But he is confident Samisoni Taukei'aho can stand up to the task.

"He's dynamic around the park. He's a pretty experienced hooker now too, and Brodie's [McAlister] there too."

Ryan said he was concerned with the scrums, especially in the second half when a tighthead led to a Springbok try.

"We were a bit messy, weren't we? That was especially on our ball. I always want to get it out and play, but there was one time when they climbed into us, we lost our footing, and tried to get back up, but it was too late.

"It'll be a never again moment, that one."

Ryan refused to blame the damp conditions; it was a matter of being better with their control.

He said wing Rieko Ioane's effort in denying a try by preventing prop Ox Nche from getting the ball down over the line was instinctive and an outstanding key moment.

Ryan also praised Tupou Vaa'i's effort in returning to lock after having started on the blindside flank in earlier Tests.

"He gives us options, he's an outstanding lock. He's extremely experienced. He had a phenomenal season last year at lock, and we saw him giving us a bit more. We also had a look at him at six in the early part of our Test season because of his lineout ball-winning work.

"Simon Parker last night was outstanding. That was a big Test to come in and start. He'll get a lot better.

"Wallace Sititi's footwork at the line and gets through defensive lines with good body height. He's very instinctive Wally and that's what we love about him."

Coach Scott Robertson said he was pleased with the way the All Blacks competed in defensive sets.

"We played some really good footy, and we knew it was going to go back and forward, but when you play a World Cup-winning team that's been together for a long time, and is experienced, you're not going to win every moment.

"And you've got to stay in that fight. It turned into a scrap. It started raining and there were a couple of calls that went one way or another but we just kept competing on the ones that mattered."

They didn't want to waste the lesson they received in Argentina, where their performance and care weren't good enough. The preparation hadn't been good enough. But there was no issue with the preparation in Auckland.

Robertson said Ardie Savea's crucial turnover near the end summed him up.

"He's a person that makes big plays. It was his moment in his 100th game. He's so mentally and physically tough and has so much resilience and keeps getting up."

Robertson said his ability to move between flanker and No8, to carry the ball and hunt, and his tackling were typical and probably reflected how he has played through his 100 Tests. 

Captain Scott Barrett said the All Blacks arrived in Auckland with a defensive attitude, and they fronted.

That was especially pleasing in honouring Savea's contribution through the years.

"He's a spiritual leader within our team so we wanted to make that special. And off the back of Argentina, there was a lot of self-reflection on how we can get better. We fronted up from day one when we rejoined in Auckland. We know what we needed against a world-class team, so the performance reflected that and we need to go again next week."

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