World record target in All Blacks' sights

World record target in All Blacks' sights

MARC HINTON - Sunday Star Times

Last updated 05:00 24/10/2010

There was a day not so long ago when an All Black tilt at the Grand Slam would get the pulse racing on its own accord. Sadly familiarity has bred a certain amount of contempt when it comes to the once mythological feat.

So, as we look ahead to the traditional end-of-year tour, starting next Saturday night in Hong Kong, it's not the chance to sweep the four Home Unions that captures the chief interest. In other words, it's not so much wham-bam, thank-you Slam; but ho-hum, are we done?

Let's face it there's a certain feeling of fait accompli about the prospect of tackling the four nations of the UK and Ireland on consecutive Saturdays. Under Graham Henry the All Blacks have already achieved it twice, in 2005 and '08, with only minor discomfort. In fact, in the "Time of Ted" they've yet to lose a test on a November tour.

And given the way they've played this season, and the success they'd had already against much sterner foes, no one surely expects Henry to be denied a hat-trick of the feat only achieved once previously in the long history of the All Blacks.

Times have certainly changed.

But don't despair. This tour is about more than the devalued Slam. Greater things beckon than a feat eroded by repetition.

For starters the entrée is delectable, even if it too is a well-tasted one.

Can New Zealanders ever get sick of beating Australians? It's a rhetorical question, so don't bother answering. Ten in a row could become 20 and it won't get old.

But just in case extra motivation was needed for the year's fourth "Bledisloe", in the neutral territory of Hong Kong, it must have been provided with the steadfast banter coming out of the Wallaby camp. There's clearly a feeling the gap's closing and, ever the optimists, the Australians have been quick to cling to that lifeline as they predict an end to their All Black bogey.

Experienced All Black centre Conrad Smith made it clear that the opening test would see All Black minds concentrated. He even hinted at a certain determination to, if we may use the vernacular, keep the foot on the throat.

"Much has been said about the gains they've made on us in terms of the results this year and there's probably a lot of truth in that, so this one carries a bit of edge," said Smith, practically licking his lips. "Playing them for the fourth time this year, it can be tough to motivate, but there's enough riding on just the fact the results have got closer and closer."

Dan Carter, who'll be back running the show in Hong Kong, said playing - and beating - the Wallabies still meant a lot to the All Blacks.

"You want to beat them," said Carter. "Looking back on the Tri-Nations we weren't as happy with the way we finished... We felt the South Africans and especially the Aussies were analyzing the way we playing and really closed the gap. This is a big game for us."

This tour is also special because of the numbers game. These All Blacks have already won 15 tests on the trot, and they are on the cusp of two magical marks. If they can win in Hong Kong and then at Twickenham they will draw up alongside the 17 achieved by the great All Black and Springbok teams (see grafic). One or two more and they can unify the division, as it were, eclipsing the 18 achieved by Lithuania.

Don't underestimate how much that record will mean to the All Blacks, if they can knock the bugger off. They may not be saying a lot about it, but their chance to etch their names in history will motivate the heck out of this group of achievers.

Other factors add to the tour's interest. The New Zealanders say they won't hold anything back, and that they will tweak their game-plan to keep the chasers honest. How they do that will be intriguing. There's also the Sonny Bill Williams element. Intrigue surrounds his introduction to test rugby.

Plus most of the senior All Blacks are rested and recuperated. The mind boggles over what they could do to the stodgy northerners if they click back into gear. As Smith points out they enjoy touring the UK because it's different and the fans are passionate. These guys take nothing for granted either, and set their own standards, which is why they'll surely chalk up their third, not so grand Slam in five years.

THE TOUR (dates/kickoffs NZ time)

October 30 v Australia Hong Kong 9.30pm
November 7 v England London 3.30am
November 14 v Scotland Edinburgh 6.15am
November 21 v Ireland Dublin 6.30am
November 28 v Wales Cardiff 6.15am