Smith's All Blacks game plan for all seasons

LAWRENCE SMITH/Stuff.co.nz

HOLDING COURT: Assistant coach Wayne Smith, who wants the All Blacks to adapt their game plans to the opponent, fronts the media in Cardiff.

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South Africa will probably have a wee chuckle, but the All Blacks coaches believe one size does not fit all when it comes to test rugby.

All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith has revealed the All Blacks have been trying to develop the ability to adapt their style depending on their opponents.

It's an approach that has reaped mixed results – including four test losses this year – but one which Smith believes will pay dividends in the long run.

"We've tried different ways of playing. What we are trying to do is play the game appropriately for the situation. To do that you have to try things," he said ahead of Saturday's test against Wales.

"We don't want to have just a game plan A. We want to be able to change and we are still developing that.

"In terms of philosophy we have had some games [this year] where we have tried to play a running game from anywhere and some where we've tried to kick and get forward dominance and play a conservative game.

"The thing is bringing it all together, getting better in all those areas and being able to adapt out on the field to execute what is needed at the time."

It's an inspiring ideal and one that may well have been born in the ashes of the 2007 World Cup quarterfinal loss to France when the All Blacks robotically stuck to their pre-match plan.

Smith believes that, despite the losses, including three to a South African side that has succeeded with a one-size-fits-all approach, the current squad is becoming better at adapting.

"I think by the end of the Tri-Nations, that last game in Wellington was good and it gave us a lot of confidence," he said. "It's about getting better with every performance. We're about 70 per cent of where we want to be."

There were encouraging signs of exactly what Smith was alluding to in the Bledisloe Cup win in Tokyo.

In that match the All Blacks were being beaten at the breakdown in the first half because Australia were committing greater numbers. The second half saw a change and the All Blacks dominated the breakdown, kicked for the corners and won the match comfortably.

"I thought the skill level had improved [in Tokyo] and we saw that again in training yesterday," Smith said. "The skill level is starting to get back where we want it. We've put a lot of work into that and it's promising."

It will be intriguing to see what sort of approach the All Blacks take against Europe's form horse, Wales.

Earlier efforts this year to play running rugby against France and Italy came unstuck although Wales' more attacking style may present greater scope for counter attack. Then again, if Smith is right, the All Blacks will be ready for whatever the Welsh throw at them.

- © Fairfax NZ News