All Blacks aim to lift Canterbury spirits

All Blacks training in Sydney

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Kieran Read runs the ball off the scrum during All Blacks training at Leichhardt Oval.

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BEFORE THE SHAKE: All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith watches Sonny Bill Williams play for Belfast in a Christchurch club rugby match.

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The All Blacks believe they've been galvanised by the earthquake disaster back home and are pledging to deliver a performance against the Wallabies on Saturday night to lift the spirits of troubled Cantabrians.

All week the travails of the people of Canterbury, and the continued devastation from last weekend's earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks, has been a hot topic as the All Blacks have gone about preparations for the Tri-Nations finale.
 
With so many Cantabrians in the team and the management - most of whom have been affected in some way or other - it's a situation that has never been far from the team's thoughts.

And now, as a potentially historic match draws closer, there is emerging a fierce determination on the All Blacks' part to play their part in putting a smile back on the faces of New Zealanders affected by the quake.

Assistant coach Steve Hansen has already spoken about his personal situation, with his family home destroyed. Today his colleague, and fellow Cantab, Wayne Smith added his voice to what's emerging as a pretty clear message.

"I just think it will really push these guys to perform," Smith said at the team's hotel in Sydney today.

"I think inside they feel the same as I feel. That it's an opportunity to give their heart and soul and try to make people proud of you and maybe lift the spirits of the community a wee bit."

Smith has been speaking to his wife, Trish, twice a day via Skype, and remains troubled by what he's hearing as the quake's after-effects continue to rock the region.

"She's pretty shaken - shaken literally, and shaken in that she's bit nervy. That's been a bit of a concern.

"They wanted me to come over. The All Blacks mean a lot to them, just like they do to me. So I'm doing everything I can over here to make sure we put a smile on their faces come Saturday."

Smith joked that the geology boffins should perhaps contact his wife for key information, such was the accuracy and detail of her reports on the various tremors striking the region.

Despite significant damage around where Smith lived, his house had luckily escaped any structural harm. "There's just a bit of cosmetic stuff that will need fixing up," he added.

While the All Blacks had yet to talk about the situation as a group, Smith felt his own processes were being repeated through the team.

"For me it's a personal thing. I love my family and I love the team and I've got support from my family to be here. So the only way you can honour that decision is to work hard and make sure these guys are on edge to play well on Saturday."

As far as the potential for minds to wander and players to be distracted, Smith did not think that was an issue for the All Blacks this week.

"I just put a little routine in place. I Skype Trish when I get up, again in the afternoon, and we make sure we send texts. I'm pretty comfortable and we've got a lot of support there. So I've got to focus on what I need to do so my work hasn't been distracted at all."

It sounds like the All Blacks have their minds on the job, regardless of the dramas unfolding back where many live.

And that may be just the spur they need to help them post a 10th straight victory over the Wallabies on Saturday night and etch their way into the history books in becoming the first side to complete a 6-0 sweep of the Tri-Nations.

As they say out of adversity often comes something special. The All Blacks are certainly steeled to deliver it.

- © Fairfax NZ News