Marseille presents All Blacks with huge challenge

OPINION: Wayne Smith is right to be wary of the peculiar challenge that is the French at Stade Velodrome. These All Blacks will have experienced nothing like what awaits them on Sunday morning (NZ time).

That's one thing I do know.

Whether they're up to the challenge is the crux of the matter – the season even – but there remains no doubt in my mind that, with the exception of the two Springbok examinations early in the Tri-Nations, this is the biggest test of the All Blacks' year. We shall truly see how much they've grown through this difficult campaign.

It's France with their tails up and their passions clearly sparked. It's les Bleus, for once, believing in themselves, and taking no names as they go about proving that they're the real deal this test year.

Heck, when even the All Blacks admit this is right up there on the scale of challenges, and are happy to label it "defining" for their year, well, who are we to argue? They have come to a fork at the end of their long road for 2009: one way is signposted success, the other failure.

That's what Smithy reckons: victory here and his men can enter their golden summers with smiles on their faces; defeat and there's going to be rocks under those beach towels.

And as much rugby as many of these All Blacks have played, I have a pretty good feeling that they've never seen the likes of what awaits them Saturday night here in Marseille. It will be Pretoria with bells on. It will be a damn difficult place to win a game of rugby.

I'm still optimistic enough to think they might overcome it; but I'm also realistic enough to know that without something better than they've exhibited the last month, we're all going to be standing round the barbie this summer muttering, "those damn All Blacks".

Only two rugby tests have left me truly awe-inspired by the intensity of the atmosphere, though plenty have been splendid occasions, such as the Millennium Stadium, San Siro and even good old Twickenham on this trip.

They were all special, make no mistake. The singing, the noise, the atmosphere… the sheer scale of the events, never mind the atmosphere.

Millennium and Twickers are two of the great rugby stadiums on the international circuit, and the Siro is a football shrine and had the potential to be knock-your-socks-off good, if only their team had been better.

But in my experience following the All Blacks around the world, the 2000 test against France here at Stade Velodrome and the 2001 contest against Argentina at the Estadio Monumental Antonio V Liberti, aka the River Plate Stadium, have been the two most memorable for sheer passion and intensity.

The All Blacks won their 2001 clash against the Pumas 24-20, but not before being pushed to the limit by an Argentina side who fed off the vibe created by 65,000 fans in this wonderful football venue – scene of the 1978 World Cup final.

But in 2000, under Smith, they found the French at another impressive football ground just too much to handle. The now All Blacks assistant coach captured the essence of the challenge that night in a chat with the media in Marseille this week.

He spoke about how the All Blacks were "under-prepared" for the occasion and that as a coach he had never felt so "vulnerable".

Smithy, normally an Xs and Os type of guy, got quite emotional with us when he recounted his experiences of 2000 and just what that meant regarding Saturday night. The message was quite clear: if the All Blacks aren't ready, they will come a distant second.

I remember from 2000 some of the stories that came out in the aftermath: how players felt the passion of the occasion like never before; how the French seem imbued with some mystical power; how the simple became tres difficile; how even the ball boys were abusing them.

This should be good. Really good.

Let's face it, we're kidding ourselves if we think the All Blacks have played well on this tour. Memo to one and all: they've played as well as they've had to. They certainly haven't set any worlds on fire.

Sure, they've done some things efficiently. They've tackled like angry pensioners seeking their last two-for-one discount cards. They've consigned the lineout woes to the ancient history bin. They've even taken control of games just when they've had to.

But on Saturday night they're going to have to find the full package. That's a scary thought. And an exciting one. Can't wait.

- © Fairfax NZ News