All Blacks can now draw on years of experience

LAWRENCE SMITH/Fairfax Media

EXPERIENCE: Richie McCaw in action.

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OPINION: The acid is yet to go on the All Blacks this year but there is an increasing confidence that Graham Henry's squad has the experience to work their way out of tight situations.

They rose magnificently to twice trounce the Boks. Clearly they were up for both matches as the tests seemed to be won as much by the mental work they had done around motivation and tactical application.

We have yet to see them in a crisis scenario and there are chances these could come when their Tri-Nations campaign switches to foreign soil, next week in Australia and next month in South Africa.

Skipper Richie McCaw admitted there were times during last year's horror run when players were looking at each other for answers rather than buckling down to carry out their own responsibilities.

But there appears to be more of a calmness and confidence to the squad – important ingredients and ones that should only grow in the lead-up to next year's World Cup. Experience is the crucial factor that is working in their favour.

The starting team that beat the Boks in Wellington last weekend had a combined tally of 626 caps for an average of 41 per player.

There's a theory that suggests test players are really learning the ropes through their first 20 internationals.

By the time they move into the zone of around 40 caps, things become second nature in the heat of battle.

The All Blacks are in that area and have experience to burn in some of the key decision-making positions – McCaw (85 tests), Keven Mealamu (75), Brad Thorn (42), Dan Carter (71) and Mils Muliaina (84).

The growth has been coming in other areas too – Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith now boast 85 caps between them in the midfield, Piri Weepu has hit 40 and Kieran Read (21) and Jerome Kaino (29).

There is exciting new talent to inject with some worthy alternatives like Israel Dagg, Victor Vito, Sam Whitelock and Rene Ranger putting their hands up this year.

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