Watch this space: All Blacks at the ready

BY TOBY ROBSON

Space. One team will be desperate to create it, the other will try to close it down at Twickenham tomorrow.

The All Blacks feel they are close to unlocking the counterattack stilted by the kick-heavy nature of test rugby.

England first five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson is sure to give them the chance to test their progress.

The All Blacks have poured time into the art, changing their mindset on their end-of-year tour to see opposition kicks as a possession platform rather than a defence mechanism.

But for counterattack to prosper it requires an increased demand on precision, particularly at the catch and at the subsequent breakdown.

The All Blacks have discovered that space to attack is not where the ball lands, but often on the fringes of the opposition chase line.

To exploit that, players around the catcher must scan the field to find the space. Multiple passes are often required to get it there, but under pressure there is a big margin for error.

"We don't just want to kick it straight back and get into a game of aerial ping pong," young wing Zac Guildford said this week.

"We want to have a look at our options after the first kick and assess. It's not always about kicking because there's space in other areas."

The heat is on fullback Mils Muliaina and wing Sitiveni Sivivatu to spark the attack.

The more men behind the kick the better – loose forwards and midfielders are expected to drop back and help their wings.

All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw said increased kicking had not changed the objective, but had provided less opportunity.

"It's still about being able to create quick ball and win ball, but if you are going to get less times to go to that breakdown, then you have to nail it each time.

"If instead of nine or 10 chances you only get four or five breakdowns, then they have to be spot on, that's the way I look at it.

"When it's in the air and you are going back, then you have to work out the way you can have the most influence."

It has been impossible to ignore the bounce in the All Blacks players' steps this week. They believe they were close against Wales and deserved at least two more tries than they scored.

They are also growing tired of the drone of criticism of the game and would dearly love to give it a shot in the arm. They have crossed the line just four times since leaving New Zealand, but believe they are building in a similar vein as last year's end-of-year tour when they beat England 32-6.

As with all test matches, tomorrow's will begin in the trenches. England is a desperate camp with a desperate coach in Martin Johnson.

Johnson has signalled his intentions by selecting grizzled men like 36-year-old lock Simon Shaw and bulky second-five Aoolye Erinle.

Firebrand Kiwi-born hooker Dylan Hartley and even big wing Matt Banahan have a reputation for fireworks and no quarter will be given in close.

The All Blacks have prepared accordingly. Prop Owen Franks left training yesterday with a cut and swollen eye – evidence of the intensity of the buildup.

England may have erred in selecting a second-five who will try to crash and bash at the All Blacks' line.

Erinle showed his naivety during the week when he spoke of a potential defensive weakness at first-five, clearly unaware Dan Carter rarely misses a tackle.

If the battle up front is won and territorial advantage established the All Blacks may look to open this match up and bring the pace of McCaw and blindside Adam Thomson into the match.

All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore joked that he was more concerned that rain fall on his north Otago farm rather than at Twickenham, but a dry track would certainly help the visitors.

Whatever the weather, the All Blacks were close to their best in Wales.

They look to be closer in London.

- © Fairfax NZ News