All Blacks on 'edge' as complete game eludes them

To believe the All Blacks coaches they are happy World Cup campers. Not everything is going their way but they have it under control.

They have played three Pool C games, won three. Not convincingly, but enough to ensure a quarter-finals berth with a game to spare.

Their target of being the first team to win back-to-back World Cups remains on track even if they have not looked too flash with the way they have beaten Argentina, Namibia and Georgia.

They have lacked the finesse and flourish of tournament pacesetters Australia, but a suggestion Monday of grumpiness in the ranks about the way things are going was swiftly rejected.

Assistant coach Ian Foster offered "edge" as a better way to describe the mood as the sudden-death section of the tournament drew closer.

"We're aware some people think we're grumpy inside but we've won three games, we're in a World Cup tournament where that's the name of the game," Foster said.

"Is there a bigger edge? Yes probably. I don't think it's grumpiness at all. I think it's a desire to get better and better and make sure that the game we want to chuck out on the park is just around the corner."

The All Blacks close off pool play against Tonga in Newcastle on Friday and then have an eight day break before their first knockout match against the loser of Sunday's Pool D clash between Ireland and France.

- Naholo doubt -

They have scored more tries (18) and more points (127) than any other side in the tournament after three matches.

On the plus side they are relatively injury free although there is doubt about try ace Waisake Naholo's availability to play Tonga after he took a knock to the same leg he fractured three months ago.

But critics argue the negative for the All Blacks is they have benefitted from being in a relatively weak pool and will not be ready for the big contest when it matters.

Without being seriously tested the All Blacks have shown flaws in attack and defence, their scrum has been off song at times and their kickers have landed only 11 of 18 conversions.

"There's a huge focus on improving, everyone across the board, individual performances and the team performance," said loose forward Jerome Kaino.

"We know we haven't put out a performance that's All Blacks standard and I think that's kept us grounded and kept us focusing on the now."

Foster acknowledged there were areas that need improving when the world number one tanked team meet Tonga, who come 11 places lower.

"We're adapting and we're still chasing the game we really want to get to and that's not a bad spot to be in," he said.

"The first challenge is to go out there and perform at a level that really puts us in a position that we're ready to go into a quarter-final."

Beauden Barrett missed four conversions when the All Blacks beat Namibia 58-14 while superstar Dan Carter missed three of seven when they downed Georgia 43-10.

But Foster said they maintained total faith in Carter.

"A couple of little things went wrong with him on the weekend and he would probably confess himself he'd like to have fixed that quicker than he did but the three he missed were all on the sideline.

"We'd like to get our percentages up but we have total faith in the people doing it."
Source: AFP