The All Blacks have arrived in Cardiff and they are not sure if they are being bluffed by talk of Welsh injuries
The All Blacks have landed in Cardiff to various talk about who is and is not injured for the Welsh and the test match next weekend.
The New Zealand players are still a little battered after yesterday morning's win over France, and they have the day off Monday local time.
The talk out of the Welsh camp is first five Stephen Jones, midfielder Gavin Henson and fullback Gareth Thomas are all in doubt for next weekend, although it could be a Welsh bluff.
Jones has not played for a few weeks and Henson missed the weekend's win over Canada. Veteran fullback Gareth Thomas has a knee injury.
Meanwhile one of the key questions from yesterday's win over France is whether Ma'a Nonu is now a test second-five.
The jury remains out, but fullback Leon MacDonald liked what he saw, given he was always a threat under the tight French defence.
MacDonald says he is not trying to make excuses for his butchered 'up and under' yesterday morning, but it did take him some time to get used to a high wire camera above the ground, used by French television.
MacDonald has no doubt that there is one match left in all of them, but a reconditioning break will be welcome.
For some of the players, the clash with Wales will be their last rugby game until mid-April next year.
To relieve some of the boredom this week the All Blacks will bus back across the border to nearby Bath for the first full training of the new week.
There is a tinge of sadness as test preparations get into full swing, with the news of the sudden death of Wales Union president Keith Rowlands.
Rowlands played for Llanelli and Cardiff through the 50s and 60s, making the Welsh team and the Lions. He will be remembered more around the rugby world for his front office deeds as the first ever General Secretary of the IRB, then CEO. Rowlands was instrumental in the birth of the Rugby World Cup and was CEO of the 1999 tournament.
Meanwhile, back in France, the French media and public are full of praise for what is being described as a more spirited fight in the 23-11 loss against the All Blacks in Paris.
Words like "courage" and "resistance" are being used in the French papers this morning, and the sports paper L'Equipe has led with "courage in the face of the irresistible New Zealanders".
The general theme has been one of patting the French on the back but at the same time talking up the All Blacks World Cup favouritism, although there is acceptance of the fact that the All Blacks were not at the top of their game yesterday.
http://www.radiosport.co.nz/SportsNews/sprug/Detail.aspx?id=107759
The All Blacks have landed in Cardiff to various talk about who is and is not injured for the Welsh and the test match next weekend.
The New Zealand players are still a little battered after yesterday morning's win over France, and they have the day off Monday local time.
The talk out of the Welsh camp is first five Stephen Jones, midfielder Gavin Henson and fullback Gareth Thomas are all in doubt for next weekend, although it could be a Welsh bluff.
Jones has not played for a few weeks and Henson missed the weekend's win over Canada. Veteran fullback Gareth Thomas has a knee injury.
Meanwhile one of the key questions from yesterday's win over France is whether Ma'a Nonu is now a test second-five.
The jury remains out, but fullback Leon MacDonald liked what he saw, given he was always a threat under the tight French defence.
MacDonald says he is not trying to make excuses for his butchered 'up and under' yesterday morning, but it did take him some time to get used to a high wire camera above the ground, used by French television.
MacDonald has no doubt that there is one match left in all of them, but a reconditioning break will be welcome.
For some of the players, the clash with Wales will be their last rugby game until mid-April next year.
To relieve some of the boredom this week the All Blacks will bus back across the border to nearby Bath for the first full training of the new week.
There is a tinge of sadness as test preparations get into full swing, with the news of the sudden death of Wales Union president Keith Rowlands.
Rowlands played for Llanelli and Cardiff through the 50s and 60s, making the Welsh team and the Lions. He will be remembered more around the rugby world for his front office deeds as the first ever General Secretary of the IRB, then CEO. Rowlands was instrumental in the birth of the Rugby World Cup and was CEO of the 1999 tournament.
Meanwhile, back in France, the French media and public are full of praise for what is being described as a more spirited fight in the 23-11 loss against the All Blacks in Paris.
Words like "courage" and "resistance" are being used in the French papers this morning, and the sports paper L'Equipe has led with "courage in the face of the irresistible New Zealanders".
The general theme has been one of patting the French on the back but at the same time talking up the All Blacks World Cup favouritism, although there is acceptance of the fact that the All Blacks were not at the top of their game yesterday.
http://www.radiosport.co.nz/SportsNews/sprug/Detail.aspx?id=107759
