30-07-2005, 12:05 PM
Wellington, New Zealand - Complacency is the All Blacks' greatest concern as they leave New Zealand for South Africa and their opening match in the Tri-Nations tournament, captain Tana Umaga said on Friday.
Umaga's team re-assembled in Auckland this week, two weeks after completing a 3-0 Test series win over the British and Irish Lions which caused many experts to label them the best side in the world.
Coach Graham Henry has already said the Tri-Nations will likely provide a sterner test of the All Blacks than the Lions.
Umaga has warned his players not to overestimate themselves on the basis of recent success.
Umaga said the All Blacks had to remain "grounded" and to remember Australia and South Africa, its Tri-Nations opponents, played a different and more testing style of game than the Lions.
"We feel that (complacency) is our No 1 enemy at the moment," Umaga said. "We (have to) make sure we have the same intensities at training and we are as hard on ourselves as we were leading into the Lions series."
South Africans were formidable
Umaga said the Springboks' 33-20 win over Australia in the second Test of the Mandela Trophy series in Johannesburg last Saturday showed the South Africans were formidable.
"Playing at home will give them great confidence as well and they are a team on the rise," he said.
"We have seen clips of South Africa against us last year and they cut us off in (lineouts), the same thing in scrum time.
"They shut us down defensively in the backs. We have had timely reminders of what happened last year."
The All Blacks have had only minor injury concerns in training this week.
Flank Richie McCaw has been unable to train because of a minor illness, wing Sitiveni Sivivatu has nursed a slight shoulder injury and Umaga missed Thursday's session with a bruised toe.
Boks are dangerous
Flyhalf Daniel Carter, who scored two tries and 33 points in the second Test against the Lions, is also back to full fitness after missing the third Test with an injury.
Carter said the Springboks and Wallabies would demand changes in the game plan the All Blacks used against the Lions.
"Obviously they (the Springboks) showed what they are capable of last weekend in putting the Aussies away," he said.
"They are extremely dangerous. When they get a roll on they are hard to stop with their big forwards, and they have some exciting backs."
Carter is rated the world's best flyhalf after his form against the Lions, but he said he was not prepared to be judged on past achievements.
"I have put all that behind me and will just concentrate on what I have to do for the team to play well," he said.
Australia and South Africa meet in the first match of the Tri-Nations on Saturday while New Zealand takes on the Springboks on August 6 and the Wallabies on August 13 in Sydney.
Umaga's team re-assembled in Auckland this week, two weeks after completing a 3-0 Test series win over the British and Irish Lions which caused many experts to label them the best side in the world.
Coach Graham Henry has already said the Tri-Nations will likely provide a sterner test of the All Blacks than the Lions.
Umaga has warned his players not to overestimate themselves on the basis of recent success.
Umaga said the All Blacks had to remain "grounded" and to remember Australia and South Africa, its Tri-Nations opponents, played a different and more testing style of game than the Lions.
"We feel that (complacency) is our No 1 enemy at the moment," Umaga said. "We (have to) make sure we have the same intensities at training and we are as hard on ourselves as we were leading into the Lions series."
South Africans were formidable
Umaga said the Springboks' 33-20 win over Australia in the second Test of the Mandela Trophy series in Johannesburg last Saturday showed the South Africans were formidable.
"Playing at home will give them great confidence as well and they are a team on the rise," he said.
"We have seen clips of South Africa against us last year and they cut us off in (lineouts), the same thing in scrum time.
"They shut us down defensively in the backs. We have had timely reminders of what happened last year."
The All Blacks have had only minor injury concerns in training this week.
Flank Richie McCaw has been unable to train because of a minor illness, wing Sitiveni Sivivatu has nursed a slight shoulder injury and Umaga missed Thursday's session with a bruised toe.
Boks are dangerous
Flyhalf Daniel Carter, who scored two tries and 33 points in the second Test against the Lions, is also back to full fitness after missing the third Test with an injury.
Carter said the Springboks and Wallabies would demand changes in the game plan the All Blacks used against the Lions.
"Obviously they (the Springboks) showed what they are capable of last weekend in putting the Aussies away," he said.
"They are extremely dangerous. When they get a roll on they are hard to stop with their big forwards, and they have some exciting backs."
Carter is rated the world's best flyhalf after his form against the Lions, but he said he was not prepared to be judged on past achievements.
"I have put all that behind me and will just concentrate on what I have to do for the team to play well," he said.
Australia and South Africa meet in the first match of the Tri-Nations on Saturday while New Zealand takes on the Springboks on August 6 and the Wallabies on August 13 in Sydney.