All Blacks have to be 're-educated' by coach

DUNEDIN, New Zealand -- Coach John Mitchell is amazed he needs to re-educate the All Blacks in some rugby fundamentals as they build for tomorrow's Test against Ireland here.

Getting the players to adopt his style is a challenge for Mitchell as he is having to alter some long-held techniques.

A good example is mauling, an area of the game which Mitchell believes is under employed.

The All Blacks used the static maul and drive often against Italy in Hamilton last Saturday but Mitchell said his players were only beginning to grasp what was required to be effective.

"It's quite fascinating actually because if you look back a year, a lot of the players in this generation have had to be re-educated in that area. It's actually quite amazing,'' he said.

Other problem areas from the season-opening Test had basic solutions.

Outside backs, particularly winger Caleb Ralph, were often guilty of over-running the ball-carrier in Hamilton.

"That's easy to sort out,'' said Mitchell, suggesting the passer was at least as much at fault.

"It really comes down to the timing of the pass by the carrier.

"If he gives it a little bit earlier then that can assist in the situation. The longer that the ball carrier carries the ball, it's more likely that the outside player's not going to hold his depth. We blew a few opportunities there."

His review of the Italy Test uncovered other areas of concern, such as the scrum, which he described as unacceptable.

"We got a little too smart for ourselves, we didn't stick to our plan in that area. We're very lucky to get away with that against the Italians.

"Against a better side, that could have come back to haunt us.''

What didn't help was the selection together of locks Norm Maxwell and Simon Maling, who were both used to packing behind the loosehead prop.

However, Mitchell said part of the early Tests this year was finding out what players could and couldn't do.

There shouldn't be such problems at Carisbrook as the all-Crusaders forward pack boasted a strong scrum throughout the Super 12.

Mitchell said more emphasis was placed on the scrum this week but not too much.

"You have to be careful that if you focus on one area too much, you tend to sacrifice other areas. The team can become very dysfunctional if you overload in one area,'' he said.

"The Irish pride themselves in their scrummage. That's an area where they'll certainly want to attack us and probably believe that they will gain the edge.''

Meanwhile, Mitchell was bemused by the selection of Ronan O'Gara at flyhalf for Ireland ahead of the more experienced David Humphreys, who performed well when the teams met at Dublin last November.

Humphreys also stood out in the 56-3 win over the New Zealand Divisional 15 in Timaru last weekend.

He did not reject a suggestion the Irish would make a late change and start with Humphreys."It's in the back of our minds as coaching staff but we'll deal with whatever player they come out with,'' he said.

Humphreys was included on the Irish reserve bench although a question mark still surrounded the loose forward back-up.

Just six reserves were named, with the fitness of flanker Alan Quinlan still uncertain. If the medial ligament strain to his knee prevented him from playing, the spot would probably go to David Wallace, who joined the squad after a flight from San Francisco yesterday.

Ireland: Girvan Dempsey, Geordan Murphy, Brian O'Driscoll, Justin Bishop, John Kelly, Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, Anthony Foley, Keith Gleeson, Paul O'Connell, Gary Longwell, Simon Easterby, John Hayes, Keith Wood (captain), Reggie Corrigan.

Reserves: Mel Deane, David Humphreys, Guy Easterby, Malcolm O'Kelly, Paul Wallace, James Byrne (one more to be named).

New Zealand: Leon MacDonald, Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga , Aaron Mauger (vice-capt), Caleb Ralph, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall , Scott Robertson, Richard McCaw, Reuben Thorne (capt), Norm Maxwell, Chris Jack, Greg Somerville, Mark Hammett, Dave Hewett (Canterbury).

Reserves: Tom Willis, Joe McDonnell, Taine Randell, Marty Holah, Byron Kelleher, Daryl Gibson, Jonah Lomu. -- Sapa-NZPA