29 Jun 2009

All Blacks have just three weeks to turn things around before Tri Nations

6:23 am on 29 June 2009

The All Blacks coaching staff have sent the side away for a week to mull over a few home truths in the wake of the weekend's lacklustre effort in beating Italy in Christchurch.

With nine frontline players missing through the two tests against France and the one off game against Italy, the side will welcome several of them back before the opening tri nations match against Australia in Auckland on July 18th.

Assistant coach Steve Hansen says they can't hide from the fact the weekend's effort was a poor performance but he's banking on the return of such players as Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo, Andrew Hore and Conrad Smith turning things around.

The side will now go their separate ways before re-grouping in Wellington for a couple of days next week and then head into camp the Sunday before the opening tri nations test.