Rugby: Weary All Blacks battle French demons

The All Blacks' mental strength will get its sternest test in France on Sunday (NZT), with some admitting France present the tourists' toughest motivational assignment of their rugby season.

It is all very well talking about reclaiming the Dave Gallaher Trophy, avenging the 22-27 defeat in Dunedin in June and completing their five-match tour unbeaten.

But the All Blacks say they struggled through the early part of the week, a point acknowledged by coach Graham Henry as they feel the effects of a long tour and a season that began for some in January.

Centre Conrad Smith, one of the All Blacks' senior statesmen with 32 tests to his name, said the players were "a bit flat and slow" after beating England 19-6 last weekend and took time to hit the ground running here.

"For me it's more the mental thing and I've never experienced that before," Smith said.

"I've always loved every chance to play for the All Blacks. I'm not saying that's any different but it has been tough after three or four years of doing it, and spending a lot of time away."

It is a symptom of the packed schedule, with the end-of-season tours excellent money-makers for the New Zealand Rugby Union, as the All Blacks contributed to sellouts at Tokyo's National Stadium, Millennium Stadium, San Siro and Twickenham.

Then next weekend there's the Barbarians at Twickenham before the All Blacks arrive home on December 8.

Said Smith: "It's been a tough week. Each week you take longer to wind into it.

"The first week when you come on tour you could probably play the game on a Tuesday, then slowly it gets longer. We'll probably just be ready by Saturday this time around." Players have been allowed a hotel room to themselves here to help keep them fresh, after having to share rooms for most of the tour.

Smith said today's final training at Stade Jean Bouin eased his mind, a sharp session in warm sunshine.

It was otherwise a low-key week for the All Blacks in this bustling port city, where football team Olympique Marseille dominate and it was difficult to imagine a rugby test was looming.

That will change when the French team arrive from their Paris base overnight (NZT) and All Blacks supporters from Britain pour into town and pack out the bars and eateries which line the idyllic Vieux Port.

Stade Velodrome will be packed with 60,000-plus fans, a fortress for the Thierry Dusautoir-led France who have lost just one of their nine tests there, against Argentina in 2004.