Graham Henry's All Blacks turned their season around after a frank clear-the-air meeting following back-to-back Tri Nations defeats, star five-eighths Daniel Carter has revealed.
Carter told RugbyHeaven as his side prepares for the winner-take-all Battle of Brisbane at Suncorp on Saturday night that it was only after the New Zealanders did some brutally honest self-examination that they were able to bring their season back from the brink.
At that stage the All Blacks had coughed up consecutive losses to the Springboks (in Dunedin) and the Wallabies (in Sydney) and they were in grave danger of crashing out of the Tri Nations competition with still two rounds remaining.
But after the attitude adjustment and spurred by the return of inspirational skipper Richie McCaw off the injured list, Graham Henry's side made a dramatic transformation into a quality rugby side that will on Saturday night have the chance to seal yet another Tri Nations-Bledisloe trophy double.
First they walloped the Wallabies 39-10 at Eden Park to take a giant step forward, then followed that up with a 19-0 shutout of the world champion Springboks in Cape Town that set up Saturday night's title decider at a sold-out Suncorp.
"I think we learnt a lot from those losses," said Carter as he contemplated one more head-to-head against his highly skilled Wallaby opposite Matt Giteau. "We weren't mentally strong enough. We weren't preparing for the games as well as we should have."
Luckily, they were honest enough to address that issue before it proved terminal.
Added Carter: "We had a bit of a meeting and we changed a few things, and the real want to win these test matches and get up and play like we did in Auckland every weekend is a challenge for us.
"But it's something that you have to do at this level. You can't go into a game sub-par and expect to win, as we've shown in Sydney.
"That been a good learning for us and we've really responded to that. The next challenge is doing that again and taking that next step this weekend."
It was interesting, also, to get Carter's take on the revamped backline the All Blacks will face at Suncorp. No Berrick Barnes at 12, the gritty headgeared second receiver losing his battle to shake off a shoulder ailment.
That means a move in a place for Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock who forms a new midfield with Ryan Cross, set for the biggest match of his career.
The All Blacks' master tactician figures the Wallabies will miss the clever kicking game of Barnes as a second receiver, but says the Mortlock-Cross tandem brings other attributes that will be tough to combat.
"In terms of physicality on offence and defence they pose a real threat," reckoned Carter. "They're a couple of great ball-runners, they're strong in the tackle, and it poses a real threat having those two guys there."
The challenge, adds Carter, will be for the All Blacks to get up and mess with the comfort zone of the new-look midfield.
"You've just got to get up in their faces and shut down their time and space, because with time and space they're lethal runners of the ball. We've got to look at putting them under pressure and if we do hopefully we can stop their game from flowing."
Like his team-mates and management, Carter was not making too much of the Wallabies' last outing, that 53-8 shellacking at the hands of the Springboks in Jo'burg. Though he did admit it caught him by surprise.
"Like everyone else I wouldn't read too much into it," says Carter. "They're a world-class side and they've proved that on occasions this year. For a test match like this I'm sure they'll step up. They're going to be a huge threat, and if anything it probably makes our job tougher because their backs are to the wall, similar to the way ours were at the start of the campaign.
"They'll be looking to fight their way out."
But it could be that the quirks of this Tri Nations draw are in fact the All Blacks' biggest threat. After the best part of a month off since their Cape Town capers, and just a soft hitout against Samoa slotted in to fill the gap, there a real danger that they've suffered a lethal injection of momentum murder.
Carter was hopeful that, for all its mismatch status, the New Plymouth match served its key purpose.
"You don't read too much into the result. I thought it was more about getting out there and getting some game-time, and reconnecting a few combinations.
"It served its purpose well. It was good to have a hitout and get rid of a few cobwebs."
It's then mentioned to Carter that Giteau, a player he says he admires for his "all-round game", is being left without cover thanks to the 5-2 split on the Wallabies bench that many this side of the Tasman are painting as a key tactical move by Robbie deans.
"I'm not too sure what backup plan they have," shrugged a clearly relaxed Carter. "We'll just continue to go about our job ... [but] I'm sure the loose forwards might run down his channel a little more come Saturday night. But it's a decision they've made and I'm sure they're confident."
As are the All Blacks. Now they've rediscovered the art of winning.
