All Blacks having a laugh

By starting their training session yesterday with a game of soccer, the All Blacks showed a sense of humour for which they have not always been famous. Maybe there was no deliberate intention to mock England's setback at Euro 2004, but the sight of Carlos Spencer and co trying to bend it like Beckham did suggest a lack of oval-ball concerns.

After last Saturday's 36-3 walloping of Lawrence Dallaglio's touring team in Dunedin, it is hardly surprising the Kiwi mood is so upbeat. At a stroke the entire country has fallen back in love with a team who fell from grace last year under the stony-faced regime of John Mitchell, and a reverential crowd of over 2,500 gathered for the open session at Waitemata rugby club, with some workmen even scaling the corrugated iron roof of the factory next door for a better vantage point.

The contrast with England's closed-door training attitude could hardly have been more pronounced as gangs of schoolchildren queued happily for autographs in mellow winter sunshine while the Royal New Zealand Navy's band struck up a medley of appropriate tunes, including Rule Britannia and the themes from Coronation Street and Mission Impossible. Whoever drew up the play-list was clearly having a laugh as well.

Beneath the bonhomie and fantastic public relations, however, Graham Henry's squad are also nursing a fair few bumps and bruises from the first Test at Carisbrook, with four players requiring treatment ahead of the coach's announcement of what, ideally for him, will be an unchanged side for this weekend's second Test at Eden Park.

Wing Doug Howlett has been sent for a scan on a damaged shoulder, the outstanding flanker and vice-captain Richie McCaw is suffering from headaches,while Justin Marshall took a bump to his right knee and skipper Tana Umaga suffered a bout of cramp.

England, meanwhile, had everyone fit for their light gym session, though Josh Lewsey showed signs of Saturday's battle with seven stitches above an eye.

Guardian Service