Gerry Thornley on why residual, and legitimate, anger over that tackle should not be allowed to sour the visit of rugby's ultimate warriors

They're back: the big, bad, dastardly All Blacks. And whatever about the Wallabies or the Springboks being in the general vicinity, it is the presence of the Almighty Blacks that invariably gives an added frisson to the "autumn" internationals. For all the bleating about that double slam-dunk, it would be an awful lot duller without the world's number one rugby team from the world's leading rugby nation.

As these All Blacks are attempting a Grand Slam for only the seventh time in their history, this tour has more resonance than any they've undertaken in the professional era. Only once have they won all four, in their most recent attempt in 1978.

This tour also marks the centenary of the famous "Originals" of 1905/1906, whose only blemish in a remarkable 35-match tour of Britain, Ireland, France and North America was a controversial 3-0 defeat to Wales. No touring All Blacks have done more to change the game or their country's identity.

"They left home as Colonials and returned as New Zealanders," ventured Graham Henry recently.

Ever conscious of their history and rugby's place in that heritage, the 2005 All Blacks will commemorate that tour publicly and privately in a variety of ways throughout these four weeks. To add only a second Grand Slam in a year in which they've also whitewashed the Lions, retained the Bledisloe Cup and regained the Tri-Nations, nothing much could top it outside of a World Cup.

"Of course, as ever, they're under an awful lot of pressure from the public," commented Warren Gatland from New Zealand this week. "Everybody is talking about the Grand Slam but the players and the coaches definitely aren't talking about that. They're making all the right noises and they've learnt from South Africa's mistakes last year."

Then South Africa were also the reigning Tri-Nations champions and gave hostages to fortune by labelling their European trek the Grand Slam Tour, coming unhinged - after a narrow win over Wales - at Lansdowne Road and Twickenham.

"They're always planning ahead with the World Cup in mind," says Gatland, "making sure they've at least two players in every position and having the depth throughout the squad which versatile players can bring them. They'll be looking at some new combinations and will probably play all 35 players at some point. It wouldn't be a surprise if they changed virtually the entire team when they play Ireland next week."

Given Tana Umaga will be leading them at the Millennium Stadium today therefore, the prospect of him making a, sadly inflammatory, appearance at Lansdowne Road is more remote. Indeed, it would be a terrible pity if that double slam-dunk on Brian O'Driscoll by Umaga and Keven Mealamu, and its fallout, overshadowed this tour and besmirched the good name of the All Blacks, and even the mystical haka.

Horrific incident though it was, had it been handled better the dust would have largely settled by now. Unfortunately, no less than, say, the Springboks or France, New Zealand rugby appears pathologically unable to admit to wrongdoing.

Umaga, a true All Blacks warrior, was undoubtedly acting on legal advice from an All Blacks corner mindful of the presence of Richard Smith QC in the Lions camp, when saying nothing at the post-Test press conference. When, three days later in Wellington, he was backed into a corner by the media, Umaga visibly bristled, as did his team-mates. To apologise then would have been seen as an act of weakness, and they ain't going to apologise now in light of an amateur video that showed the spearing in all its horror, the publication of Brian O'Driscoll's diary and least of all columns on the subject in the Irish and British media.

Indeed, recalling how the All Blacks responded in the second Test after their haka was drowned out by booing, overcoming the Lions' most competitive performance of the series with their most emphatic display, and how Umaga himself went on to be the undoubted player of the series, reviving the matter will probably be counterproductive.

"I don't think it's Brian's fault that this has been brought up again, but the attitude in the New Zealand public is that he's still whingeing about it," comments Gatland. "That, unfortunately, would be the feeling. But I'm not quite sure what can be achieved if it's constantly brought up by the media now in public or in press conferences.

"They underestimated the Kiwi mentality before the second Test match and if you back them into a corner it merely galvanises the Kiwis, both as teams and as a nation. I know the Irish have that feeling about the English . . . It's not unlike the Irish mentality. If there's too much publicity about it, I can only see that galvanising the All Blacks."

O'Driscoll surely makes a valid point in his diary when venturing that New Zealand's obsession with rugby borders on the unhealthy. But for the most part it is a great country to tour. As they showed last summer, they'd make superb World Cup hosts in 2011, and ultimately no nation or national team has given more to the game. The All Blacks have continually set new standards of 15-man athleticism, dynamism and skill even amid their unlucky defeat at the 1995 World Cup.

And so it continues under Graham Henry and his brains trust. Like Henry, both Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have Super 12 titles and Test experience on their CVs, and under them the All Blacks' curve has steadily risen. True, the All Blacks' frailties under pressure were exposed in Cape Town, particularly the boy wonder Daniel Carter, but even without him they stormed back to win a third Tri-Nations in four years.

They have developed a compelling brand of high-octane and often high-risk rugby with a premium on dominating the collisions until it takes an unremitting toll, in which anyone from one to 15 can sidestep, pass off both feet or unload in the tackle, and is decorated by world-class players in key positions, such as Richie McCaw, Chris Jack, Carter and Umaga.

They fly into every breakdown and ruck with unbridled ferocity, the key being quick ruck ball, with which they can open many defences in two or three phases. When it clicks, as it did against France last autumn or the Lions, especially in Wellington, they simply scale heights no one else can match.

"The one thing I think the All Blacks have to be careful about," warns Gatland, "is making sure that when putting together 15 fantastic footballers, all capable of stepping and carrying, you still need your workhorses, hitting lots of rucks and doing the donkey work."

Henry and his brains trust are also mindful of previous mistakes, when the All Blacks were perhaps guilty of believing in their own invincibility, when not sufficiently covered in certain positions or when one or two key injuries left them looking rudderless. With that in mind, Henry has unearthed another five uncapped players, including 19-year-old Isaiah Toeava, untried at Super 12 level but equally at home at outhalf, in the centre, on the wing or at fullback. "When we come to World Cup time and we are only permitted to pick 30 players that utility value is going to be very important," he said. "What we are trying to do is develop depth across the park so if we have an injury going into major games we have got another player who has got the experience of playing top-quality international football in that position."

No doubt Henry is as fearful as most in New Zealand that their cherished All Blacks, the nearest thing to royalty in that country, might be peaking too soon again.

"We're still only halfway down the road in the development of the team," he warned after the Tri-Nations, "and there is still plenty of work to be done. I have told the team that if we believe we have reached our potential, then we are in big trouble."

As ever though, the fear of immediate failure will be paramount.

"They definitely don't want to be the first All Blacks team to lose to either Ireland or Scotland," says Gatland, reminding us of the weight of history on every All Blacks team.

"The feeling amongst the New Zealand public is that the first two games will be the most difficult, because Wales won the Grand Slam last year and because of what Ireland have achieved in recent years, and because England were seen to provide the bulk of a poor Lions team. But I think England could be the most dangerous."

Gatland believes the All Blacks are well equipped to complete a remarkable year with a Grand Slam. Mindful that the Welsh are missing five of their Lions and Ireland three of theirs, the sense of history and destiny will surely be a powerful spur for an All Blacks squad in curiously rude health at the end of their season.

"If we put all the eggs in the Grand Slam basket I think we can become unstuck," comments Henry. "If we have the same attitude as last year's tour to Europe when we went out to play attractive rugby then the rest will take care of itself and if the Grand Slam happens that's a bonus."

Nonetheless, even with such a bonus, Henry would probably be deemed a relatively failure if they don't subsequently reach their holy grail in France. Such is the lot of an All Blacks coach, even one as venerated as Henry currently is.

Grand Slam attempts

1905-06

Played 4, Won 3, Lost 1 (v Wales 0-3)

1935-36

Played 4, Won 2, Lost 2 (v Wales 12-13, v England 0-13)

1953-54

Played 4, Won 3, Lost 1 (v Wales 8-13)

1963-64

Played 4, Won 3, Drew 1 (v Scotland 0-0)

1972-73

Played 4, Won 3, Drew 1 (v Ireland 10-10)

1978

Played 4, Won 4.