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Rearguard ready for Tri Nations

Rearguard ready for Tri Nations

06/27/2010 03:27:49 AM

New Zealand's back trio feel better-prepared for the Tri Nations because of the law changes which had allowed them to get more involved.

Wing Cory Jane said after Saturday's second Test win over Wales that last year wasn't the best rugby and this year there had been a plan to target in the first three games and to win them all. That had been achieved so the side couldn't be too disappointed about Saturday's game.

Jane said the side had made enough line breaks but holding onto passes too long or dropping the ball cost it the opportunities to score more than the two tries achieved in the match.

Jane was full of praise for 'the old man' at fullback, Mils Muliaina, especially for coming in and playing the full 80 minutes which he had not done for some time this year due to his injuries.

He said the Welsh had mixed up there defence a little more than in the first Test.

"Last week they got a little bit predictable but this week they mixed it up a bit more, they kept coming one way and then they would switch. You saw that in their last try, they put us under a bit more pressure and it wasn't so readable for us so that is a credit to them that in a week they could change it up and do that.

"Defensively we were pretty good but a couple of individual errors got us under a little pressure," he said.

Jane was feeling the pressure of competition in the wing position. "You don't want to make a mistake," he said.

And the likes of his Hurricanes and Wellington team-mate Hosea Gear was leading the way with another outstanding game for the NZ Maori against England in Napier on Wednesday.

"We've just got to go out there and try to keep improving because we know there is a lot of talent around so if bugger up we're out and they'll come in," he said.

Jane said he was enjoying himself on the wing with the All Blacks, although back with the Hurricanes he would still look to play fullback, and the positions had become very similar anyway.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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