The All Blacks admit their scrum has been a chink in their armour this year and fully expect France to try to exploit it in their Test at Paris.
Most facets of New Zealand’s game have either improved or been of consistently high quality on their way to 11 wins from 11 Tests in 2013.
However, coach Steve Hansen admits they have struggled to adapt to the new scrum engagement laws, enduring poor patches in most games.
That includes last weekend’s 54-6 trouncing of Japan in Tokyo, where the home side stunned the All Blacks by shunting them off the ball in an early scrum.
“There’s no doubt we have to get better at it. We’re not starting the games well, but we are scrummaging well at the end of the game,” Hansen said.
“The quality of ball we’re getting off the scrum is not as good as it could be. We have to adapt quicker than we are.”
Hansen says the new laws, in which front rows fold together rather than “hit” with power on engagement, had turned the set-piece on its head.
It had become an eight-versus-seven battle because the attacking hookers must now hook the ball, robbing the team feeding the scrum of a forward’s push.
Making matters worse for the attacking team, referees call for the halfback to feed the ball, allowing the defensive pack to time their shove.
Hansen says the issue was addressed at an IRB coaches and referees meeting he attended in London on Tuesday.
All parties agreed the law involving the referee call must be changed.
“The laws are made without a lot of consultation with the key people who actually play the game and coach the game,” Hansen said.
“The final decisions are made by people who played the game a long time ago. Sometimes they make the decisions wrong.”
Veteran All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu says a big scrum can dictate the result of a Test against the French.
He recalled a 2004 Test in Paris when, as a reserve, he watched props Carl Hayman and Tony Woodcock and hooker Anton Oliver dismantle the hosts.
“I remember Hatchet (Oliver) and Carl went straight over the top of them and it pretty much changed the game.”
The All Blacks enjoyed a day off training on Wednesday, ahead of the team announcement on Thursday.
