Brodie Retallick (L) and Sam Whitelock. Photo: PhotoSport / Brett Phibbs
The All Blacks are adamant they've learnt the lessons from a "painful" defeat to France and they're determined to mark Sam Whitelock's milestone with victory.
The three-time champions take on Namibia in their second World Cup game on Saturday morning.
Sam Whitelock scored twice on debut against Ireland in 2010 and 13 years later he'll play his 148th test to equal Richie McCaw's record as the most capped All Black.
Whitelock, a two-time World Cup winner, has been named at lock for tomorrow's clash with Namibia, as the All Blacks seek to get back to winning ways after successive losses to the Springboks and France.
Coach Ian Foster said they must produce a performance worthy of the milestone.
"He has been a warrior for this team for a long time and to equal someone like Richie is a massive achievement.
"We all know how much it means to him to pull on the black jersey.
"The 148th time is a very special occasion, we want to make sure we put a performance on that gives that record a lot of respect and celebrate it with him afterwards."
Ardie Savea will captain the team against Namibia. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
With captain Sam Cane ruled out for a second straight game with a back injury, No.8 Ardie Savea will again lead the side.
He said Whitelock's influence on the team was hard to measure.
"He's been around a long time. He's adapted and grown.
"Something else I've observed about Sam is how he is able to relate to everyone and try and understand other people and other cultures. That's something that for me I look at and think 'yo, I've got your back'."
Lock Brodie Retallick is back in the starting XV with Foster making nine changes to the side from the one that lost to France.
First-five Damian McKenzie and halfback Cam Roigard are both making their World Cup debuts, and the latter a first test start.
"It's been pretty surreal since I did get named in the squad and hoping that this sort of moment would eventuate, and for it to be just around the corner is pretty exciting," Roigard said.
"I've always been competitive. I've always tried to chase people in my position, right from Super Rugby to where I am now - that's a big part of my development.
"So, though I'm a little bit introverted and quiet, being competitive, and pushing myself and others around me is a big part of trying to grow, and be a better player."
Roigard wasn't involved in the France defeat but the fallout from that match continues, with many pundits questioning the validity of the All Blacks possession based game plan.
Coach Ian Foster believes most of the top teams are employing a territory focused strategy where they'd rather kick the ball away, play in their rivals half of the field and put them under defensive pressure.
He insisted the All Blacks were still keen to keep the ball in hand, but conceded they would have to adjust if it's not working.
"You have to be really careful that if you do want to play a retention game, you have to do it in the right ends of the park and you do it in a situation that you still have momentum.
"I think you've got teams that if they're not going forward they're going to kick a lot more than perhaps they usually would and maybe there's a good lesson for us there."
Ian Foster. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The heat in Toulouse tomorrow won't be as intense as it was in Paris, but the mercury is still set to reach 30 degrees on game day and fans will be hoping to avoid similar scenes to the opening weekend, when venues ran out of beer.
Tournament organisers are confident that won't happen again and Foster remained confident his side were still World Cup title contenders.
"We've taken some painful lessons but we're still strong believers in what we do.
"We've just got to make sure that shows up this week."
A big win over Namibia will go some way to easing All Blacks fans pain, though it won't necessarily reveal if the team has learnt enough to be able to mix it with the likes of France and South Africa at the business end of the World Cup.
