All Blacks' lock crisis

Mark Chisholm grabs a lineout from All Black James Ryan

Despite a resting program during the Super 14, the All Blacks are experiencing somewhat of lock crisis heading into this year's Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup matches.

The New Zealanders have been struck by adversity with a broken nose to Ali Williams and a blown calf muscle to Keith Robinson to add to Jason Eaton and James Ryan already sidelined through injury.

Going into the Tri Nations without the full locking strength puts tremendous pressure on the All Blacks, especially when the great in terms of lineout strength.

In order to counter the Matfields and Vickermans of the rugby world, the All Blacks will have to look to an applied approach to ensure their own supply of ball.

Such requirements have tended to be outstanding incentive for All Blacks teams of the past, and should provide an ideal focal point at a time when things were looking relatively ho-hum for the World Cup favourites.

It was like in 1977 when the All Blacks were thrashed in the first Test in France by a monstrous forward pack.

For the second Test they decided to run the big Frenchmen off the park. And they did in one of the outstanding displays of the era.

In many ways, the situation now confronting the All Blacks is a perfect trial for their ability to cope with left-field problems that could strike during the World Cup.

Although it has to be said if the All Blacks by now are not prepared for anything, then their campaign is already lost.