All Blacks' biggest problem a simple one: not enough points

The All Blacks have struggled to cross the chalk in the first two matches of the Tri-Nations, scoring just two tries.

If they are going to defend their title they need to crank up their attack this weekend in Durban.

Today was the team's day off, time to relax and for the backs coach time to worry about catching some waves rather than his misfiring attack.

"I think we’re improving," says Wayne Smith. "We're playing with a bit of width and there is better understanding of what we want to do. Execution has been our big thing under pressure, where we’ve made some critical errors."

Those errors have blunted the All Blacks' attack. They averaged two tries a game in the three June tests, and just one per test in the Tri-Nations. They have halved their points per match from two years ago, down from 41 to just under 21 points this year.

Smith says the absence of Daniel Carter is not an issue - the errors are to blame, along with improved defence and more kicking.

"We are trying to play that expansive of game that we have always played, but we have had to modify as well."

The attack has not been helped by the misfiring lineout. The best attacking ball is off the top, and at the end - two things the All Blacks regularly fail to achieve.

"Having said that there were enough opportunities to score tries from. We didn't quite manage it," says Smith.

If unlocking the Springbok defence is not challenge enough, against the backdrop of strikes, violence and riots that are quite sadly almost the norm in South Africa, Springbok coach Peter de Villiers says a second victory against the All Blacks on Sunday will be a welcome tonic for the country.

"You play the game for quite a few reasons," he says. "One, to be the leaders and to assert yourself on the field and make people respect you, the second and the most important one for me is to build a nation."

"It's a difficult place to play," says Smith, "but it's a great place to play because the game is so significant and you feel significant being a part of it."