ALL BLACKS SEE PAIN AS WAY TO CUP GAIN

After huge Springboks loss, coach sees 'real confidence' before Bledisloe Cup defence

- 

New Zealand's mission to retain the Bledisloe Cup against Australia has helped the All Blacks move on from the pain of their record defeat by South Africa, assistant coach Jason Holland said on Sept 23.

The All Blacks have held the trans-Tasman trophy since 2003 and can lock it away for a 23rd successive year with victory over the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship clash at Eden Park on Sept 27.

Ten days after the 43-10 setback against the Springboks in Wellington, Holland had few concerns about players "dropping heads" following the nation’s heaviest defeat in Test rugby.

"Obviously the boys hurt massively during the last week," he told reporters in Auckland.

"A lot of those boys have been around a long time and they're pretty clear with everyone around what the Bledisloe means.

"It’s massive for the crew, it’s massive for us and getting solutions quickly has enabled us to have real confidence in what we're going to do this week."