All Blacks head for Argentina
Other team travels ahead of reserves
The strength in depth of the All Blacks was given another public display on Thursday as the bulk of the team to play Argentina in Buenos Aires next weekend departed before their compatriots had even kicked-off the second Test against Ireland.
Saturday's team to take on Ireland saw their team-mates off with a Haka outside the squad's Auckland hotel, where the 39-strong June Test squad has been staying.
The starting side for Argentina, to be led by Jerry Collins, left on Thursday, while the reserves will be chosen from the other 24 players who have played in the matches against Ireland over last weekend and this one coming.
Collins confessed he was worried about possible rustiness ahead of the Argentina match, but said that the current squad size was an important part of the development towards the Rugby World Cup 2007 in France.
"Nothing's going to be perfect. We've got some young fellas and some positional changes," Collins said to reporters.
"Obviously we're going to make mistakes. We just have to have a positive attitude and look forward to playing.
"We're all in the same boat, we've got moves to learn and team-mates to get used to."
Collins will be leading the All Blacks for the first time, an honour which he only accepted after lengthy consultation with other players and former skipper Tana Umaga.
"I just have to make sure I don't trip over in the tunnel coming down," he joked, making light of the burden of responsibility.
