All Blacks conscious of higher hurdles ahead
Recalling that Japan beat Wales earlier this
year, albeit without their British and Irish Lions, All Blacks first
five-eighths Dan Carter has warned his team-mates of the need to prepare
for Saturday's Test in Tokyo.
New Zealand are without eight players who have gone to Europe ahead of the Test match against France while a less experienced side is to be in action in Japan with Carter, and All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw at the helm.
Carter said after arriving in Japan on Monday: "I think Japanese rugby is on a high at the moment. The club competition is very strong and they [Japan] had a couple of great Test matches against Wales.
"You know, they beat Wales in the last Test match so we have to make sure we do our homework on the Japan side so we can play well on Saturday," he said.
"It's important that we start the tour well.
"We've got some really important games away from home so we have to make sure we continue the momentum that we have built throughout the season and play well," he said.
The two countries have met twice before in official Test matches – at the 1995 Rugby World Cup when they were beaten 145-177 and at the 2011 World Cup. In 1987 a near full-strength New Zealand team toured Japan and in two 'internationals' beat Japan 74-0 and 106-4.
Japan have had to prepare for this year's game without former Wallaby coach Eddie Jones who suffered a stroke. They also have a concern over the availability of centre Harumichi Tatekawa who has been hospitalised with a knee injury.
