New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith has played down talk of the All Blacks completing a "Grand Slam" over the home unions on their forthcoming UK tour. The All Blacks demolished the British and Irish Lions in the summer 3-0, but Smith has told his players to remember what happened to the 1983 touring side.
He said: "I was involved in 1983 when we beat the Lions 4-0, but drew with Scotland and lost to England on tour.
"The nations played with a ferocity and patriotism we did not quite expect."
New Zealand have named a 35-man squad for the tour, which begins on 5 November against Six Nations champions Wales.
And Smith continued: "We have to realise that each of the nations are going to want to knock us over - we have to set ourselves up for what will be tough games."
All Blacks coach Graham Henry echoed his assistant's comments, adding: "If we get too far ahead of ourselves we will fall over.
 |  In the back of the mind, very much in the back of the mind, will be the challenge of a Grand Slam |
"South Africa had a Grand Slam possibility on their tour last year but they won two and lost two.
"I talked to the South African coach Jake White and he told me they had got too far ahead of themselves."
Henry, who is prioritising the 2007 World Cup, intends to give every member of his 35-man squad a start in the four Tests against Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland.
He has also stated skipper Tana Umaga will play only one of the first two Tests, with vice-captain Richie McCaw taking charge in his absence.
New prop Neemia Tialata, who can play on both sides of the scrum, could make his Test debut early in the tour with Greg Somerville struggling with a calf injury.
Most of the New Zealand squad will not have played competitive rugby since the end of the round robin phase of the National Provincial Championship in the second weekend of October.
"It is a tough challenge," Henry said of the Wales Test.
 MacDonald got the nod ahead of the likes of Marty Holah |
"We have got some players who played in the NPC final on Saturday and are ready for Test match rugby and we have others who have not played for four weeks.
"Then there's Leon MacDonald who has only had 10 minutes of rugby since the Tri-Nations.
"It is a great challenge but I am sure they are up for it. It will be the anniversary of the 1905 game and in the back of the mind, very much in the back of the mind, will be the challenge of a Grand Slam."
The only All Blacks side to complete a 'Grand Slam' over the four home unions was Graham Mourie's touring side in 1978.
MMIX
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