All Blacks to 'attack from everywhere'

Flyhalf Dan Carter says New Zealand are developing a more attacking gameplan in the hope of confounding opponents' analysis and holding on to their No.1 world ranking.

Speaking after a three-day training camp for next month's three-Test series against France, Carter said he had been given authority to launch attacks from anywhere on the field.

He said the All Blacks were looking to build on their attacking systems of last season, to keep their edge on their nearest rivals.

Carter said the new policy was "the same in terms of direction, but as a flyhalf you have the confidence of being able to attack wherever you want on the field and not specific areas which we've had in the past."

"Basically you have the confidence to call what you want through what the defence shows you which is always good to have.

"We notice teams do analyse us a lot so if they are putting pressure on one specific area we can attack others. It gives us a lot more balanced attack."

Carter said he sensed a new direction for the All Blacks under head coach Steve Hansen.

"Even from last year there are a few subtle changes; having the ability to attack anywhere on the field. It's still early stages and we're adopting lots of new things for the way we want to play."

The All Blacks play France in three Test matches in June and their squad for that series, to be named on June 2, will be selected mainly from the training camp contingent.

"How we want to play will be totally different to the five [Super Rugby] franchises," Hansen said. "It might be a little bit of each, but it will be different.

"We've asked the players to come here and get an understanding of how we want to play our game."

SAPA