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Auckland - Expect the All Blacks to tone down the razzle-dazzle as a must-win attitude takes precedence over entertainment in their sudden-death Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash against Argentina on Sunday.
It is a game that is likely be decided in the forwards, where the powerful Argentinians back themselves, and when All Blacks hardman Brad Thorn talks about the pressure of knockout matches the rest of the team take notice.
Although a fearsome competitor on the field, it is hard to get the powerful lock excited off it, but when questioned about what to expect in a playoff the 36-year-old dual code international lights up.
"I find it real refreshing, it's do the business or see ya later. To me I find that exciting," the veteran of a combined 400 first-class games of rugby union and league drawled in his trade-mark gravelly voice, a legacy from being hit in the neck.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry rates Thorn's experience as invaluable to the side, many of whom are playing in their first major tournament and have no experience of the cut-throat nature of knockout fixtures.
"He's the back bone of the team, one of the major back bones if you like," Henry said.
"He's been there and played a lot of professional sport, he knows what it's about."
The New Zealand-born Thorn appeared in four Australian National Rugby League Grand Finals winning two of them with the Brisbane Broncos, featured in the tough State-of-Origin series and represented Australia in the 13-man game.
"In pool play you're trying to progress into the finals. Once you get to the knockout footy it really is if you don't do the business this week you're on your way home," he said.
"So from my experience from finals footy there is more intensity, it gets a lot more serious and for me as a player. I've enjoyed the last month but to me this is what it's about from now on."
Fellow rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams, who clashed with Thorn in a preliminary Grand Final playing for the Sydney-based Canterbury Bulldogs in 2006, would like New Zealand's backs to play with their customary freedom but knows that may not be possible.
"We've got to acknowledge this is knockout football and there's no tomorrow. You've got to find the right balance, not go into your shell but still express yourself, but obviously know it's finals time," he said.
The All Blacks pack were never fully tested in their pool matches, apart from a brief period in the second half of the match against Tonga, and Thorn welcomed Argentina's warning of an intense battle in the forwards.
"I think that's great. For me this level of footy is all about the challenge and we've massive respect for Argentina, the scrum, lineout, forward play in general.
"So for me it's a great thing to come up against a really good opponent and test yourself and that's why it's called a Test match. I've a lot of respect for what they're going to bring and looking forward to a tight contest."
