New Zealand coach Graham Henry believes his reconditioning programme will prove the difference in this year's World Cup.
Henry sidelined 22 of his top players from the opening rounds of the Super 14 to work on their strength and stamina.
And the former Auckland, Wales and Lions coach expects the programme to pay major dividends.
He told The New Zealand Herald: ‘A lot of the guys are producing personal bests in terms of the weights they are lifting.
‘The idea is that we will have bigger, faster, stronger athletes. The guys will be able to run faster and run quicker for longer and that gives us some major positives on the field.
'We are trying to produce explosive athletes and they form the foundation stone of what we are trying to do. We will try and do the things we are already doing, but hopefully, do them better. We will be doing all those things with bigger, faster athletes.
‘But we are always learning and there might be opportunity for us to tweak our game here and there.’
The 22 players, including captain Richie McCaw, Leicester-bound vice-captain Aaron Mauger and fly-half Daniel Carter, return to action in next month's round eight of the Super 14.
The All Blacks' competitive season begins with two tests against France in June.
