All Blacks aiming to step up a gear

New Zealand will be testing themselves against two teams at Wellington Regional Stadium on Sunday: Canada and the team the All Blacks themselves aspire to be.

New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith said as well as dealing with a tough Canadian challenge in their final Pool A match, the All Blacks will be honing their own game to improve on the 37-17 win over France.

"We've got Canada and we've got ourselves that we're playing. And we've just got to keep stacking the stones up and get better at the areas we weren't so good at (against France)," Smith said.

"We were patchy and we've got to make those good patches longer."

Smith said his son had been indexing the videos of Canada's matches for analysis and had red-flagged several potential threats.

Big tournaments

"He's sent me a few warnings through. I've got a few clips there of (number 8) Chauncey O'Toole and (flanker Adam) Kleeberger and Aaron Carpenter the number 8, who's been really good, a good ball carrier, and the centre van der Merwe. I think they've had big tournaments," Smith said.

“They’ll be looking to perform on a big stage I’d suggest. It won’t be what people expect. I think it’ll be competitive."

Smith said a feature of the tournament had been the lower-ranked nations' improved defensive and attacking structures. They were no longer just relying on "kick and hope" in attack.

“If you have a look at them (Canada) they definitely have sequences of their set pieces that are well structured and well played and they are not going to roll over, I can guarantee that.”

Read fit

In a boost for the All Blacks, number 8 Kieran Read has declared himself fit to play again after suffering a high ankle sprain against Australia last month.

Although the team has yet to be named, the All Blacks would be keen to give Read some game time as soon as possible and he is eager to take the field.

“The ankle is great. I’ll be available for selection this week, so I’ll be training fully with the guys, which is pretty pleasing for myself," Read said.

“It’s pretty awesome to be able to be sitting here and hopefully playing on Sunday and going well.”

Smith said wing Richard Kahui (hamstring) was definitely ruled out as a precaution, while flanker Adam Thomson (knee/ankle) and wing Cory Jane (head knock) were in doubt, although all three took some part in Tuesday morning's training session.

Full back Israel Dagg (deep thigh bruise) was a wait-and-see proposition, even though his injury was the least serious.