Training progress pleases Key

Leeds have a month to build up to their opening game of the new Aviva Premiership campaign when Bath visit Headingley on Sunday, September 4 and Key said the 31-6 reverse was nothing to worry about.

"We have worked the players really hard this week with their conditioning and you would not do that if you were desperate to win a game at the end of the week," said Key.

"The true test of our efforts this week will come next week when we play Ospreys at Headingley. They are a side who are at a similar level of preparation for their season as us, so that will give us a good indication of where we are with our plans".

Leeds were without the likes of captain Marco Wentzel and England pair of Steve Thompson and Hendre Fourie but, Key added: " We always knew that some players would not be involved this week but their attitude in training has been first class."

Centre Conrad Smith believes New Zealand are putting the foundations in place for their latest tilt at ending their World Cup hoodoo.

The All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup thanks to a 20-10 victory over trans-Tasman rivals Australia in Christchurch, their 13th Test win in a row, moving them to within a solitary point of a 10th Tri Nations title.

While New Zealand's opening three wins in the competition had been based around a fluid high-tempo attacking game, this success owed much to a tremendous defensive display which saw the Wallabies stymied despite enjoying the greater share of possession at AMI Stadium.

And Wellington three-quarter Smith believes the qualities shown on Saturday can stand his side in good stead as they look to end a 24-year wait for a World Cup win on home soil in 2011.

"If we could keep that going into next year, it's pretty powerful," he said.

"We had to work pretty hard to come away with a good win and to lock that cup away is a nice feeling.

"We felt pretty sound.

"We were well tested obviously and there were long periods when we were having to tackle and apart from the one try, which was really against the run of play, it felt like we defended really well."