All Blacks told to remember 1983 before grand slam tour

The All Blacks will be reminded of 1983 as they head to Britain and Ireland this week seeking their second grand slam, assistant coach Wayne Smith told reporters.

A 35-man squad was named for the four-test tour and, like their side 22 years ago, the All Blacks are fresh off a comprehensive demolition of a combined British and Irish Lions team in the New Zealand winter.

Smith, however, said the class of 2005 need only look at 1983 when New Zealand beat the Lions 4-0 then drew with Scotland and lost to England on their end of season tour.

"There is an understanding here that it will be tough," Smith said. "I was involved in 1983 when we beat the Lions fairly convincingly and when we toured at the end of the year we drew with Scotland and lost to England.

"We found that the individual nations played with ferocity and a patriotism that we didn't quite expect."

New Zealand play Six Nations champions Wales on November 5, followed by Ireland on November 12, England on the 19th and Scotland on November 26.

The All Blacks have only once before won a grand slam, tour victories against all four national sides, in 1978.