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On Edge: All Black fullback Mils Muliaina - Source: Photosport -
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When All Black fullback Mils Muliaina dropped his very first high ball on Saturday night, the teachings of the All Blacks' private shrink, Gilbert Enoka, came into play.
Mils Muliaina, playing just his second match in three months, was a man under pressure at Eden Park on Saturday night.
Not only was he up against a South African side that had exposed the All Blacks under the high ball last season, on their way to a 3-0 clean sweep, but he also had young fullback Israel Dagg breathing down his neck.
So when Muliaina fluffed his very first bomb in the opening minutes, he had every right to start doubting himself - but instead he used a reverse psychology technique taught to him by the All Blacks' private shrink, Gilbert Enoka.
"You try to get out of the red and get yourself into a different spot," Muliaina told tvnz.co.nz. "I kept telling myself to get into the blue."
This "blue-zone" ended up working wonders for the 29-year-old, as he came back from that blunder to star in his finest All Black hour.
While Muliaina may look for "calm blue" for inspiration, other players are taught to apply whatever works for them.
And the brains behind this brawn, literally, is motivational mind-man Enoka.
He has been working with the All Blacks for the past 10 seasons and has also helped New Zealand cricketers, netballers, and volleyball players over a distinguished career.
Enoka gains respect from his disciples because he has pedigree. He went to university at just 16 years of age, graduated with a BA, went on to teach and play volleyball for New Zealand, before discovering that he had an instinctive talent for understanding the mental aspects of sporting performance.
Along the way he collected more qualifications in organisational and industrial psychology before meeting Wayne Smith, who he followed through Super rugby and on to the All Blacks.
Smith is a big believer in the mental side of the game and thinks the All Blacks have made significant progress.
"I think we're making some steps and certainly, the last
seven years I've been involved, we've seen some good movement,"
Smith said.
One All Black who is a work in progress under Enoka is blindside
flanker Jerome Kaino.
The 26-year-old has struggled with his consistency throughout his career, but thanks to his shrink, he now knows how to bounce back.
"I've been there before and know what it's like to be under
pressure and to be on the backfoot," Kaino says.
"(Now I) just slowly go through ways that I can overcome pressure
- even when we're doing well."
