Could we see the All Blacks dip into their bag of tricks against France?

Steve Hansen has been plotting furiously, with his All Blacks set to unleash a bold, innovative new playing style in June that they hope will continue to keep them a step ahead of their rivals.

All Blacks first five-eighths and principal game driver Beauden Barrett, aka the best player on the planet, confirmed on the second day of the opening training camp of the year in Auckland that they had started the process of bedding in a new approach to the game.

He indicated that it would "challenge" the players, but at the same time help to keep the All Blacks right where they are at the top of the global game heading towards next year's World Cup.

ANDREW CORNAGA Beauden Barrett works hard at the All Blacks' gym session during their training camp in Auckland on Monday.

That, of course, should come as no great surprise. From year to year the All Blacks are always looking to tweak their approach, and style, to keep both themselves and their rivals honest. They are well aware that theirs is the most scrutinised style in the sport and have always lived by the maxim that to stay still, is to go backwards.

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"It's really exciting, getting an idea of where we're going with this team, and the changes we're looking to make which is exciting for me as a 10," said Barrett following a morning gym session among the assembled June squad of 33, and one or two additional faces.

This is the first of two contentious national camps which fall smack-bang in the middle of Super Rugby, and have proved more than a little disruptive for the four coaches still chasing prime playoff spots.

GETTY IMAGES What has Steve Hansen and the ABs coaches come up with? Beauden Barrett says with the line-speed prevalent in the modern game 'you have to be innovative in how you attack'.

But as Barrett was happy to share, these are not just window-dressing opportunities. Some honest to goodness important and evolutionary work is going on.

"It's very exciting," added Barrett. "Obviously the coaches have been watching Super Rugby for a while now, and northern hemisphere rugby. They've picked up on a few trends and ideas on how to keep moving and keep challenging us as players.

"We're really looking forward to getting together and running through a few minor changes today and tomorrow. It's important we keep moving forward and keep challenging ourselves."

Asked about the extent of the changes, Barrett said: "There's always innovation when it comes to Fozzie (assistant coach Ian Foster) and Steve. You will gradually see it the next few weeks. I don't want to give away too much."

Revolutionary, per chance?

"I wouldn't go that far. It's just about us challenging ourselves, particularly around our skillsets, but also some structural change as well."

He said any changes had to be incremental, with their limited preparation time, but hinted strongly that the All Blacks were about to make their most significant response yet to the lightning line-speed they're typically seeing these days.

"Everyone is picking up on the idea of line-speed and teams are getting better and better at defending that way. So you have to be innovative in how you attack that. Everyone in the world is trying to do it (line speed), and we've got our ideas and look forward to implementing it out on the training field."

New skipper Sam Whitelock had shaken off his delayed concussion issues to join the squad in Auckland, while crocked hooker Dane Coles was also there as an observer. Barrett said new faces Jordan Taufua and Shannon Frizell were "buzzing" as they soak up their first experience in an All Blacks camp.

Discipline is another topic sure to be covered over the three days in camp. Hansen indicated at Sunday's announcement he would be having a word with his two Crusaders props Joe Moody and Owen Franks who are both suspended from Super Rugby right now because of foul play over the last two rounds.

"Ideally we wouldn't put ourselves or our team under pressure any more than what we have been doing," said Barrett. "We can't afford to have periods where we're down to 14 men or even 13 at times. No doubt it will be a focus going into the French tests and Steve will be driving that message pretty hard."

Asked if the best team in the world could also be the best behaved one, Barrett toed a diplomatic line.

"It's always about pushing the boundaries, but there's no excuse for foul play. There's a clear line there. Yes, the ruck is always going to be a contest and different refs control the game differently, and you have to adapt on the go a lot of the time.

"But there's no excuse for foul play and none of that in our team going forward."

The camp continues until Tuesday evening when players will be despatched to rejoin their Super Rugby sides.