During last year's World Rugby Classic the All Blacks stuck with tradition and refused to kick for goal.

Borne out of a time when they used to trounce all before them, running up massive scores in the process, the 14-year-old policy was admirable in its intent.

However, it drew criticism from some quarters and ultimately cost them a place in last year's final.

Playing against South Africa Andy Haden's men went down 14-10. The difference - two declined conversions.

"They just kicked two goals," Haden, the veteran All Blacks forward, said afterwards. "I think we might ask for the tournament to change that. Do the public want to come here and see running and passing or kicking? If you want to see kicking at goal, have the rules the way they are!"

However, this year, in accordance with the rules, Haden said his team would kick and with that in mind he will unveil a not so secret weapon against Portugal/Spain at the National Sports Centre tomorrow - prolific New Zealand fly-half Frano Botica.

Botica, who played for his country between 1986 and 1989 before switching codes and leading Wigan's rugby league team to glory in England, is described as having a metronomic ability to get the ball between the posts. His father, Nick, played in the early Classic tournaments and was a big favourite with the crowd.

Haden does not hide his dislike of kicking in this particular arena and displayed a typically dry wit when asked about the situation.

"The rules we have been sent have told us to kick goals so we have invited Frano Botica to kick goals from everywhere," he said. "And we will help him bore the spectators to death during the rugby matches and amuse the pants off them in the bars and night clubs!"

Meanwhile, the USA Golden Eagles say they are delighted to return to Bermuda to take on the debutante Classic Lionesses prior to next weekend's World Rugby Classic final.

The Golden Eagles squad includes 12 women who played in the 2000 Bermuda match, a fitting 10-10 draw between classic squads from the US and England.

"Our team contains of six of the 15 most capped US players and three of the top six US point scorers," said the US' Jane Mitchell.

"This squad boasts an estimated quarter of all caps ever won by U.S. players, totalling 166."

The squad also includes seven players who played in the first ever Test match the US played against Canada in 1987.

"The squad of 21 also includes ten players who competed in the 1991 women's World Cup, where the US were victorious," said Mitchell.

Mitchell said she hoped the match would be well received by a crowd more used to the mens' game.

She said she hoped the team would combine a range of different playing eras together in an attractive style under the eye of coach Joe Kelly."Highlighting the women's game is incredibly important to us," said Mitchell. "There have been many strides since the first womens' world cup in Cardiff in 1991, but unfortunately the women's game still struggles to attain coverage in the US.

"Playing in front of a fervent rugby crowd in Bermuda was a total thrill and a large part of that was that it was the first time that many supporters had seen women play. They really enjoyed it and were impressed by the standard.

"That kind of exposure is invaluable to women's rugby in the US where players still pay most of their way to represent their country."