Muliaina not keen on making it into the record books

It's best that All Blacks captain Mils Muliaina doesn't delve too deeply into this country's rugby record books ahead of the second test against France here tomorrow.

Muliaina stands on the precipice of emulating a record that has stood for 60 years -- the last time a New Zealand player lost his first two games as captain.

Muliaina will be anxious to reverse last week's 27-22 defeat in Dunedin, so as to not match the feat of centre Ron Elvidge, whose first taste of the captaincy was twin losses to South Africa on the failed tour there of 1949.

Elvidge relieved Fred Allen of the leadership after the All Blacks lost the first two tests in Cape Town and Johannesburg but could do no better in Durban and Port Elizabeth as the tourists were smashed 4-0.

Veteran fullback Muliaina, standing in for the injured Richie McCaw, was conscious of his first result at the helm but hadn't let it affect him this week.

"It's probably been a lot more enjoyable this week, they (teammates) are a good bunch of guys," he said today.

"Obviously the record so far isn't too pleasing but we're ready to make it right tomorrow night.

"The boys don't need too much motivation. It took a couple of days earlier in the week to get up again after a disappointing loss."

It had been 17 years since any All Blacks captain lost his first game as captain.

That dubious honour went to prop Steve McDowell, whose midweek All Blacks team crashed to an embarrassing 40-17 loss to Sydney in Penrith.

Earlier that year, Sean Fitzpatrick lost his first test in charge, against a World 15 team in Christchurch. The New Zealanders recovered to win the series 2-1.