The New Zealand scrum remains a work in progress © Getty Images

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Best professional era Tier-1 Test rugby seasons

• New Zealand
• 1996: 9 wins, 0 draws, 1 loss
• 1997: 11-1-0
• 2005: 11-0-1
• 2006: 12-0-1
• 2010: 13-0-1
• England
• 1996: 5-0-1
• 2001: 10-0-1
• 2002: 8-0-1
• 2003: 16-0-1
• Ireland
• 2009: 9-1-0
• France
• 1998: 8-0-1
• South Africa
• 1998: 11-0-1

The All Blacks fully expect France to try to exploit the scrum in the Dave Gallaher Trophy Test in Paris on Saturday, the New Zealanders accepting their set-piece has been a chink in their unbeaten armour this year.

Most facets of New Zealand's game have improved or been of consistently high quality on their way to 11 wins from 11 Tests in 2013, but Steve Hansen accepts they have struggled to adapt to the new scrum engagement laws.

The All Blacks have enduring poor patches in most Tests this year - including their 54-6 trouncing of Japan in Tokyo, where the home side stunned them by shunting them off the ball in an early scrum.

"There's no doubt we have to get better at it," Hansen said. "We're not starting the games well, but we are scrummaging well at the end of the game. The quality of ball we're getting off the scrum is not as good as it could be. We have to adapt quicker than we are."

Hansen says the new laws, in which the front-rows fold together rather than "hit" with power on engagement, have turned the set-piece on its head as it has become an eight-versus-seven battle because the attacking hookers must now hook the ball, robbing the team feeding the scrum of a forward's push.

Making matters worse for the attacking team, referees call for the scrum-half to feed the ball, allowing the defensive pack to time their shove.

Hansen says the issue was addressed at an International Rugby Board coaches and referees meeting he attended in London on Tuesday, when all parties agreed the law involving the referee's call must be changed. "The laws are made without a lot of consultation with the key people who actually play the game and coach the game," Hansen said. "The final decisions are made by people who played the game a long time ago. Sometimes they make the decisions wrong."

Veteran All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu says a big scrum can dictate the result of a Test against France, recalling a 2004 Test in Paris, where, as a replacement, he watched the New Zealand front-row of Carl Hayman, Tony Woodcock and Anton Oliver dismantle the hosts. "I remember 'Hatchet' [Oliver] and Carl went straight over the top of them, and it pretty much changed the game."

Follow live text commentary of the Test between France and New Zealand on Saturday, November 9 from 8pm (GMT) 9am (Sunday, November 10 NZDT), 7am (Sunday, November 10 AEDT)