In Fitzy speak this test certainly a 'game of two halves', with the Aussie backline getting enough good ball from All Black errors to punish the All Blacks to the tune of 10-0, and then 13-3.  But there was no way that an All Black side was going to continue to miss tackles, and make handling errors, at a rate to keep the canary yellow jerseys in the game for 80 minutes.

That first forty though, it was ugly to watch as an All Black supporter.  The basic handling and option taking errors, the missed tackles, the lack of urgency at the rucks and mauls, it was horrible to watch, and the Convicts capitalised with some scintillating interplay for Barne's try, and came close on another couple of occasions.  But creating opportunities and taking them are two separate issues, thank christ.  The All Black scramble though, when their line was broken, which was often in the first spell was also good to see.

The second spell though, that was owned by the All Black forward pack, numbers one through eight.  A superb performance from a pack under pressure to perform.  The old saying that 'a blanker could have covered the pack' certainly applied in the last 40 minutes.  Committing numbers to rucks and mauls forced numerous turnovers from the Aussies, just blowing them off their own ball time and time again.  And then when the forward momentum was needed, the close in driving play from rucks was also superb.  Mealamu to the fore here, along with Kaino.   But it was all eight forwards working as a unit with one plan, and that was to go forward via the shortest route - straight ahead.

The line outs tightened up in the second spell too, with no losses (as opposed to four in the first spell, from which ultimately the Shackle Draggers took ten points).  So that is another huge plus mark for Mealamu, top lineout work, to go along with his general play - it was the Mealmau of old, and he just might have nabbed the two jersey of Hore, who looked out of sorts at lineout time, although his work in the tight was as per usual, superb - one turnover on the All Black line in particular a real try saver.  A great dilemma for the Cartel here, two hookers in world class form.

The scrum was not the rock that was wanted, too often wheeling on All Black ball for my liking, and not enough pressure on the Aussies on their ball.  Neemia Tialata did not have a good game at all, and was shown up by Franks the younger when he hit the field.  Perhaps it was because Franks used up the last of the strapping tape keeping his boots together, and Neemia missed out...

Speaking of Franks the younger, Owen, (had to look that up!) what a superb Bledisloe debut.  This boy is the answer to the three jersey problem.  Sure, he is 21, and just as sure, he is going to get a few hidings at test level in the next 18 months, but that is going to make him into 'the new Hayman'.  Sure big call, and big pressure on the young prop (22), but hell, I think it's there.  He was also interviewed after the game, and came across as a man who loves to belt into things and all the murky goings on at the bottom of rucks and mauls.

Stephen Donald, from the sublime to the ridiculous.  I think his test was summed up in the second spell, in one sequence of play over about 5 seconds.  He received the ball, and put up a high kick that went forward about 5 yards (the ridiculous), so he chased forward, leapt and re-gathered his own kick (the sublime).  Dodgy moments a-plenty to be sure (that charge down, but then, Gitau also had a kick charged that could have also led to a try), but also more than enough to have him wearing that 10 jersey for then remainder of the Tri Nations.  He was certainly tested by the Aussies, they had players targeting him like bees to a honey pot.  But he put his first half jitters aside (like the whole All Black side), and came home with a wet sail.  Seventeen points off the boot, 2 misses, is what we're looking for!

Another much maligned player had a huge test too, Jimmy Cowan.  His box kicking on a dime time and time again, allowing Corey Jane to claim and pressure the kick receiver into error, time and time again.  It was text book rugby.  I think it was Henry in the after match wrap saying he thought it was his best test match in black, as he thought for Kaino too.

Corey Jane also cemented his spot in the starting lineup (for this selector anyway) with his kick chase game alone.  Twice claiming Cowan box kicks and in general looking much more like a test veteran than the rookie that he is.

All in all a superb edge of your seat test match, won by an All Black side that is still finding their feet, over an Aussie side that is clearly on them (judging from their early tests), ominous for the canary yellows, if they can't beat the All Black when they are down, when can they beat them?