Well, what a test match.  Ninteen to NIL.  ZERO.  ZIP.  NADA.  For the first time ever in Beroland have we held the home side to zero.  A special test match, and testament to the defence from the men in black.

So another strong win for the All Blacks, and the Boers unable to even sore a point against the rebuilding All Blacks.  Have I already mentioned that?  No points?  Nothing on the board?  Zero, zip, nothing, nada...  It'll be a very satisfied All Black camp at the moment, winging their way back from the Republic, that's for sure, and very, very sore too.

Not much to really critique from the All Blacks.  The only 'down' spots pretty much Dan Carter's kicking, and the scrum.

But when you look at the two efforts at kicking goals from Percy Montgomery, that slots straight into context.  A tough ground to kick on, but Carter also admitting that he was not hitting them very well in his post game interview with Ian Jones!

The All Black scrum looked a bit wobbly early on too, and this was about the only place the Boers could put any real pressure on the All Blacks.  It seemed to shore up though with the arrival of John Afoa on the field, as did some of the close in tackling...

Anyway, other than those picky points, huge defence on the line, good scrambling when the Bokke broke through on occassions.  Just hunger to not have that line crossed.  Helped no doubt by the fact that for about the first hour the lead was only 5 to nil.  NIL, ZERO.  NOTHING. 

Anyway, on with the show, players ratings...

15:  Mils Muliaina.  8/10
In constant form back at fullback now, his best spot on the field by about 100 miles.  Something that the Chiefs need to remember too in future.  Showing good game awareness, coming into the attack often and effectively.  Elusive and strong into the contact.  Top game, would have been satisfied with his days work for sure.

14:  Richard Kahui.  7.10
Solid again, doing the basics well, chasing kicks hard, making tackles, and taking right options when fielding kicks.  Still a stop gap measure on the wing, but at the moment with the specialists not being up to scratch, may as well give the young man experience at test level, so if he has to slot into the midfield due to injury, he will be ready and raring to go.

13:  Conrad Smith.  8/10
For the fist time since Tana I feel happy with the All Black centre.  Sure he might miss a tackle now and then (as all players do at any lvel of the game), but 99% of the time he does it all right, on attack and defence.  For a skinny white fella he sure does pack a decent tackle into his bag of tricks.  Showed plenty of toe for his try from the McCaw kick.  I think the perceived 'lack of pace' is a bit of a smoke screen.  Especially when you hear it from Smith, calling himself a slow, skinny white fella!  He's really not that slow, and at 95kg, he's pretty soild for a centre to be fair...  Smoke and mirrors, smoke and mirrors...

12:  Ma'a Nonu.  7/10
While he may lack the kicking game that the Mauger's and McAlister's bought to the 12 jersey, he certainly ups the physicality and the need to be looked after by opposing defences.  And with that lack of kicking ability, hasn't it been great to not be swearing at the TV when stupid little chips kicks are pout through (ore were when Lucky Luke was donning the 12).  Anyway, always pulling in a few defenders on attack, and has curtailed that silly 'miracle passing' game he used to try all the time.  Has found his rightful position, and with a kicking halfback, their are enough options for the backline to use.

11:  Sitiveni Sivivatu.  6/10
Injured quite early in the piece, but a bit of time off and reflection might do the underachiever some good.  Has had one half decent test this season, otherwise a shadow of his former self.

10:  Dan Carter.  7/10
Was in such bad goal kicking form he would have had trouble knocking over sandcastles at the beach.  The rest of his game though was pretty spot on, keeping the Boer fatties turned around and the defensive line guessing.  Scored a nice try too when the Bokke had been stretched across the field about five times and the gaps finally appeared.  It was the real heartbreaker for the Boers, as it took the lead from 5 NIL to 12 NIL.  And in a game with only three scoring moments, that was pretty vital!  Now, does ANYONE out there think that the All Blacks can win tests with drop goals??

9:  Jimmy Cowan.  7/10
Cemented his place in the starting line up.  A classy international halfback.  Few if any mistakes, crisp clearance, good kicking options.  And as per usual, defended himself to a standstill.

8:  Rodney So'oialo.  7/10
Looks much better at 8, and the trio look better with Rodders at 8 and Kaino at 6 too.  Anyway, another solid test from the dreaded wonder - his 49th.  Buried in the tight all day, clearing out rucks and mauls and making a pain of himself like he always does. 

7:  Richie McCaw.  9/10
There is only one Richie McCaw.  Superb again, no better forward in world rugby today, and the captaincy armband now fits nicely too - his leadership outstanding in a very tight encounter.  Made Victor Matfield's attempted bully boy tactics on the referee look as pathetic as they were.  His work on the floor at the tackle area a text book for young aspiring flankers.

6:  Jerome Kaino.  8/10
I think the measure of how he is doing is when you stop thinking about who used to round out the All Black loose trio.  Jerry who?  Looking comfortable and at home in the number six jersey for the All Blacks.  Looks to be the designated ball carrier out wide of the loose trio, and is doing it very effectively at the moment.  Rest of his game solid too, and a real pain in the arse for opposing line outs - long may that tactic continue.

5:  Ali Williams.  7/10
Like all good lock forwards, buried in the tight all day!  Which to be fair is a little unusual for the big man, but he had to be there at the coalface for this Bokke side to be beaten.  One desperate tackle on the flying Habana saved a try.  Effective without being flashy - a most un-Ali like game!

4:  Brad Thorn.  7/20
Another strong game from the ex league man.  Toned down his stupid play to just one block of a Boer kick chase!  Other than that, all systems go from the strong man in the All Black pack.  Showed out with some strong runs with the ball, and tackled himself silly as the Bokke's sent wave after wave at the All Black line.

3:  Greg Somerville.  5/10
Has got those old fashioned prop tackling techniques going again - not tackling.  Was the one weak link in an otherwise impregnable All Black defensive line.  Also not his usual scrummaging work, exemplified by the way the All Black scrum gained stability and even the upper hand when John Afoa came on.

2:  Andrew Hore.  6/10
A quieter test than normal from the rugged seal hunter, still had plenty of work to do in the tight, and a scrum that was under pressure drains the tank faster than a dominant set piece does.

1:  Tony Woodcock.  6/10
See above, like Hore had his hands full at scrum time, still got through a ton of work and had some effective ball carries.

16:  Kevin Mealamu.  7/10
Strong cameo from the veteran.  His throwing still scares the pants off me, but nothing that more game time won't fix.  His throwing has been fine in the past, so this is a form slump, as opposed to a career long crapness - as Anton Oliver pretty much had...  Gifted a try as the Boers tried to run from their own tryline.

17:  John Afoa.  7/10
Strong appearance, lifting the scrum that had been struggling against the Bokke pack, breaking tackles with some hard close in running, and missing out on a try by inches.

20:  Piri Weepu.  7/10
Looking good in black again.  Solid 20 or so minutes, lifting a tiring All Black effort.  Certainly there, or thereabouts, when the title of best halfback in New Zealand awards are handed out.

22:  Isaia Toeava.  7/10
Thought the youngster looked bloody handy on the wing here.  Apart from that first kick and chase where the Boers looked like they were going to score after re-gathering that is...  Was quick and dangerous on attack, looked most comfortable back in black.  None of his normal dropsies either.  Perhaps instead of heaping pressure on the youngster at centre, he could get used the the test environment from the wing before moving into the 13 jersey in years to come.  I seem to remember a pretty handy centre a few years ago who did the same...