What did Deans do with his forward heavy bench during this match - nothing, there must (you would assume, unless it was a bluff all along) have been a plan to stack 5 forwards onto your bench, but none was apparent.  Unless the plan was to introduce them with ten minutes to go once the test, and the two trophies had been torn from their hands. 

So I wonder, who choked here?  To be fair though, even if Deans had introduced his subs earlier, what sort of impact would they have made?  Frier and Dunning hardly strike fear into the opposition, both decent enough Super players, but only in the Australian side as they are less crap than the rest of the Australian front row stocks!

Anyway, great test, and solid win for the All Blacks, coming from behind in a pressure situation to steal the day.  But on with the show, the player ratings...

15  Mils Muliaina  8/10
Along with Smith, the best All Black back on the field.  Strong under the bomb, solid defence (but for that one seven point mix up for the Ashley-Cooper try), and always dangerous on attack.  Nabbed a nice try early.

14  Richard Kahui  7/10
His best match in black, starting to look very comfortable on the wing now, and a threat on attack.  Safe under the high ball, and some dangerous returns of kicks.  Best man for the job on the wing until once of the youngsters come through on the EOYT, of Rokocoko gets over his hamstring injury and gets some game time under his belt.

13  Conrad Smith  8/10
Mr Reliable.  Great step and run to put Woodcock into the open for the big props try.  A rock on defence for the main part, always looking for work on attack.  May look like a skinny white boy, but plays this up a lot I think, as he is no shrinking violet, 1.86m tall and 95 kilos (that is 6'1" and just off 15 stone), and is faster than he claims to be.  Looks to have cemented the 13 jersey for as long as he stays fit and well!

12  Ma'a Nonu  6/10
Steady, but not delivering the return that he has been selected for.  However, still filling the 12 jersey more than adequately.  His reduced brain explosions means that even when he does not make the big breaks and searing runs, he is still good to have on board.  Might need to develop a bit of a kicking game perhaps though down the line.  Form has fallen away during the season, but still forming a nice combination with Smith, and that is worth persevering with.

11  Sitiveni Sivivatu  7/10
While not tearing teams apart like he used to pre ELV days, he had one of his better tests, his break close into the ruck setting up Weepu's try being the match breaker.  Other than that, he got through quite a bit of work.  Only one major blemish, that tackle in the air which led to the Ashley Cooper try.  Looking back at the replays he should have competed for the ball in the air.  Still hate it when he brings the ball back into contact, jogging along until he reaches the defenders.  Run fast you mad bugger!

10  Dan Carter  7/10
A quiet game by his own high standards, just got about his work, doing the right things at the right times, keeping the All Blacks in the game with his abiliyt to keep the ball in front of the All Black pack.  His converting all the All Black tries, from wide out proving very important in the four point win after eighty minutes.  Showed great strength to score the bonus point try for the All Blacks, spinning and bouncing out of tackles like a big bustling centre, not the slightly built five eight that he is!!

9  Jimmy Cowan  6/10
A bit quieter this week, but he was battling for that first half as the All Black pack was on the receiving end of some very strong ruck and maul work from the Wallaby eight.  His quick tap from a free kick led to the Mils try in the first spell though, and as per usual his defence was top notch.  With Weepu makes a nice halfback combination, Cowan the passer, Weepu the runner. 

8  Rodney So'oilao  7/10
Solid, solid, solid.  Battled, as all the forwards did, in the first spell, but came to the fore in the second with some storming runs.  Got through a ton of defensive work close into the ruck.

7  Richie McCaw  7/10
Was battered and bruised in the ruck and maul as the Aussies targeted him early.  But still managed to get some important turnovers, and marshalled his troops well in that first half where the All Blacks tackled themselves to a standstill.  Getting better and better, both as a player and as a leader.

6  Jerome Kaino  8/10
I've said it before, I'll say it again.  Jerry who?  Kaino led the All Black defensive effort in that first spell with some massive hits.  Perhaps not quite in the Jerry class yet, but still up there with the best.  He has the added bonus though, of being a genuinely tall man, and thus a real lineout target.  Carted the ball forward in the Jerry mode all day too, to great effect.  Spilled one vital pass where the Aussie lokked about to crack, but other than that, was a pretty error free game I thought.  This trio the All Blacks are fielding at the moment looks like it will be the there for a while.

5  Ali Williams  6/10
Quite game from the big lock, but his injured ankle playing up again.  However, he showed plenty of ticker to play through and lift his game in the second half as the All Blacks started to gain some possession and position. 

4  Brad Thorn  7/10
Like Williams, a quieter game than usual from Thorn, but then he had to do much more work in the tight as the Wallabies monopolised possession in the first spell.  His usual big hitting defence was much needed as wave after wave of yellow jerseys came at the All Black line.

3  Greg Somerville  6/10
Solid last test from New Zealand's most capped prop.  Battled at the scrums, and was literally buried in the tight as it was all hands to the pumps while the Aussies had all the ball in the first spell. 

2  Andrew Hore  7/10
Like the other tighties, had his hands full in the first half battle as tackle after tackle was made in defence of the All Black line.  As the All Blacks had no ball, or next to no ball during this period, was not seen much with ball in hand!  However, still strong as an Ox in the close battle, although less effective than at the start of the season, probably one of the All Blacks who was in need of a rest, but Mealamu being in such dodgy form, this was never going to happen.

1  Tony Woodcock  8/10
As per the other tight forwards, hard at work at the coalface of ruck and maul, scrum and lineout.  Was (harshly for mine), penalised a few times by Kaplan at scrum time, but sorted out what was wanted as the game progressed.  And of course, while resting on the wing late in the game noticed Conrad Smith haring up the field splintering the Aussie defence and dashed along for a nice 25 metre touch down, looking like the worlds biggest winger all the while.

16  Kevin Mealamu  8/10
His best match of the year by a long chalk - starting to look like the Mealamu of 2006, the man who was up among the heavyweight hookers of world rugby.  His impact on arrival on the field really upped the All Black ruck and maul work.  He led from the front, the fresh legs lifting the tired looking forwards.  If he can carry this form into the NPC, he must be in with a chance to win back the starting test 2 jersey.

17  John Afoa  7/10
Like Mealamu made a massive impact when he hit the field, the tiring All Black tighties following in his substantial wake.  Certainly a ready made replacement for the venerable Somerville who is heading out to pasture in the NH.  Tialata taking his place on the bench in what should prove to be a pretty painless changing of the guard.

18  Anthony Boric
A few minutes at the end, not enough time to rate, but while we're talking about this big lad, I wouldn't mind seeing him start a few more games at this level - I'm now a believer!!

19  Adam Thomson
Not required.

20  Piri Weepu  8/10
The 'two' part of the punch combination that the All Blacks now have at halfback.  While Cowan's first option is the pass, Weepu's is to look and see if there is a run option, before releasing the ball.  Great to bring on when defence around the fringes is tiring, and getting used to just haring off to chase Donald and the rest of the backs.  Was busy as hell when he came on, and supported well for his try.  Looks to have turned the corner and should be a long term All Black now.

21  Stephen Donald  8/10
His first real taste of test rugby, and came through with flying colours.  Attacked the line with some good straight running, leaving some gaps out wider for Carter, who had shifted out to second five on the arrival of Donald.  Did not look overawed at all, and I for one have more confidence in his abilities at the top level now!

22  Isaia Toeava
Not required.