Well the opposed training run done and dusted, and not surprisingly the All Blacks cracked the ton, scoring seven tries in the first spell, and eight in the second in a pretty consistent performance.  More so when you think at the half and just after all the All Black subs were rolled out to play.

The subs showed that they are pretty much up to speed too, a few rusty moments as players that have not played together before tried to gel.  But even as the game loosened up, they still kept their cool and tried to keep to the game plan – as far as I could see anyway!

Set pieces were not at their best, the lineout certainly rusty.  Concentration probably not quite what it should be when you are playing a team that you should belt by 75 points plus without raising a sweat.

Scrums better, but the work at the boot, first by So’oialo, and then more so by Lauaki, wqas not flash.  The more punters see of Lauaki in black, the less punters want to see of him in black.  But I’ll put the boot in to him when I get to the player ratings, and I’ll be wearing the size 14s, as he deserves a good shoeing tonight, which will hopefully be his final test on home soil.

Kick off reception was not flash at all.  In coaching speak, definitely "something to work on"...!

Ahhh, the first XV that hit the field all showed their class, and perhaps they would have scored more than the 101 points had they been kept on the field.  But they had cleared the cobwebs out, and were put back into storage to be bought out in another week against the Aussies.

Will the Cartel be happy?  Well with aspects to be sure.  Accuracy was not flash at times in the set pieces and in the decision making behind the scrum.  But they kept on for the full 80 minutes, and didn't butcher too many chances when it came to taking points.  There was not too much 'greed' and self serving play, the ball was used well throughout, trying to put men into space as opposed to players trying to beat a man.

Anyways, onto the player ratings...

15:  Mils Muliaina  8/10
Hard to rate players in a game like this, but 40 minutes from the All Blacks premier fullback, and he looked full of confidence in gathering his three tries.  Showed good pace and strength to take his five pointers. 

14:  Richard Kahui  8/10
Invisible in the first 30 minutes as the ball constantly travelled down Tuitavake's right wing (yes, Kahui was wearing 14 on the left wing), but once Tuitavake was injured, and Kahui shifted to the right, the ball followed him there too.  Some deft touches and nice quick passes, and a couple of tries for his troubles.  Is looking more and more comfortable at test level, a very safe option, and looking more dangerous on attack too as he gathers experience.

13:  Conrad Smith  8/10
A first half double for the worker of the New Zealand backline.  Smith was solid as per usual, making some good breaks and distributing the ball well to supporting players.  He is the rock of the New Zealand backline now, constantly making the right decisions, and making those players around him look good.

12:  Ma'a Nonu  6/10
A very quiet game from the wrecking ball of the New Zealand backline.  Still did his jobs well and showed a bit of pace when he took an outside break late in the game.  More time in the middle though with Conrad Smith is always good though as their combination grows. 

11:  Anthony Tuitivake  9/10
Whatever he was on, I want some.  At last he showed his class at this level, breaking tackles, stepping, stopping, starting, and working hard on and off the ball.  His ability to go from zero to top speed in just a few steps devastating.  Certainly showed the Cartel that he is worth another crack at the top level in future.

10:  Dan Carter  7/10
Just went about his business tidily, no fuss, no rush, just doing his job as required.  Best of all though, came through unscathed, even after being on the receiving end of a couple of tough, but legal (mostly) tackles!

9:  Jimmy Cowan  8/10
Solid game again from the number one halfback in New Zealand at the moment.  Quick clearances mostly, accurate, and right or wrong, he was making decisions quickly, not dithering at the back of the ruck or maul for a half hour before lobbing a netball pass in the general direction of the backline!

8:  Rodney So'oialo  8/10
Back at number eight where he certainly does belong, and played a decent captains knock tonight too.  When the kick offs were turning to custard, he stepped in to take the first clean one of the night, a real 'follow me boys' moment that would have bought a smile to old campaigners.  Ferocious as usual in the rucks and mauls, and a bit more prominent than usual in the open - mind you, so was everyone in this try fest!

7:  Adam Thomson  7/10
Not a bad effort in the seven jersey from the big shaggy haired man.  Showed plenty of gas to almost snatch a try from 50 metres out in the first spell, and was a nuisance at ruck and maul the whole game.  Got a bit lazy as the game wore on and was warned for messing about post tackle on the ground, but other than that, seemed to work fine as a seven.  Ceratinly would not want to start a real test with him there though, but as a bench man who can cover all three loose forward spots.

6:  Jerome Kaino  9/10
Jerry who?  Kaino was massive today on defence, and on attack.  Getting back in cover to clean up loose ball, and then staying on his feet, fighting forward for as long as he can, giving support players time to get back and give him a hand.  He fought forward to the death on attack also, crossing the gain line time and time again.  Defence solid too.  Definitely found his home in the six jersey on the side of the All Black scrum.

5:  Ali Williams  7/10
Just the type of game the big guy likes, not a tight tough test match, but a bubble gum open affair...  Well putting words into his mouth, but it was an open flowery game, not a force back fest!  At any rate, Williams was tidy in a good strong All Black forward effort.  Not at his best come kick off time, but had some moments with ball in hand, and dotted down for a good support try in the second half, his 7th in black - would probably be the leading lock tryscorer for the All Blacks with that?  A good hit out for the big bloke anyway.

4:  Anthony Boric  7/10
Looks like an All Black lock to me now.  Just got through his work, nothing flash, rucks, mauls, scrums and lineouts.  The 80 minutes will have done him good, and he is looking more and more like a long term test locking option

3:  Greg Somerville  5/10
Poor old Yoda.  If ever there was a game to be played under the new ELV laws that would not suit him it would be this one, and it was.  His missed tackle gave the Samoan's their first try, his dodgy ball skills were found out in open play, and a few other missed tackles through the game made it not too nice a night at the office for the All Blacks and Crusaders stalwart.  I think it is a real changing of the guard here, where the props who have limited other skills, like Yoda, will be seen less and less, while the more skilled boys, the Tialatas, the Afoas and the Woodcocks come to the fore.  His scrummaging was still top notch, and he got around the field fine, but just lacks that final polish that the modern test lock requires today.

2:  Andrew Hore  8/10
Harder to pull down than a greased pig on speed in an overheated Vaseline factory.  Yet another top drawer test from the Taranaki hard man, touch as teak in the tight stuff, and around the field like that greasy pig once again.  He is extremly mobile and hungry for rugby.  Best hooker in New Zealand by a country mile.

1:  Tony Woodcock  7/10
One moment of glory with a galloping charge down the centre of the field.  Other than that was head down and arse up doing his work as a good prop should.

16:  Kevin Mealamu  7/10
Seems to be ready to bust out and be the hooker that we all know he can be - a year after the R&R that screwed him over.  Pre R&R he was the best hooker in the world, post R&R, and he is now a bench warmer.  He is though getting better and better as the season progresses, and I am sure that if he was given an extended run in the two shirt now, he would be back to his best in no time.  Wa handed the captaincy armband too when So'oialo waas benched in the second spell.

17:  Neemia Tialata  7/10
Big and strong and hungry for rugby.  Was smashing his opposites in the scrums, and some very effective ball carrying in the loose, and a very nice tackle late in the game too, a good productive time on the field.

18:  Sione Lauaki  4/10
Lazy.  Came on the field and did nothing for the first ten minutes he was on the field, before proceeding to drop the ball at every opportunity he got, or making shocking passes when he did manage to catch it, and having the workrate of a sleeping quadriplegic...  The highlight would have been his quick throw in to Thomson that rolled to the Ginga's feet before bobbing awkwardly to be knocked on.  Why this bloke is still wearing black at test level is beyond me.  Again showed his pace is at about Yoda level during the Samoan's second try.  About the best black he could hope for would be for the Ngatea Black Dogs...

19:  Piri Weepu  8/10
While Cowan holds pole position for the best half back in New Zealand rugby today, Weepu is in second spot, and closing fast.  A tough little bugger, he has a stronger running game than Cowan, and showed it against the big arse Samoans.  Good to see him back in the fold, the All Blacks now have two potentially World Class halves - Weepu probably more so than Cowan to be fair...

20:  Stephen Donald 6/10
At times tidy, at times trying too much.  Looked good when he was not trying to do everything himself.  Looked bad with a couple of passes that were shite and to no one, and a few aimless kicks.  but will be far better off for the game time, and if things do go arse up for Carter in a real test, well, Donald will certainly give his everything...

21:  Isaia Toeava  7/10
Looking a more complete player this time around in black.  Seems to have lost the dropsies too, and is just looking comfortable.  Comes with maturity I s'pose.  Handy game from fullback, some strong runs, breaking out of tackles all over the place, linking well, and scoring a five pointer for his troubles.  Would definitly be on my bench for the Bledisloe and Tri Nations decider test.

22:  Rudi Wulf  6/10
Yeah, once nice break which should have led to a try, but he fouled it up with a stupid pass.  Other than that, did not reallt do that much, and one still wonders why he is wearing a black jersey - other than we are short of quality wings at the moment.