That was not bad for a first-up effort from a rusty, thrown-together-at-the-last-minute squad.

Richie McCaw was fantastic, wasn't he? Definitely making a deliberate point with that performance and silencing doubters, as if he needed to, about the quality of his on-field leadership. And Rodney? What a workhorse! I think he took every lineout throw, which was the right strategy in the gale.

Otherwise, my thoughts are similar to some others expressed on the boards. Kaino is no Rodney, though he's not expected to be. But whether he offers more than, say, Mose of The Crusaders I'm not sure. Still, it would be unfair to judge him too harshly given the atrocious conditions and he may need a few tests at the back of the scrum to build combinations with McCaw and Rodders.

As for the midfield,  doubts about the Nonu-Smith combination must have been put to rest just a little, with Smith's scything break that lead to Sivi's try and Ma'a aqauplaning over the line after the Carter break in the final quarter. There's been a lot of criticism of Ellis' performance. Frankly, I think they should have given Cowan some game time. That sub-Arctic weather suited him more.

The other unsung hero was Brad Thorn, whose gutsy tight play, lineout lifting, muscle-bound defence and onfield leadership added up to the greatest comeback to All Black rugby since Leon Macdonald's own prodigal son return a couple of years back.

At the back, Sivi justified his presence by finishing off Conrad's break, but I think we really are going to miss the hard working and defensively sound Dougie Howlett on the other wing. The ABs seemed to be disorganised at the back and lacked another kicking option, which the Irish failed to exploit effectively, but which I'm sure will have 'Dingo' Deans furiously taking notes.

Still, it seems that Henry was going with established combinations in choosing that back three (Mils and Sivi having combined at the Chiefs). I suspect that he'll start Leon against the Poms.

All in all, though, a win's a win. It was gritty. It was ugly. It was passionate and determined. And that's what All Black rugby - in the traditional sense - is all about. It should be enough to keep the baying wolves of the Kiwi media at bay for another week.