Shaun Stevenson of the All Blacks scores against Australia. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2023 www.photosport.nz
Analysis - How about that one? After three straight powerful wins by the All Blacks to open the season, the rules went out the window in a stressful yet ultimately successful 23-20 win over the Wallabies in Dunedin. It was the last test in New Zealand for this year's All Blacks, and the last home game for Ian Foster and a host of his players, so it was more of symbolic value than anything else.
However, the first half was looking like it'd be the last test appearance for a whole lot of All Blacks full stop. In scenes that wound the clock back to this time last year, they were listless, uninspired and just plain awful as they let the Wallabies race to a 17-3 lead. Really, it should have been more - if Tate McDermott and Pone Fa'amausili had scored when they crossed the line instead of being held up, it may well have been a very different game.
If this game proved anything though, it's that the All Blacks have the ability to close out a game that comes down to a clutch play - which is something that is pretty important in a World Cup. The cold manipulation of the circumstances that led to Richie Mo'unga's winning penalty was impressive, working the scrum to gain it and the well-rehearsed clock killing measures off the resulting kickoff is something that can be trained all you like. But it only really counts when you do it in a proper test match, so this All Black side will be a lot better for it.
Also, the All Blacks adapted after what was surely a stern talking to at halftime.
That's the nice stuff out of the way. The not so nice? The fast starts the All Blacks have been enjoying came to a shuddering halt thanks to the Wallabies grabbing the ball early, then simply not letting go. It felt like a lot of options resulted in the wrong one being taken, especially off the boot. The aimless kicking that permeated the first half more often found hand instead of land, allowing the Wallabies the counterattack a lot, with Mark Nawaqanitawase and Andrew Kellaway caving off territory in the lead up to Tom Hooper's try.
The All Blacks were guilty of just being a bit too full of themselves. Each win this year was built on smashing the opposition to bits in the first 20 minutes, so when it didn't happen, there didn't seem to be any plan B till halftime. The Wallabies were determined to make the home side work as hard as possible for anything, and it paid off as the All Blacks didn't want to do that work.
A few players made strong cases to be in the lesser pool games of the World Cup, while a couple of others might be sweating on even being on the plane to France. Dallas McLeod got longer than he was probably expecting due to Braydon Ennor's injury, but Luke Jacobson barely got 10 minutes in what would have been a perfect opportunity to give Ardie Savea's legs a rest.
All Black Leicester Fainga'anuku is tackled by Mark Nawaqanitawase of Australia during the All Black v Wallabies Bledisloe Cup rugby Test at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin. Photo: Photosport / John Davidson
All Black Leicester Fainga'anuku is tackled by Mark Nawaqanitawase of Australia.
Will Jordan looked a little bit lost at fullback, which makes no sense as that's where he's played most of his rugby, and it was telling that he and Shaun Stevenson seemed to have switched positions in the second half.
Ian Foster will be sweating on whether Brodie Retallick's injury is serious or not. While this sews up an unbeaten Rugby Championship, we now move into the business end of the season.
Are his All Blacks a finished product? No, but once again they are building nicely towards what is coming up. If this does end up being their worst performance of the year then at least it still contained enough good rugby to not only get the win, but also proves that the All Blacks have the resolve for potentially sticky situations.