British rugby writer and famed All Blacks critic Stephen Jones couldn't help but hide his admiration for the men in black, following the 40-12 win over the Wallabies at Eden Park on Saturday.
The regular Sunday Times columnist has previously had harsh words for southern hemisphere rugby, recently labelling the Rugby Championship as "the second division of the global game."
However even Jones was impressed by the Eden Park masterclass, with the British critic suggesting world rugby is in serious danger of losing sight of the All Blacks.
"This win had elements of a complete performance and tilted world rugby on its axis," Jones wrote.
"It rather devalued Ireland's fine test series win over Australia, it gave the lie to thoughts that the rest of the game was catching up with New Zealand.
"Few teams can look accomplished with an opponent as devastating as New Zealand."
Jones also said that the Wallabies' dismal showing the past two weeks should serve as a warning for those in the north heading into next year's World Cup in Japan.
He may have scored 30 points in the All Blacks’ Bledisloe Cup demolition of the Wallabies, but Beauden Barrett is not the finished article according to his coach. (Source: Other)
"The team is being shattered but northern hemisphere teams might well suffer the same fate if they had three All Black fixtures per season, sometimes two of them in New Zealand."
"England are in the firing line in the autumn at Twickenham, in what will be their most important home match in years."
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