It appears the All Blacks did learn a thing or two in South Africa after all - their 50-19 victory over the Wallabies at Eden Park, which allows them to retain the Bledisloe Cup for another year, contained all sorts of improvements, most notably their ability to catch a high ball.
By Pat McKendry of RNZ
Their aerial prowess was just one aspect of a victory which helped them break a three-test losing streak and take their unbeaten record at their fortress to 54 tests. Their ability to finish opportunities - a major issue in South Africa - was also vastly improved.
They scored seven tries to Australia's three and may have scored one or two more had Will Jordan not looked to create opportunities for others rather than seek them himself. Naturally, he made the most of a very late one to put an exclamation mark on the win.
A rare try for replacement prop Pasilio Tosi was also scrubbed out for an earlier knock-on.
So, the drought for the poor old Aussies goes on - they lost the big trophy in 2003 and have not held it since - and, while they were in this test at halftime with the score 17-14 to the home side, they were blown away in the second half.
They could not deal with the speed of thought and action of men such as Damian McKenzie, who looked sharp at No.10, or the almost supernatural workrate of Jordie Barrett, the man outside him in the No.12 jersey.
Barrett was everywhere, with his midfield partner Quinn Tupaea not far behind, and, with Leroy Carter and Barrett having a vastly improved night under the high ball, the All Blacks got all the possession they needed and more.
Former skipper Scott Barrett got through a mountain of work and loose forwards Peter Lakai, Tupou Vaa'i and Wallace Sititi had the better of their vaunted opposites.
There were still issues, of course.
The All Blacks' lineout maul defence began shakily, and it was a big reason for Tom Wright's early converted try, but the response was impressive and built on a lightning quick ball against which the Wallabies had no answer.
The two tries in just over two minutes for Lakai and fellow loose forward Vaa'i were based both on lightning-fast ruck speed and the All Blacks' aerial superiority.
Jordie Barrett snaffled the first for the attack set alight by McKenzie and finished nicely by Lakai and there was another high ball win before the little No.10 cut capers again for Vaa'i's try.
At 14-7 up, the All Blacks had well and truly wrested momentum away from the visitors who needed to do something to slow the opposition's ball and succeeded only in giving away penalties.
McKenzie kicked the second one to push the All Blacks out to a 17-7 lead but back came the Wallabies through skipper Harry Wilson, the big No.8 scoring under the posts after the home side's defence was caught short up the middle.
It created an unsatisfactory end to the first half for the All Blacks, who passed with accuracy in the excellent conditions and looked like dynamite when attacking from depth (as did the Wallabies), but who too often misfired at lineout time.
It was end to end stuff early in the second half with Beauden Barrett twice getting into good positions to save the All Blacks.
Jordan was again probably overly generous in trying to pass to the supporting Sititi only to see it intercepted, but the pressure stayed on the Wallabies and Cam Roigard was the beneficiary from close range.
Tries for Codie Taylor, Leroy Carter and replacement outside back Josh Moorby followed as the score got into ugly territory for the Australians.
The defeat broke a six-game unbeaten streak for the Wallabies who arrived in Auckland confident of making history after their recent victory over a weakened Springboks but they came up against an All Black team determined to right a few wrongs.
They did it in style.
SHARE ME