The All Blacks celebrate in Auckland © Getty Images

So, an All Blacks side out for revenge dominated the Springboks from start to finish, winning 32-12 at Eden Park in one of their most convincing performances in many seasons.
Superiority at the scrum and lineout provided a front foot platform for the men in black to unleash their high tempo gameplan, aiming to keep the ball in play for longer and wear defenders down with wave after wave of unrelenting attack.

Conrad Smith’s opening try was a perfect example of how this approach pays dividends. Mils Muliaina fielded a kick deep in his own territory and instead of just hoisting it back in the direction it came from (as is the way in the northern hemisphere), or looking for touch, his first instinct was to look up, look for space and turn on the afterburners. Richie McCaw timed and angled his supporting run perfectly to keep the play alive before offloading to Smith to score in the corner.

Many pundits (not this one) had questioned the inclusion of Ma’a Nonu so soon after a comeback from injury but he repaid the selectors’ faith in him, demonstrating once again why he is the best 12 in world rugby – busting first tackles with ease, sucking defenders away from the wings and causing havoc every time he got the ball.

Kieran Read played his best game in the black jersey, showing up his more fancied counterpart Pierre Spies. Keven Mealamu was also outstanding in a performance reminiscent of his breakthrough season – and it’s difficult to think of anyone more effective at gaining ground close to rucks than the humble South Auckland family man, with his quick feet and relentless pick and go.

All the so-called experts are saying the Springboks will come back tougher than ever this weekend in Wellington, but they simply don’t have the personnel or the gameplan to match this rejuvenated, rampant and ruthless All Black team.

Injuries to Jimmy Cowan and Joe Rokocoko have seen the inclusion of hometown hero Piri Weepu and the bolter from Northland, Rene Ranger, in the starting line-up, but apart from that the side that was better man for man from one to 15 last week remains unchanged. The All Blacks will soon be savouring a two out of two start to this year’s Tri-Nations campaign and will be well on their way to securing the trophy.

James Marshall