Writing in the New Zealand Morning Herald, former All Blacks skipper Sean Fitzpatrick hails the significance of his compatriots' Tri-Nations victory over Australia in Sydney on Saturday.
"There was a huge anticipation in the lead-up to this match about how the All Blacks would go but they came through brilliantly.
"I'm not sure they would have won a game like this 12 months ago. But there's a real belief about this side and they came out on top despite the absence of Daniel Carter and despite the number of changes made to what had been a settled side.
"They struggled at times to overcome those changes in combinations but they never wavered in their belief. They have a great leadership team, not only with Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina but also with Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith. That has allowed players such as Keiran Read, my man of the Tri Nations, to flourish.
"It's looking very, very good for the future."
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