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The All Blacks weren’t as slick as they were last week, but last night in wet Wellington they had too much in the tank for the Wallabies, retain the Bledisloe Cup for the 11th successive year.
They won 27-16 to chalk up their 27th win on the trot at home.
Not awesome, as the men-in-black can be, but very effective, making the Wallabies pay for their mistakes.
And there were plenty of those. The questions that must be asked:
What’s happened to Will Genia? Where has that domination and inspiration gone as the recognised world’s best 9?
For the second Test in a row he was clearly outpointed by his live-wire opposite number Aaron Smith.
Genia’s clearance last night was ponderous, his passing sloppy, bringing back bad memories of George Gregan’s four-year long over-stay.
And what is it about his almost manic obsession to go the short side where there were usually four to five gold jerseys, with no room to move, and going nowhere?
Let’s face it, if Will Genia doesn’t fire, there’s no spark in the Wallabies.
But he had plenty of mates in the poor passing department. Most were too high, or poorly directed, the no-look pass not acceptable. Other passes were bounced along the ground.
Come on, these are the elite of Australian rugby, passing is elementary, and you can throw in handling, and tacking as well.
Missed tackles, Wallabies 17, All Blacks 15 – even the winners were slack.
Slack lowlights Stephen Moore’s lineout feeding. To find the target regularly is a must, Moore doesn’t. He hasn’t ball sense, a vital ingredient.
So Ewen McKenzie, find one who can hit the mark.There ere 14 other choices, Michael Hooper immediately springs to mind, chockful with ball sense. Adam Ashley-Cooper is another.
And how can the Wallabies dominate the rucks and mauls 84-48, and run the ball 83 times to 47, but never look like scoring a try apart from Moore’s near miss, until Israel Folau intercepts late in the game and burns off the defenders?
Part of that is rock-like All Black defence, but the bigger problem for the Wallabies are the lack of options, it’s either take the ball up hard, or pick-and-go.
And the All Blacks have them covered – easily.
The pluses?
A vastly-improved performance from James O’Connor, Folau went looking for work, but neither were fed enough quick possession – and Matt Toomua was more involved.
That’s what the Wallabies are lacking – decisive play from the play-maker.
Whether Toomua is the answer still has a question mark against it, or is it Quade Cooper, or Bernard Foley?
That’s where the All Blacks have no problems. If Dan Carter is out, there’s Aaron Cruden, or Beauden Barrett, then Tom Taylor, or Colin Slade – and all consistent goal-kickers.
An embarrassment of riches.
So where to now for Ewen McKenzie?
Like Robbie Deans, McKenzie can’t be blamed for lack of basics, but his pick and stick faithful policy didn’t work.
Biggest decision – Toomua, Cooper, or give Foley his first cap?
Folau must return to full-back where he made his mark with the Waratahs that earned him a gold jersey.
Jesse Mogg and Tevita Kuridrani are clearly not internationals at the moment, and no-nonsense winger Nick Cummins must be in the starting line-up.
Genia, plus locks James Horwill, and Rob Simmons, must lift their game, and Ben Mowen become more consistent.
Mowen is an 80-minute goer, but he’s been mixing some great positive rugby, with the elementary mistakes of poor handling, poor passing, and missed tackles.
So Ewen McKenzie has a lot of work to do. One thing for sure, he won’t shirk the issue.
The next few Wallaby training sessions loom as brutal.