The All Blacks got better with each Test, just as the English worsened in each of theirs.
This is not to denigrate the Roses, who are on an upward trend, well coached, have significant depth and whose Under-20 side have just won back-to-back Junior World Cups.
They may not be the finished product in London in 2015 but in my opinion they will be hard to beat in a one-off fixture at Twickenham.
I also thought the All Blacks’ set-pieces got better and better. Pretty good in the first Test, strong in the second Test and culminating in a dominant performance in Hamilton.
Once familiar combinations were established as this series progressed, so the All Blacks shook off their rust and grabbed ascendancy over their rivals. The back three – Cory Jane on the right wing, Ben Smith at fullback and the return of Julian Savea at 11 – made mincemeat of their opposites in the third Test.
As for the back row, how good was it to see the powerful Jerome Kaino back at blindside? With Kieran Read back at eight and Richie McCaw at seven we have some balance in an area where Chris Robshaw, Ben Morgan, James Haskell and Tom Wood had the wood on us for long periods in the first two Tests.
Aaron Cruden answered his critics emphatically in the third Test. He was direct, fearless and had some very deft touches. An excellent game that will see him continue to hold off Beauden Barrett.
Barrett has been great from the pine and for me is a better carrier, but if Crudes is going to play like he did on Saturday he will remain the incumbent.
Aaron Smith was also much more enterprising, quicker to the rucks for second, third and fourth phase. He made some great runs himself and apart from an awful box kick in the first half appeared better with the boot, probably because he used it less.
I have heard critics describe Woody as past it. You could have fooled me. Strong at set-pieces, he made some prominent carries in that third Test and his defence included some heavy tackling. Dane Coles continues to impress around the park, another decent carrier, but he has work to do at scrum time.
Brodie Retallick would go close as man of the series, such has been the workload he has carried. Line-outs, clearing out, defence – an absolute warrior. His bruising visage popped up everywhere. One gem saw the All Blacks ball turned over only for Retallick to steal it back. Superb.
Kaino has come back from the land of small, reliable (and recalled) cars, rejoined the fray with the Blues and then immediately made an impact for the All Blacks. In short he is remarkable. Not as big as when he left in 2012, but he has lost none of his power, neither in defence nor when carrying beyond the gain line.
The last Test was the best I have seen from Cory Jane since he was injured in 2011. There was great vision in some of his off-loads and he was excellent down that right wing where he produced that fend. He was great under the high ball and kick chase again. Jane will have his work cut out keeping Charles Piutau out on his return though.
Savea has made an outstanding contribution to the All Blacks since his return in the second Test. His penetration was sorely missed but it is his all round game that makes him one of the best wings in rugby right now. It was interesting to watch Kaino provide him with an offload to score, much in the same way Savea and Read did to sides last season.
How good was Malakai Fekitoa? Touted as Conrad Smith’s heir I had my doubts, and I still do to be honest. The English centres have been papier-mache, no more so than in the third Test where Manu Tuilagi didn’t have the space he had in the first Test and where Kyle Eastmond was all at sea.
Ma’a Nonu and Fekitoa made metres with ease, and the vital part of Conrad’s game is his vision to be at the pre-requisite position on the park to shut down any opportunity in defence.
Finally a word for the new incumbent fullback. Ben Smith is my man of the series. Brilliant on the wing but just a revelation at this level wearing the 15 jumper. He was fearless under the high ball and superb in defence – that Tuilagi tackle in the first half of the second Test will get plenty of air-play.
Smith runs superb lines to receive and carry well beyond the first or second tackler. He’s always supporting and one of the best broken play runners in the game. About the only thing he did wrong was a forward pass to Savea in the first half.
After the usual stutters for the first Test in June the All Blacks were a different team in Hamilton and will only get better as those combinations continue to gel. I would like to see us start better, as we did in Hamilton. They can be slow out of the blocks and it could have been costly in this series, the French series last year and against the Irish the year before that.
Nevertheless, it appears the All Blacks are well on track for the Rugby Championship again this year.
At the risk of being labelled negative I expect the All Blacks to drop a match this year, in South Africa or Twickenham, maybe even at Home Bush. We have seen that this team remains vulnerable to the right physicality and directness they themselves employ, particularly early on.
I am of the opinion that a loss may benefit this All Blacks team.
JimmyB
Guest
The scrum has become a bit of a bane really hasn't it? IMO it's become a complete lottery, for instance in the second half of test 3, Marler got pinged for his elbow touching the ground, which it certainly did, but it touched the ground at exactly the same time as his opposite number and was given by the AR who was 40 feet away. Oh for the days when scrums were stable. You might be surprised btw at the mobility of Corbs and Cole, they are both modern props in that sense and Cole is like another open side at the breakdown, he's a very good pilferer. It's funny really, but despite losing the series 3 zip, I still can't wait for the return fixture, must be a glutton for punishment.
JimmyB
Guest
Hi Riccardo, sorry mate, been a bit busy over the last couple of days, catching up on the things I should have been doing instead of being on the Roar. ;) It is a big call on Care I grant you and it's not intended as a slight on Smith who is a very good player, I just rate Care that highly. I'm not sure if you saw much of the 6N but he was exceptional and he's been playing the house down for Quins for a few seasons now. Having said all that, arguably the best scrum half ATM is Conor Murray, he's really stepped up over the last 18 months or so. Agree with pretty much everything else, although if anyone is going to replace Farrell, it'll be George Ford. I'm going to make another big call here, but Ford will be world class in the not too distant future. He's got everything and he's improving at a rate of knots, he actually plays like a Kiwi, with his head up.
Lassitude
Guest
Certainly the English scrum was on top when Franks and Coles went off. Their replacements looked a clear step down - and in Coles case (whose hardly the best scrummager) that's an indictment. Up til then I think Riccardo's assessment is correct. ANd I agree with you wrt Corbiserio and Coles back for England later this year - that'll be a better test for the front rows. Folk may think that McCaw is waning but I'm starting to think that Mealamu may have ridden over the cliff;if so, that will put the cat amongst the selectorial pigeons.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
I remember him doing the basics well and setting up one or two tries which by All Black fullback standards is probably not great. He doesn't coast through the gaps anymore he hasn't done so for awhile. He is still a good player but there is no way his form of the past two years has been anywhere near that of Ben Smith or the heights Piutau reached for the All Blacks last year.
Riccardo
Guest
Great post OB. Al good points. I think the central theme about the work of the forwards is entirely accurate. Samwrote an article a couple of days ago suggesting that our set-piece parity combined with their mobility and ball skills is a factor that helps set the All blacks apart. A good piece and your post reflects that ethos.
Riccardo
Guest
Moderation? Really?
Jerry
Guest
From memory Ben Smith, Cruden and Cory Jane gave the final pass for Savea's tries. You're probably thinking of Savea's first try, A Smith got the ball from Jane, slipped a tackle then passed it out to B Smith who drew and passed to Savea. It was very good play from Smith and created the overlap, but he doesn't get credited with a try assist.
Riccardo
Guest
Didn't he set Savea away for one of his Jerry?
Riccardo
Guest
The scrum thing is also subjective but if you watch the matches again, you will see that Franks definitely had the measure of Marler the deeper the series went. He popped him, he dropped him and as for the park; Franks simply outplayed him in every regard. The Ref made mistakes both ways and I could not fathom his decisions some times. There was a scum where Marler bored sideways, but Woodcock and Franks held up the English front row in the wheel and the All Blacks were penalised. IMO way too many scrum penalties go to the side deemed, sometimes incorrectly, to be the superior. But it's a dark place and if you go to the game much harder to judge in real time which is why these prejudices exist, I guess. I agree with your statement about the All Blacks only needing parity to unleash but would respectfully proffer that my opinion remains that the All Black scrum more than held its own and if the penalties were more accurate would have favoured the team in black. I also agree with your comment about Corbisiero and Cole, both proficient big men come scrum time. But Corbs gets injured brushing his teeth and they are not as mobile as their counterparts. If Cron can continue to hone the All Blacks scrum technique and if we can continue to dispel the long held myth of inferior All Black scrums so that penalties become equitable then November should see a much more even contest in this area. It won't be just a cracker; it will be a hum-dinger!
Jerry
Guest
I don't think Aaron Smith got a try assist in that 3rd test. But I take your point, he was very good in test 1 & 3, very average in test 2. Danny Care only played once and was very average.
Riccardo
Guest
Morning Jimmy, "ll take Care over Smith 9 times out of 10". That's a big call particularly after Smith's performance in the third Test. 2 tries, one assist. Much quicker to the breakdown, even third or fourth phase and his pass is superior to Care's. It's subjective I know but that remains a big call. The English backline has been bagged on these pages lately and when you look at how lack-lustre a player of Brown's class was, probably with some merit, although his position will still be one of the first inked by Lancaster IMO. I think Tuilagi remains a shoe-in at 13 and I'd like to see 36 take up the inside centre role; he will add an option for Farrell. After the third Test there has also been some denigration of England and Lancaster which I disagree with. I think he was also experimenting with some combinations. He has found out that Tuilagi is not suited to the wing for example. In fact, while he may persist with Yard, after some heavy defensive sessions, the other wing, Mr Flamboyant, should be nowhere near an England jumper again. He may also have picked up that while Vuniploa can be a rampaging carrier, his link with the axis behind him is lacking and should be looking to start Morgan with Vuniupola impacting from the pine. I'm pretty sure he would have noticed that Marler was getting toweled up by Franks and will be making plans to keep Corbisiero and Cole fit too :) I know you're keen on retaining the Care/Farrell halves pairing but I can't help but think that with some exposure Burns may provide more options than Farrell long term. Anyway, I think this English team has real potential under Lancaster if he can get his selections (and especially his combinations) more honed. They will be more difficult this year at home and I would therefore expect them to be extremely tough to beat in London next year. That they will be better for the experience of this trip is beyond question.
Riccardo
Guest
Good post Kuruki. Although if I'm honest I think his repeat injuries to that calf will actually decide his fate before form becomes a question and that this may happen before the RWC squad is even chosen. A shame as the RWC is the only ommision from the great one's resume; I hope I'm wrong but it is what it is. I have similar fears for Mealamu.
JimmyB
Guest
Good article Riccardo. You beat me to the punch really, I've written a piece with a similar theme but more from an England perspective. I might wait a while before putting it in. If I might take issue with one of your assertions that I've seen repeated and concurred with many times on this thread and others and that is about ABs scrum dominance. I just didn't see it and particularly in the second half of test 3, England were awarded numerous scrum penalties and rightly so IMO. It's all too common these days for people to say that the ref got things wrong, without any valid reasons as to why. The ABs only really need parity at scrum time in order to do the things that win them matches but it should be noted that it was a full strength AB scrum which is heavier than the 'White Orcs' scrum. I've read that Corbisiero is a 'myth', and I can understand the sentiment, however if and when he is fully fit and Cole is partnering him, I think this AB scrum will struggle to gain anything close to parity if I'm honest. I do hope we find out in November, should be a cracker, shame it's first up though.
JimmyB
Guest
There were players who under performed no doubt and some like Ashton who was downright awful, but just to disregard an entire back line is ridiculous. Care and Farrell played one match and you're writing them off. On that basis, A. smith, Cruden, Dagg and Jane are rubbish. They had poor games in the series therefore I shall label them as rubbish. It's a bit silly really isn't it? I'll take Care over Smith 9 times out of 10. England's backs were by and large inexperienced and had never played together in combinations like that. There is certainly an issue at 12 and on the wings, however there is plenty of talent. I may just remind you about the NO threat at the WC line in about 15 months time.
Colin N
Guest
As I said it was his brother Marcus. Former London Irish academy graduate, England under-20 representative but has so far failed to make it in 15s so went to Sevens.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
All right, must have read it wrong.
Sylvester
Guest
I think most teams would be happy to to have two 7s with ABs experience backing up the incumbent...
Peter Robinson
Roar Rookie
Great write-up Riccardo, agree with just about everything, particularly the last sentence.
Peter Robinson
Roar Rookie
Maybe a touch harsh, firstxv, but I see your point. Plenty of good players come to grief touring in New Zealand. The really good ones bounce back. Lancaster has a few problems though, I think he had a fair idea who his best team was coming here, now I'm not so sure. I see he has asked to delay naming his squad till mid October for that very reason. I think a couple of players played their way out of contention in the 3rd test. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/10918453/England-head-coach-Stuart-Lancaster-puts-players-under-scrutiny-as-he-steps-up-2015-Rugby-World-Cup-plans.html
Peter Robinson
Roar Rookie
Yeah, Foxy was at Putaruru at some stage that I was there (I lived there til I was 13) although I don't remember him, he was 4 years younger than me. Wayne Smith was a year ahead of me, but I don't remember him either. What can I say, when you live in a metropolis of 4000 you can't know everyone ! :)