Three things we learned from the All Blacks thrashing of Australia at Eden Park.
1 Dan Carter still goes all right
There has been plenty of angst and teeth gnashing over the form of Dan Carter. Last night he showed he can still run (he set up Dane Coles beautifully for the game’s first try), still kick, still offload and still lead a team around the park. It all adds up to Carter wearing the No 10 jersey at the World Cup. He wasn’t the only old boy who excelled – Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith were superb.
2. Dane Coles is essential
The Wellingtonian has been terrific for the All Blacks over the last two years and tonight showed his worth with another spectacular try, busy game around the park and hit his lineout jumpers. He’s now entered, if he hadn’t reached this point already, of being as important to the All Blacks as Richie McCaw and Aaron Smith. He is not allowed to get injured at the World Cup.
3. The World Cup picture is cloudier, not clearer
Two weeks ago, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Victor Vito wouldn’t have figured in World Cup calculations. They have to be now. Milner-Skudder had a quiet first half as play didn’t go his way but the Hurricanes wing set the game alight with his jinking run and brilliant offload to set up the penalty try Aaron Smith would have scored if not for pantomime villain Quade Cooper’s high shot. He left the field soon after with injury having made 53m in seven carries, with seven defenders beaten and two offloads.2
Vito was also one of the All Blacks’ best as he added a physical presence missing last week and some strong ball carrying. It’s fair to say Messrs Dagg and Piutau will be a little nervous and Piutau did little wrong in his tests against Argentina and South Africa last month.
