Otago Daily Times Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire looks at some key points from the All Blacks' 46-6 win over Wales at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin last night.
Dominant performance
This was the All Blacks' most dominant performance of the series, showing they are more than just a team that runs over tired opponents. Granted Wales probably were tired after a long season, it took just 20 minutes this week for the floodgates to open. After those 20 minutes the All Blacks took their play to another level and Wales had no answer. Israel Dagg, Ben Smith and George Moala began making breaks at will. They were electrifying and the support play was such that they were able to keep piling on the pressure once Wales found themselves on the back foot. The second half saw them carry on that dominance and even with 14 men, that never waivered and Wales never looked like scoring.
Lethal on the counter
If you are going to play the kick and chase game against the All Blacks, you have to do it well. On this occasion, Wales did not do that. They kicked too long, too flat and, all too often, straight to hand, giving the All Blacks back three too much space to run the ball back. Given that space, they are a tough team to close down, as they have players with the speed, vision and skill to exploit it. Last night Israel Dagg and Ben Smith did just that. There was never a thought to kick, as they kept ball in hand to cut the defence to pieces, forcing Wales to scramble deep in their own half. It was vintage Dagg and possibly a sign that he is back to his best, while Smith showed that he can be just as effective on the wing, provided he is given the ball. If that is what they are going to bring to the table, teams need to either find touch, or ensure they are applying pressure when they use the boot. Once you give them space, it is almost too late to try to contain these All Blacks.
Skill level across whole team
The skill level of the All Blacks from 1-15 is often mentioned, but it was evident once again last night. It is not just the backs that are dangerous with ball in hand, it is the whole team. The ball skills and open field athleticism of the forward pack is unprecedented and allows everyone to be a threat. Most teams use their forward runners to hit the ball up and draw defenders in. That serves its purpose, but it means that you do not have to worry about defending a step or the channels on either side of the ball carrier. For the All Blacks everyone presents a multi-dimensional threat. They can all run in the open, all step well enough to create a weak shoulder in the tackler and can all pass and offload to utilise players running into gaps. That means the defence has to constantly play them for all of those things, while ensuring the All Blacks always have attacking options no matter who is in what position. On top of that, they are all exceptionally good at their core roles too. At the moment that is one of the big differences between New Zealand and the rest of the world.
Highlanders on show
The Highlanders on show certainly had an impact on the game playing under their home roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Ben Smith was electric every time he touched the ball, while Aaron Smith was similarly dangerous with both his running and passing games. That was to be expected, as it is rare for either to have an off night. Elliot Dixon was strong on debut, proving dynamic in the loose, making a handful of nice runs with ball in hand and getting around the field well. Liam Squire took over from him after 55 minutes and did similar things, going looking for work and making an impact both with ball in hand and on defence. Lima Sopoaga had fewer chance, although showed a nice set of hands in the lead up to Beauden Barrett's second try.
Could have been more
As dominant as a 46-6 scoreline is, it could easily have been more. There were times that the All Blacks squandered tries by taking the wrong option, notably holding the ball rather than passing, or at times kicking when it would have been better to hold. That is something that has crept into all three games and in a closer match with fewer chances, taking the right option becomes all the more important. It is hard to make the right decision 100% of the time though, particularly when playing at the breakneck pace this game was played at. Indeed it is hard to be too critical at all. When you consider the scare Wales provided in the first half in Auckland, to finish with such a comfortable win has to be seen as a sign of things to come.