Record victory heralds squad reinvigorated

In 1993 I suggested in a column in Rugby News that it might qualify as "treason" but Sean Fitzpatrick's place in the All Blacks was on the line after he played poorly in the second test loss to the British and Irish Lions.

I was not alone in my criticism. The great Fred Allen was the one who struck at the All Blacks heart that week.

The All Black captain, and indeed his team's response, was to come out and emphatically take the series from the Lions at Eden Park.

Sean was never angry about that criticism - in fact he acknowledged to me that I was right to question his place.

Over the next four years, however, he was never threatened for the All Black No 2 jersey again, and grew to be a great leader.

Last week Richie McCaw, already a great leader and like Fitzpatrick a legend of the game, let his standards slip. So did his team.

But the Fitzpatrick experience, and the sheer quality of McCaw, meant I had no doubt that he and the All Blacks would turn up the volume at Waikato Stadium.

It wasn't about what Ireland could bring, it was about the All Blacks performing to their optimum.

I said in Fair Game last week that the All Black captain owed his team "a blinder", and playing out of position at No 8, it is exactly what he produced.

Around him the promise "that the next four years could produce something special" as I stated after the first test, was reiterated.

Ireland were blitzed by a record margin. And the intensity of the All Black performance would have been felt in lounges from Stewart Island to Cape Reinga, and all the way to Stellenbosch, Sydney and Buenos Aires.

This series against Ireland has been the perfect start for the Hansen-era. Brian O'Driscoll's men were good opponents, without being great, who reminded the All Blacks in Christchurch of just what it takes at this level. Yet they also allowed McCaw's men to move on to the challenges ahead with great confidence, after exceptional wins in Auckland and Hamilton.

The series also showcased the exceptional talent which has come through our 2008-11 World Cup winning Under-20 teams.

First-five Beauden Barrett, flanker Sam Cane and lock Brodie Retallick, only last year experienced Under-20 success. They have grabbed their All Black chances with both hands, and are a credit to the All Black selectors vision.

Winger Julian Savea, the 2010 Junior IRB player of the year, also made an imprint on debut.

Meanwhile Aaron Cruden, an All Black since 2010, is now bringing the magic that made him Junior IRB player of the year in 2009 to test level, to keep Daniel Carter on his toes.

Other debutants - halfback Aaron Smith who started all three tests, and lock Luke Romano - were no less impressive.

Add in further opportunities for returning All Blacks who missed entirely, or didn't play at the World Cup - Liam Messam, Ben Smith, Hosea Gear, Hika Elliot and Tamati Ellison - and the scene has been reinvigorated.

With 29 players appearing in this series, and the rested Ma'a Nonu and the injured Corey Jane certain to be in contention, competition for the 28-man squad to be selected for the Rugby Championship starting in August will be hot, and hugely anticipated.

There are some delicious dilemmas.

Among them a full-on battle for the No 12 shirt between Sonny Bill Williams and Nonu, and a No 6 shirt up for grabs between Messam, Victor Vito and Adam Thomson. And who knows, maybe there will be the temptation to try McCaw for a test or two, given Cane's emergence.

Of course, South Africa, Australia and Argentina will offer new challenges for this emerging side.

But if you're not excited by the promise offered by this All Black team in the June international window, you clearly don't love the game.