Now that was a great rugby test

Rugby was the winner.
An old hackneyed saying I know but that's exactly how I felt after the All Blacks had sneaked past the Springboks at Carisbrook on Saturday night.
At long last we had a match where the sheer physicality of the exchanges could practically be felt through your television set.
There was so much crash, bash and thud it was a wonder anybody was left standing at the end of the 80 minutes.
It was invigorating stuff, the sort of rugby which took us back to the days of Meads, Lochore, Tremain and company when battering an opponent into submission was very much the norm.
Personally I thought the ABs were fair value for their four-point winning margin.
It reflected well the slender advantage they had in terms of territory and possession and the fact that they were more creative than the 'Boks in their attacking play.
That it took the ABs until the last few minutes to nail the winning try -and how appropriate it was that one of their star performers in Kevin Mealamu should score it - did, however, speak volumes for the competitiveness of their opposition.
Too often in recent times Springbok teams have seemingly lacked the depth of talent to make a name for themselves on the international stage.
No doubt their selection policies have had a part to play in that.
Without wanting to get into any debate on racial issues it cannot be argued that coloured players without the necessary skills to compete internationally have been selected from time to time. Unquestionably their presence has weakened the side, and they have suffered as a consequence.
Whether or not those same selection policies exist today is something we will probably never know but it is a huge benefit to the Springboks that the current contingent of coloured players in their squad are, without exception, up to the required standard. Not only is their skill level impressive but they have the mental and physical hardiness to go with it.
And in Jake White they have a coach with the astuteness to harness not only their talents but those of their teammates.
It seems unlikely to me though that the 'Boks have done enough to successfully defend the Tri Nations trophy they won last year.
The All Blacks only have to beat the Aussies this coming weekend to have that trophy in their cabinet and while you can bet our mates from across the Tasman would like nothing better than to spoil their party it's hard to imagine that happening.
To be honest the Aussies have been something of a rabble so far this year and you have to wonder whether a number of their senior members are past their use-by date.
For the ABs to lose they would have to have an off day and the incentive of having the Tri Nations title at stake should be enough to ensure that won't occur.
And if that is the case who would want to be an Aussie?
With their cricketers also getting bashed by the dreaded enemy, the Poms, they have certainly given new meaning to the term Down Under, haven't they?