KEY POINTS:
Buck Shelford got what he wanted at Eden Park on Saturday night. He saw traditional All Black attitude swat aside Australia.
The lineout, the breakdown, the kicking game and the defence all pleased him, but above all the All Blacks got their heads right, he told the Herald yesterday.
"It wasn't rocket science. I think it was an attitudinal change. I believe it went up 100 per cent from the week before. The attitude for this game was out of this world. And that's what we expect out of these boys all the time."
Shelford contributed to the chorus of inspirational words to "coach" the team, published in the Weekend Herald.
Almost 300 people submitted 50 words to turn the team into winners.
Shelford, who never lost a game as All Black captain, also praised returning skipper Richie McCaw's leadership, and its effect on the team.
"It's huge. He's very well respected by the players. They've missed him as a player but they've also missed his leadership."
Shelford said he could see McCaw hurting over the past two weeks as the team lost two tests.
All Black captains were always aware of the country's expectations.
"They can't get away from it. The microscope of cameras and media, they know it's there."
The Eden Park victory was a landmark for this team, which could now look forward to a new era of All Black rugby, Shelford said.
"The boys were probably a little bit down from their last game, and they knew they had to front.
"On that performance, I couldn't see any other team in the world beating them.
"They've set a benchmark now, and they can't afford to drop below that."
