All Blacks on search and destroy mission

Keven Mealamu scores in the tackle of Australia's Greg Holmes (1) and George Gregan. Picture / Reuters

NEW ZEALAND 32 AUSTRALIA 12

Oh yeah! The wait for a thundering All Black performance ended as they delivered a threatening message to their Tri-Nations foes.

After mix 'n' match All Black squads laboured to three victories in June, the elite regrouped to torpedo the Wallabies' optimism of a revival.

If there was a diluted look to the All Blacks last month they were the full noise on Saturday in Christchurch, their play echoing the venom of their alternative haka.

After an edgy opening quarter the All Blacks took charge of the test and probably the Bledisloe and Tri-Nations trophies.

Two-try champion Keven Mealamu acknowledged the value of proven combinations after all the selectorial tinkering against Ireland and Argentina.

"It's good to be back playing with the boys again. It's an instinctive thing, you know where they're going to be and things like that," Mealamu said.

"We were under a lot of pressure after the last three games and it was a good way for us to put a stake in the ground and say, 'This is where we're heading to'."

They mocked the assertions from Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll that the Wallabies would prevail and in doing so, minced the Wallaby scrum so badly it is difficult to see it mending this season.

The crumbling scrum restricted the Wallaby options but they contributed more to this test than the scoreline suggests. Even with those problems they had most of the possession, which forced a huge defensive effort from the All Blacks.

The Wallabies conceded two tries when Rocky Elsom was sinbinned, perhaps harshly for a professional foul when he could not roll clear of flailing All Black boots and Richie McCaw was given the benefit of a TMO decision.

But they were all the results of the heat the All Blacks were able to generate, the sort of pressure which left Stephen Larkham without enough options.

It showed towards the end when he dwelt on the ball too long, Daniel Carter charged his kick down and substitute Isaia Toeava scored his first test try.

Usually the acclaim about All Black victories pinpoints individuals or some backs who've gassed their way to the line.

This victory though was a result for scrum doctor Mike Cron and the men with the small numbers on their jerseys. They noted the Wallaby weakness and had no mercy.

If Wallaby coach John Connolly described the scrum battle for his inexperienced front row as a "dive into the unknown" before the game, he now knows that plunge is in freefall.

"We were ecstatic with what happened tonight," 50-test lock Chris Jack beamed. "We stopped their attack before it could get started."

The lineout held firm, the decoys and variety worked well around main jumpers Jack and Jason Eaton. Claiming the restarts was a rare blemish.

The Wallabies could not get much going except some lineout drives. They were shut out of any useful loose ball, McCaw, Jerry Collins, Rodney So'oialo, Daniel Carter and Mils Muliaina were prominent in a defensive line which forced the visitors laterally.

When the All Blacks got the ball on attack, the speed and width of their passing made them far more threatening.

The All Blacks will aim to maintain that authority throughout the Tri-Nations. It will be a tough mission but nothing like the issues facing the Wallabies.