Against the Boks, he was used as a link man in midfield off phase play, a sort of giant inside back. In the first half he passed the ball twice as often as midfielders Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu.
To have the ability to make pin-point decisions after mixing it with a pack the size of South Africa's is a special thing and the All Blacks' coaches should make his continued good health one of their top priorities.
The decision by the 37-year-old Matfield to return to the test arena from retirement has been a good one. His team-mate Eben Eztebeth was replaced, but there he was at the end, still rumbling on.
He doesn't do as much around the field these days but, as a lineout specialist, he's extraordinary. To Retallick's credit, he stole one from from his opponent in the second half, but the All Blacks couldn't control it. The Boks' excellence in this area, combined with their commitment at the breakdown and incredible scrambling defence, meant the All Blacks had to dig extremely deep to win this.
The final lineout, with Keven Mealamu throwing in, was an extremely nervous moment for the home side. It was another lesson that the margins at the top level are extremely small.
The Boks were underwhelming in their victories over the Pumas and defeat to the Wallabies, but here they looked an entirely different team.
The other All Blacks' forward to impress with his handling skills was Read, occasional slip apart. His offloading game appears to be back - he made two in the space of a minute and his catch and assist for his Crusaders team-mate Richie McCaw showed an understanding that only hours of practice can bring. The two loose forwards are forever paired at the end of training and that try was payback time.
Three things we learned
1 Winning ugly
The All Blacks' game was littered with uncharacteristic errors that, in combination with the Springboks' stubbornness, made for a forgetful performance. But the All Blacks' winning streak - and their unbeaten record in the Rugby Championship - wasn't accrued through only flawless football. They know how to win ugly and last night emphasised as much, grinding out the victory courtesy of a stout rearguard and a moment of magic.
2 Read all about it
The offloading ability of Kieran Read is already well-known, blessed with skill to accompany his size and strength. But the No 8 outdid himself in creating the All Blacks' opening try, somehow managing to squeeze a pass for Richie McCaw to cross in the corner. Read had already applied his genius before the offload, leaping to catch Aaron Cruden's crossfield kick and staying solid in Jean de Villiers' tackle, but what came next was special. No wonder he trended worldwide on Twitter.
3 Versatility is vital
Players who can perform at multiple positions have given Steve Hansen plenty of options when it comes to the make-up of his bench, and last night it meant the All Blacks lost little when Ma'a Nonu was forced from the field at halftime. With Ben Smith slotting into centre for the second spell and Beauden Barrett's proficiency at fullback providing cover for Israel Dagg, Hansen was able to carry an extra prop on the bench.
