Chris Rattue: Rugby needed this Hong Kong result

James O'Connor did the business with two difficult goals. Photo / Getty Images

The Hong Kong test result was a good thing on many levels.

Not for Stephen Donald though, whose test career should finally be laid to rest by a horror display as Dan Carter's replacement.

There are many better long-term options, including Piri Weepu as a utility.

Australia pulled back from the brink of another disaster when they handed the goalkicking to James O'Connor, and the young test star did the business with two difficult goals to win a thrillingly dramatic if often messy match.

Rugby as a whole needed this result. More specifically, battling Aussie rugby was crying out for victory. A loss will even do the All Blacks good, giving them renewed vigour and desperation, plus a clearer picture of where they are straying if these coaches are capable of a little humility.

Those of us who have extolled the brilliance of Robbie Deans' coaching will feel vindicated again after periods of doubt.

Blame for the defeat lies firmly with Graham Henry, who may end up sinking through a belief he can walk on water.

There is an annoying arrogance about Henry's demeanour and the media intimidator Steve Hansen.

Henry got his bench selection totally wrong, in style and substance. I simply do not believe the claim, a pre-conceived tactic, that Carter had to come off after an hour. There was no evidence. The coaches lacked desperation, ignoring the obvious, believing in their king-making qualities and infallibility.

Test rugby is about giving your all in the trenches.

With a fleet of brilliant power runners at his disposal, Henry chose test wannabes, faders and failures.

Donald lost the test for the All Blacks, but he shouldn't have been there in the first place.

His initial act was to stampede into the Wallaby defence like a billy goat charging at a fence.

He then grubber kicked the ball from inside his 22-metre line straight to a Wallaby, kicked long straight to a Wallaby, missed a winning penalty kick, and failed to find touch at the death, an act that should also have secured victory.

Donald lacks poise and is a two trick pony even at lower levels - he either charges at defensive lines or tries little kicks behind defenders, last resorts for world class test pivots.

Alby Mathewson added nothing in replacing the staunch Jimmy Cowan, among the best back-pedalling scrappers in rugby. Isaia Toeava never plays on the wing, so no wonder he defended so badly out there. (Toeava's career may have been ruined by his ridiculously hasty introduction into test rugby in 2005).

Sonny Bill Williams was ready and needed for this test match. Delaying this potential matchwinner's education so close to the World Cup made no sense.

The rampaging Canterbury centre Robbie Fruean had done more than enough, and then some, to make this touring party. Fruean is a far more complete and damaging footballer than Toeava was when he was rushed into the All Black jersey. Rene Ranger has way more potential than the blundering Toeava. So does Hosea Gear as a wing.

Henry and his cohorts have done a magnificent job of resurrecting the All Blacks from the World Cup disaster, but they are showing signs that having ushered in new times so successfully, they are not keeping up with them. They seem desperate to prove they are above doing the obvious.

New talent and power runners can take the All Blacks further still. The omission of Fruean and Ranger from the tour is baffling especially when the selections include Toeava and a fading Joe Rokocoko.

The Wallabies deserved their win in Hong Kong, and but for poor goalkicking would have won the previous test in Sydney.

Deans is threatening to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

The irritating part of the Henry v Deans debate was the attempt by Henry supporters to denigrate Deans.

Somehow, they claimed, all those titles and finals appearances with the Crusaders, all those fantastic All Blacks produced, were a giant fluke.

Ironically though, Deans' All Black snubbing has been good for rugby because maybe no other coach could have saved the Wallabies.

New Zealand rugby needs Australia to be strong for popularity, commercial and competitive reasons. This Wallaby win is good for both countries.

Henry needs a serious rethink over some strategies and selections.

The selectors have found out the stone cold truth about Donald before he can botch a World Cup match.

Ma'a Nonu's liabilities, on defence and in conceding penalties, desperately need attending to.

Long winning runs foster protective instincts and conservative policies, leading to missed problems and opportunities for improvement. A pressure valve has been opened.