Richard Loe: Wholesale subs blunt All Blacks power

Conrad Smith was superb. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks were clinical in that first 30-35 minutes, even if it was hard to get a reading on just how good they were when the Irish were down to 13 men.

There were a lot of good signs there in that first half hour - and it was a shame for the game as a spectacle that they made all the substitutions and lost their shape as a result.

The coaches will be a bit grumpy about letting in four converted tries - but that's what happens when you bugger round with the playing roster, trying to give everyone a game. It's a test match, not a trial, although I understand the coaches have to treat it that way sometimes.

We've seen it at provincial level, at Super 14 and in previous tests - when you make wholesale changes like that, the team loses its rhythm and the game loses its structure. Things get messy and it's not much use for the players, the coaches and the fans.

I hate to sound like a grumpy old man but I have had a crack at this before. I think it is better, even if you are trying to give people test match experience, to give them a run in the starting team.

Sometimes, you see all the substitutions made in a game like that and you wonder what anyone gets out of it, really.

You know, people like Victor Vito and Aaron Cruden who are trying to show they belong here. The game had got messy and destabilised and the best you could say about that kind of player is that the jury is still out.

Still, there were some encouraging signs. The lineout was okay, the scrums solid without being hugely superior and I thought the Franks brothers had a good day round the field too - particularly Ben who hiked about far better than his reputation suggested.

Dan Carter looked almost back to his best and I want to say a special word about Jimmy Cowan. I have been critical and didn't pick him in my test team but I thought he had a cracker.

It was his best form, times two, and he deserved his tries as his running and attacking was good. Cory Jane was very good, another standout and Israel Dagg was dangerous and clever coming in from the back.

His was a fine debut - and he showed some touches with his passing that were top drawer.

Sam Whitelock also had a great debut - it's probably a while since an All Black lock scored two test tries first time out. I've been grinding on about this bloke all season - he's got it. Speed, mobility, strength, spring and a hard head.

However, my player of the day was Conrad Smith. He was all class, took his tries well and he was the one carving the Irish up before they lost two players and the All Blacks kind of lost their way.