Sean Fitzpatrick: Bench players didn't make a difference

Jimmy Cowan knows this was one that got away. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks should not have lost that test. It probably won't do them any lasting harm losing that unbeaten record - but I don't think they should have lost.

Australia played pretty well but the All Blacks had plenty of opportunities to break them down. They let a lot of those opportunities slip.

I thought pulling Dan Carter from the field after 60 minutes was a telling factor and, if there was a difference between this test and the Tri Nations, it was the fact that the bench didn't fire. In the Tri Nations, it did. The players who came on really added value; they were outstanding.

If you are going to make changes, that is what has to happen - and I don't think it did last night. There would be one or two players off that bench who would be disappointed, I think.

Stephen Donald was great during the ITM Cup but the step up is a big one - and I think he was found wanting. In terms of selection of this touring party I was a bit surprised that Colin Slade didn't get a go and maybe Aaron Cruden.

But maybe that's what Graham Henry was doing - he needed to see how people would step up on this tour, maybe especially at 10.

There is a lot of rugby to go between now and the World Cup and plenty of Super Rugby so there can still be selections made.

But that gap behind Carter is one we have been talking about for some years now - and we haven't really filled it. I also wondered about Isaia Toeava and I thought Robbie Fruean might have been chosen - but he can still have his day.

Daniel Braid was the right choice behind Richie McCaw, I thought. Other than that I thought the selection of the touring party was pretty good.

As for the Wallabies, they showed why Graham was right to suggest that they are the team he is most worried about at the World Cup next year.

Quade Cooper might not have much on defence but he opened up the All Blacks by creating so many opportunities and finding so much space that I am sure it worried Graham.

Same with Kurtley Beale. They can be pretty exciting and it will not be lost on judges of the game that they took the game to the All Blacks this time and found space.

They will take a lot of confidence out of that. I watched the test in Hong Kong with David Campese and we were musing after the game that the situation reminded us of the 1990 Australian team which beat the All Blacks in Wellington.

They grew in stature after that and, of course, went on to win the 1991 World Cup by beating, among others, the All Blacks.

I don't think this Wallabies team has quite the quality of that one but they definitely have calibre - and there are some similarities indeed.

While we are at it, don't write England off. They are sitting up there in the northern hemisphere and they are quietly waiting for the All Blacks. I think they will be a force next year too.

There's still work to do and there's still ground to cover for the All Blacks.

They will know that Australia missed a lot of kicks - as Carter did - and that they still could have won. That will be a spur for them.

They should not have lost.