View photosKEY POINTS:
It's disappointing that we are still rotating and I can only go back to what I have been saying for some time now - the All Blacks need combinations.
Some of the guys looked as if they were playing in their first test match last night and it took 65 minutes to break the South Africans down. The Boks were just doing what they do well - spoiling and defending.
The All Blacks again looked as if they were just thinking of the World Cup. All right, the game plan changed a bit - Dan Carter kicked more - but they struggled to get past the Boks for most of that game. In the last 10 minutes, you felt like saying: 'Why didn't you play like that earlier?' but while the score was comfortable in the end, it maybe flattered the All Blacks.
After 65 minutes, there were only six points in it and I could see that horrible little Breyton Paulse - he was offside all night - latching onto a pass and running the length of the field to score under the posts.
After all, the All Blacks were ambushed last time in Melbourne and it just goes to show that they can be beaten by a lesser side if they are able to hang in there with them.
Having said all of that, bring on Australia next week. We have one test before the World Cup and maybe this will be the time we see the number one team and the combinations given time together.
There were some positives, even though most people will not count this as a particularly satisfying victory. Carter played a lot better, I thought, and so did Richie McCaw - although I'd question why he has to carry the ball up as much as he does.
Part of the reason was Jerry Collins' absence.
I know why the coaches are playing Reuben Thorne but, for me, he didn't add much last night and Collins did when he came on.
Tony Woodcock had a big game and he put Jannie du Plessis to the sword early in the scrums. Luke McAlister also had a fine match and I thought it was interesting that Aaron Mauger wasn't in the match 22 last night - and maybe McAlister put a hand on the test number 12 jersey.
Keven Mealamu was good and Chris Jack was strong but I just keep coming back to the need for combinations.
They are just so important and yet here we are still rotating.
Maybe on Saturday we can have a full dress rehearsal for the World Cup. Our best team, our combinations in action and the right result achieved in the right manner against the Australians.
It was interesting to heat Matt Burke on the commentary at halftime. He was chipping away, saying that the All Blacks were once again looking a bit exposed in World Cup year; he questioned their confidence.
You know what the Aussies are doing, don't you? They are playing those mind games as they always do, digging away at our state of mind.
There's one way to do away with all that. At Eden Park. With our best team. Here's hoping.
