Wynne Gray: Graham Slam III enters the final stage

Hosea Gear, opening try scorer against England on November 6, is part of a team that still has 14 members from the successful 2005 tour. Photo / Getty Images

There were no shocks when Graham Henry's All Blacks stomped to their first Grand Slam in 2005.

However, they created a tremor or two before the tour finished when teenage utility Isaia Toeava was picked from obscurity in Auckland rugby circles to make the trip.

A knee injury for Luke McAlister after he had been picked gave Nick Evans a chance to tour and start two tests. He looked a likely back-up for Daniel Carter but Evans now plies his trade in the England club scene.

For those who delight in rugby trivial pursuit, eight backs from the 2005 tour and six forwards were selected or toured on the 2008 Slam trip and returned for this year's visit.*

The All Blacks had belted the combined might of the Lions five years ago although there were many weaknesses in that bloated group of players and management.

There were all sorts of implied warnings about "wait till we get home and return to our national sides on our own grounds", following the Lions' 2005 meltdown.

Like much of the rhetoric from the Lions, that was hot air.

A sign of the All Blacks' confidence and the perceived lack of clout from the opposition came when they played an entirely changed XV for the second clash against Ireland and still won by nearly 40 points.

Arrogant? Maybe, but it also showed the tremendous depth in the All Black squad and the failings of their rivals.

Game three, though, was different - perhaps the toughest test Henry's All Blacks have faced in the Northern Hemisphere as they search for their third Slam this weekend against Wales in Cardiff.

It didn't help that referee Alan Lewis, the man in charge of this weekend's test in Cardiff, sin-binned three All Blacks in the second spell leaving the tourists a man down for a quarter of the internationals.

Tony Woodcock, Neemia Tialata and Chris Masoe all went to the cooler for a variety of professional fouls.

Daniel Carter's amazing run of 24 successful kicks was broken, while the All Blacks also missed Richie McCaw who cried off late because of persistent headaches.

England captain Martin Corry scored early from a lineout drive but then relied on Charlie Hodgson to kick the rest of their points, while the All Blacks scored two tries and held out for victory, even with their reduced resources.

It was a nice riposte to the England taunts about their victory, with men in the bin, against the All Blacks in 2003.

The Grand Slam was completed a week later in cold conditions at Murray-field when the All Blacks kept only captain Tana Umaga and lock Chris Jack from the previous week's side.

The luxury of those selection changes underscored the depth and quality of the squad.

Murrayfield marked Toeava's debut, Umaga's international retirement after 74 tests, and a Grand Slam after a 27-year hiatus. Three years later in 2008, the All Blacks easily won each Grand Slam test. Their smallest victory margin was 19 points when they played Ireland in a thunderous atmosphere at Croke Park.

The tourists cantered through the tour without conceding a try. It was another Grand Slam, but almost with a ho-hum feeling.

It was no fault of the All Blacks, they could do no more. You just wished for a stronger challenge from the hosts.

The closest scrape came midweek against Munster when the tourists escaped with a late try and an 18-16 win at Thomond Park.

The All Blacks were supposed to be grinding their way to the end of an arduous tough season, much like their present trip.

So where was the enthusiastic, vigorous challenge from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales who should have been refreshed at the front of their international calendars?

They might have been rusty, but after a few weeks of internationals they should have been in sync.

On this year's trip, the All Blacks were fortunate they played England first before the Red Rose warriors got some momentum, belief and confidence about the way they could use the revamped laws. It was also a week when the All Blacks were smarting from losing to the Wallabies in Hong Kong, which chopped any thoughts of a record-breaking streak of test victories.

That run stalled at 15 in a result which still inflicts some pain on captain Richie McCaw and his troops.

However, if they repeat that streak of 15 straight triumphs it will take them to the dais at Eden Park in October and you won't remove the smiles from their dials forever.

* Worked out the 14 players selected or used in 2005, 2008 and on this trip? Mils Muliaina, Isaia Toeava, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Richie McCaw, John Afoa, Neemia Tialata, Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu.