Pace is the new black. It's pace that is going to redefine the way the All Blacks play and pace that they are hoping is going to be the weapon that takes them to a new level this year and beyond.
There have been plenty of players with pace in previous All Blacks teams. There has never been any shortage of finishers, men with the devastating acceleration and high end top speed to damage teams. Think here of the likes of Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Rico Gear.
The All Blacks, certainly in the professional era, have always had someone or maybe even two players with enough speed to make the opposition nervous.
But what's different now is that they arguably have four at the moment who can destroy a defence with their speed. Damian McKenzie, Rieko Ioane, Ben Smith and Beauden Barrett are all genuinely quick.
McKenzie creates something of a false illusion when he plays. Defenders get suckered into thinking that he's not so much quick as agile.