Scotland win icing on rugby cake

Job done. An All Black season which began 170 days ago with a mix of ambition and anxiety, ended in triumph yesterday with the Grand Slam added to the Tri-Nations and Lions series spoils.

From a scorching 91-0 start against Fiji at Albany, the All Blacks finished on the other side of the world in Edinburgh in a manner which reflected the chilly conditions.

Combinations did not thaw, there was a disjointed edge to their play as they searched for a final glow at Murrayfield to seal their season. It was an awkward win against unsubtle opponents.

However there was a larger prize, even if the tourists had diverted discussion about a possible Grand Slam until they entered the final week of the tour.

Emulating the achievement of their 1978 predecessors was the tangible honour for the team and their supporters while the coaching staff had sifted the claims of 35 players to be part of the 2007 World Cup campaign. Mission accomplished on all those fronts.

It was an occasion to savour, a rare feat to acknowledge and one captain Tana Umaga and coach Graham Henry were determined would not be eclipsed by discussion about the international departure of Umaga.

Questions about that exit were parried and deflected by both as they kept to a plan the Herald believes, involves a bulletin once everyone returns to New Zealand before Christmas.

The 2005 season for the All Blacks ended with a stack of titles to crown what had loomed as a series of tough assignments. An initial assessment of the schedule suggested Fiji would be the only effortless test for the All Blacks before the serious inquisitions against the Lions, Wallabies, South Africans and the Home Nations.

It was a logical judgment before the All Blacks raised their game and Sir Clive Woodward helped the Lions implode. After that series whitewash, confidence swelled in the All Blacks about their ability, game plan and style with the only blip on their results card, defeat at Newlands against the Springboks.

By any measure it was a quality year. Two years out from Henry's World Cup target, the set piece work of the All Blacks had consistently been raised a notch, the coaching staff had been able to appraise a bunch of new players and delivered warnings to the rest of the rugby world.

Two years until the next World Cup is well in the distance, too far for some, like the imposing Umaga, and it would be imprudent to say this season will offer similar dividends in 2007. But it is a great foundation. It came with the philosophy Henry discussed when he spoke about motivation and his coaching role.

"You need to create a sport-smart environment," he said, "talent rarely beats brains. At game time, take the high ground, take the initiative, play the game at a tempo and skill level that your opponents can't compete with. This is based on player self-belief, developed from preparation, organisation and constant positive reinforcement."

Henry and co will look at their All Blacks and gauge how much they need to tweak their tactics when they encounter the sort of grisly conditions they faced yesterday in Edinburgh.

Even though the All Blacks have succeeded with their high-paced continuity game, the test against Scotland called for more impact from the forwards.

Perhaps the thrilling start when a try was only spoiled with a dropped pass, lulled the All Blacks into more rollicking enterprise than was prudent.

The annual offshore fallibility in South Africa will also rankle but there will be two chances of redemption next year in the expanded Tri-Nations while the end of year trip is being tailored as a dress-rehearsal for the World Cup.

Is there room for teenage project Isaia Toeava on that trip or others like Ma'a Nonu, Nick Evans, Jimmy Cowan, Sione Lauaki, Chris Masoe, Angus Macdonald, Jason Eaton, Saimone Taumoepeau and John Afoa in a condensed group of 30 players?

Competition will heat up from others who did not tour this time, players like Luke McAlister, Sam Tuitupou, Kevin Senio, Jerome Kaino, Jono Gibbes, Troy Flavell, Greg Somerville and Tom Willis.

That was Henry's aim though, to increase the playing resources in every position.

After this season he and assistants Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith can be satisfied they have made inroads with that objective.

Alternating their selections and claiming the Grand Slam confirmed that progress.