Sean Fitzpatrick: Win reveals great depth

Mils Muliaina and Richie McCaw celebrate. Photo / Getty Images

I think we can be well satisfied with where the All Blacks are in their World Cup build-up. That was a good performance and you could tell they were up for it from the first minute.

It wasn't perfect - they'll be wanting to have a look at their lineout, particularly under pressure, and I'd have to reiterate that we get a lot of physicality from Brad Thorn but maybe lose a bit in the lineout on their throw as well as our own.

But that's about all you could find to work on. The defence was superb, their line speed was good and the whole performance was a definite step up from last week. There were fewer unforced errors and their accuracy was good.

What really impressed me was the good work in the combinations and the depth they are now amassing. It's an excellent way to build up to the World Cup. Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino and Richie McCaw functioned well and I thought Read did especially well and helped make the other two look good.

The front row combination of Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu and Wyatt Crockett went well, so did the Piri Weepu and Dan Carter combination; Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith; and Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams. I thought Weepu played well and directed play cleverly. He has a bossy attitude I like in a halfback.

Carter was fantastic. There's been a lot said and written about Quade Cooper, but Carter showed his class and demonstrated that he is the guy you want in the big games. The first two tries came from Cooper mistakes but I must also concede that he made Rocky Elsom's try with that outstanding pass. Overall, however, he became mostly anonymous.

Some may have noticed the scrum went a bit better when Crockett came off and Ben Franks came on. It didn't worry me - in fact, I thought Crockett was about the best in the forwards carrying the ball and tackling. He's just such a tall man, that he gets caught out at scrum time once or twice - but that's it. His work rate was superb. Again, it's all about finding and building that depth and, with Tony Woodcock coming back, they'll be happy with their front row resources.

Ali Williams did okay. He's maybe not setting the world on fire yet but he has a real presence and Graham Henry is giving game time to those who need it. Richie McCaw came up a notch too and continues to build his form.

Now it's off to South Africa and I think Henry will be pleased he has a solid nucleus of 24-26 players who are really doing the business now. Look at wing - he's got Hosea Gear, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Cory Jane and Zac Guildford all firing and I wonder if Guildford is quite ready in the face of such competition.

I think Henry will look to take those coming back from injury - like Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava and Woodcock. McCaw also needs game time.

I don't believe they will lose a lot in quality by doing so.