Things need to change. The All Blacks have to provide a stronger march through the set-piece and middle of the park to offer space for their gifted backs. Too often in Brisbane possession was slowed and then shifted crossways where the All Blacks were picked off by the Wallaby defenders who had time to realign.
If there is constant uncertainty for defenders about whether the opposition is going to attack in close or on the flanks, that puts a brake on their ability to scoot off the line.
When they are forced to hold or backpedal, space opens up in other areas of the park.
Rival nations have ramped up their fitness to challenge the All Blacks and that has helped bring margins closer.
England had several sniffs in June, the Wallabies claimed a draw and missed victory by a smidgeon on Saturday and the Springboks found their mojo at Ellis Park. The squeeze is on.
Amongst the group on display at Brisbane, the remarkable work of Aaron Smith, Richie McCaw and Conrad Smith stood out while Brodie Retallick and Kieran Read were strong lieutenants.
When Charlie Faumuina and Keven Mealamu came on and, after his stutter start, Patrick Tuipulotu, there was more sting to the pack's momentum. That may be because the early shift had worn down their rivals but it is certainly an issue for Steve Hansen, his selectors and staff to ponder. How are they going to find more grunt and who best offers that?
Out the back the mixed possession stilted the backs' ambition while the Wallabies had little trouble deciphering their intentions and did a massive job squeezing the dangerous Julian Savea out of the play. The passing precision had glitches and those bugs helped the Wallabies, who rarely looked troubled about picking the plays.
The defensive reads from Malakai Fekitoa and Beauden Barrett were not solid enough while Israel Dagg does not seem to figure nearly enough.
With Ma'a Nonu in the repair shop, certainly Sonny Bill Williams or even a fit Daniel Carter will offer another second five eighths style to develop a different structure for teams to combat.
A fresh Ben Smith will bring more involvement and verve and there is finally a bounce about Charles Piutau and a niche on the wing where his talents can prosper.
Those sorts of switches are the glitzy pebbles in the drive, the glaze on the work the concrete mixers have to put down as the foundation for some of the swanky patterns.
