Goods delivered after message gets through

By WYNNE GRAY

As that Graham Henry advertisement boomed from replay screens at halftime in Christchurch, you could imagine him delivering a similar message in the dressing sheds to the All Blacks.

"How about some passion, some enthusiasm, some commitment," Henry barks during his television cameo.

All Black skipper Tana Umaga confessed his side heard comparable sentiments as they viewed a 21-12 deficit at the break. "We were told to wake up, show some courage and that our character was being questioned," Umaga revealed.

Eventually the All Blacks ground to a 23-21 victory with an unconverted try to Doug Howlett in the final move of the test.

It was almost a mirror image of the Mils Muliaina offload for the try from Howlett last week which retained the Bledisloe Cup. Only there was more hanging on the final transfer on Saturday. The All Blacks were trailing, just nine seconds remained, there would be no more chances.

Howlett's hands were safe, his team-mates were ecstatic while the Springboks lost the chance to win for the first time in New Zealand since 1998.

The ending rekindled memories of the All Blacks' first test at the same ground against the British Lions in 1993 when Grant Fox kicked a late penalty for the 20-18 victory.

Settling on a summary of that international was awkward and it was equally hard to get a grip on the first 2004 Tri-Nations clash between the two old foes. Neither coach looked particularly happy.

When Henry wandered down the corridor after the test to see Jake White, it was as though they had a session of mutual shoulder shrugging.

Henry knew his mob had dodged a noose and trapdoor, White's side had missed a great chance to halt South Africa's poor record in New Zealand.

Victory will gloss over some of the All Black deficiencies and there will be those who say that the result is the only thing which counts.

There should also be plaudits for the All Blacks' nerve, for the way they fought through their gaucheness to clinch an unbeaten domestic series.

A 6-0 results sheet does count, Saturday's outcome means plenty in the short-term but when the All Black performance is analysed there will be serious areas of concern.

In the last two tests against the Wallabies and Springboks, the All Blacks have had 80 per cent of the ball and managed a paltry two tries. They have conceded four.

The All Blacks have done well to win both tests but they will not continue to succeed without adding more sting to their attack. They have won plenty of possession but have lost the ability to break down the defences.

Statistical readings vary but look at these from Saturday as indicators.

The All Blacks had a 129-25 ruck and mauls advantage, they won the lineouts 21-12, dominated the scrums and conceded only five penalties to South Africa's 13.

What did they do with that possession overload in conditions which could scarcely be better in midwinter in Christchurch?

They scored one try in the face of lineball Springbok defence, an area of the game touch judges needed to police far more than referee Andrew Cole, who was concentrating on the ball.

The match over, White confessed he thought it only a matter of time before his defence cracked against the weight of All Blacks possession.

But the longer the line held, the greater White's hopes until the fateful final foray from Howlett.

After conceding three tries through poor communication and a 21-12 advantage to the Springboks at halftime, the All Blacks were ordered to attack through the ruck. They had fanned out in defence where they suffocated the home side.

The alteration began to work although the All Blacks' mistake rate continued - errors such as Kees Meeuws' dropping several lineout takes from Jerry Collins.

The All Black forwards began to make regular inroads but the venom and versatility was reduced without Keith Robinson, Jono Gibbes and Richie McCaw.

And the backs, even in the face of the rushing Boks defence, persisted with their flat alignment. With Justin Marshall's sluggish pass there was little time for Carlos Spencer to set his tactics. His punting was only mediocre and until that last move, he could not spread the ball to the All Black strength out wide.

Both Henry and his attack coach Wayne Smith were unrepentant about the flat backline methods.

"We just have to get better at it," Henry said.

"I don't think there is any need to panic on that. I think far too many rugby sides change for the sake of change's sake, rather than perfecting what they are trying to do."

Smith accepted that a variety of kicks would have forced the onrushing Bok tacklers to hesitate. Spencer had been composed enough to orchestrate the winning try.

"I feel that he has got to have some credit for sticking to it, and keeping his composure and making it count when it was needed," Smith added.

THE BALANCE OF POWER

* The All Blacks had a 129-25 ruck and mauls advantage.

* They won the lineouts 21-12 and dominated the scrums.

* Conceded only five penalties to South Africa's 13.