David Leggat: Much still at stake for World Cup teams

Andy Ellis dives over the line for a try. Photo / Christine Cornege

Let's get this clear: the World Cup starts now for both the All Blacks and Japan.

Having got past Tonga and Japan - and yes, there were wobbles in both matches and patches of less than fully satisfying rugby - the All Blacks now prepare for France at Eden Park next weekend.

Win that, effectively ensure finishing top in pool A, and all is (relatively) well in the rugby heartland.

Those with 20-year-old cup itches, will still be scratching, but the train will at least be moving in the right direction. Japan's situation is rather different, but no less important.

The third-placed finisher in the groups automatically qualifies for the 2015 tournament hosted by England.

Japan, in their hearts, would have expected to be 0-from-2 this morning. Now they have a possibly dispirited Tonga in Whangarei next Wednesday and Canada in Napier six days later.

Win those and they can set their sights on old Blighty in four years' time. That's the end game for Japan.

Against France a week ago, Japan had North Harbour Stadium in uproar - no mean feat in itself - when they got within four points with 20 minutes left.

There was a small window to turn the tournament on its head, as their estimable coach John Kirwan admitted.

It didn't get forced open then, and never looked remotely like it at Waikato Stadium last night.

Once Kirwan - that third place reluctantly, but understandably governing his thinking - chose essentially a B team there was a large red neon sign flashing danger.

Japan ran ceaselessly, at times passed the ball slickly, got quick possession from the rucks and kept the All Blacks defensive line on its toes but were basically overrun.

It was always going to be a case of how many points the All Blacks would run up and whether they would accomplish it in some style. Quantity and quality.

Broadly speaking they did, but with some sloppy moments along the way. Having so much ball to work with can cause that, so it's a qualified pass mark but with some genuinely classy moments along the way.

Six tries in the first 33 minutes drowned the game in the sense of a serious contest. Some All Black tries were impressive; none got the roar to match that for Hirotoki Onozawa's intercept of a Colin Slade offload and 40m sprint in the second half.

There were some fluffed lines, losing their first lineout throw, a "truck and trailer" penalty conceded, several passes tossed astray.

When Slade lined up a shot at goal from 30m in front at 7-0 the crowd let the All Blacks know their displeasure. Slade missed it.

He had one success from four at that point, but things got better for him. Being understudy to a living All Black legend is no fun.

But this game, the second cup meeting between the countries, was about more than 80 minutes of sport.

As Japan's captain Takashi Kikutani noted in the match programme, "on one hand it is a test match, like the others. But it will be special for both countries".

He was thinking of this year's earthquakes which have devastated both countries. When the hardliners are picking holes in both teams' performances today it's worth having the thought firmly in mind that this was, after all, only a game.