Ben Mowen is dependable and their lineout tactician, Wycliff Palu, brings the power and drive at No8 and Michael Hooper has been the openside scavenger.
They have knitted together to blunt most of the Lions' forays but have been forced into more reactive duties rather than fruitful sorties.
Pitch a likely All Black trio of Kieran Read, Richie McCaw and Liam Messam against them and you would fancy an advantage for the men in black - only in theory, mind.
In practice, Read has been a commanding presence for most of the season, with his vigorous running game and strong defence, while Messam has been a mixture as he tries to find the right blend for his game on the international stage.
McCaw is the mystery. His pedigree is suited to the Hall of Fame but we have not seen him this season. He tells us he will be ready and history gives us a similar assurance, but we won't know for sure until he runs out in his familiar number seven strip.
Behind the pack it gets tricky.
Will Genia is well ahead of any other halfback on the globe, Adam Ashley-Cooper brings the same poise and influence as Conrad Smith and Israel Folau has made an impressive start in his third code.
His duel with another big man, Julian Savea, should be as compelling as his current combat with George North.
Christian Leali'ifano showed his sound temperament and wonderful goalkicking, Joe Tomane is strong and reliable and Kurtley Beale is an inventive man in the mood to make amends for his social misdemeanours.
That leaves the crucial first five-eighths area, where Dan Carter remains a level above James O'Connor in those duties.
Carter may have lost a click of speed but his rugby brain still burns brighter than most. For a decade his instincts have been tuned into running a backline at the very top level. He has stared down most situations while O'Connor has just slapped the L-plates on his 10 jersey.
The All Blacks will need that current disparity to remain if they want to leave Sydney on August 17 with a transtasman victory.
