NEW ZEALAND
1 New Zealand have centres of attention
It is always easy to see Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith as the bludgeon and rapier partnership in New Zealand’s midfield but it is not as simple as that. The pair were irresistible in the second half in Auckland, with Nonu showing great skills to complement his power. While England struggle to come up with a winning centre partnership this autumn, this pair pick themselves.
2 Vito was the real victor
The selection of Victor Vito in the back row raised a few eyebrows in midweek but the No6 was arguably the All Blacks’ best forward this weekend. Vito has more pace than Liam Messam, who may now not make the cut for the World Cup, and brought the best out of Kieran Read, who was out of sorts in Sydney.
3 All Blacks land another conversion
Nehe Milner-Skudder began life as a rugby league player with Canterbury Bulldogs but since joining Manawatu and the Hurricanes, has taken to union like a duck to water. Two tries on his debut last week were followed by another eye-catching second half in Auckland. The All Blacks have polished a gem in the new right-wing.
AUSTRALIA
1 The fly-half puzzle is still to be solved
Quade Cooper did not perform badly in Auckland. His sin-binning after the break was the result of the Wallabies being overwhelmed as his high tackle on Aaron Smith, that resulted in the All Blacks’ second try, turned the match. But the Wallabies need a reliable No10 and Matt Toomua would be a better bet once the World Cup comes around.
2 The Wallabies are building on solid foundations
Australia will not need reminding of the obliteration of their scrum by England in Marseille eight years ago. It will not happen on 3 October 3 when the sides meet at Twickenham. There were few consolations after the humiliation in Auckland this weekend but one was the solidity of the scrum, helped by the considerable ballast provided by the giant Will Skelton and two hard-nut props in Scott Sio and Sekope Kepu.
3 Michael Chieka’s must stop tinkering
The coach’s six changes for Auckland was an experiment that blew up in his face. The idea to pick Michael Hooper and David Pocock in the same side worked gloriously in Sydney last weekend and Chieka should have stuck with his plan. The selection of Wycliff Palu at No8 gave the pack more ballast but the All Blacks, who hardly turned the ball over at all in Sydney, did so at will in Auckland.
