The passing of the mantle, and possibly of an era, happened after 65 minutes, and while there was something glorious about it, there was something painful too.

Daniel Carter had already scored enough points to send the British and Irish Lions into premature oblivion - 21 of the damned things, to be precise - when he set about orchestrating another withering All Black attack down the left.

Suddenly, he was confronted by his opposite number, Jonny Wilkinson, who launched himself into the tackle. When the dust settled over the impact zone, Wilkinson could be seen in a heap on the floor. And Carter? He was over the hills and far away, wreaking more havoc as his rival was gently led away by the medical staff.

It was a hugely significant moment. Wilkinson, the man who dropped the goal that won a World Cup for England, had been considered the best outside-half on the planet for the best part of five years - a long reign in rugby union, the most complex and demanding of the games we play.

Yes, injuries had cramped his style, but even during the weeks and months when Wilkinson was completely down on his luck, there had still been a lingering suspicion in many minds that his work in the No 10 shirt was more effective than anyone else's.

We can safely forget all about that now, for Carter is the new prince of the position.

Who knows? The youngsters in this country who spend every waking hour idolising the All Blacks may abandon their obsession with the wonderful open-side flankers whose names are written in the silver-ferned annals - Red Conway and Waka Nathan, Graham Mourie and Michael Jones and Richie McCaw - and dream about playing stand-off instead.

Certainly, there cannot have been a single soul in the Wellington "Cake Tin" yesterday who felt uninspired by a performance sufficiently imaginative in conception and faultless in execution to have amounted to a reinvention.

"Have I ever seen a better display from a No 10? Probably not," agreed Graham Henry, the head coach of the All Blacks and not a man with a reputation for gilding the lily.

"For a 23-year-old he was quite outstanding. He kicked his goals, he ran the line, his defence was outstanding, he scored tries, he navigated the ship. Phenomenal."

A few seconds later, Henry was trumped by the dreadlocked dreadnought sitting alongside him.

"Dan is our leader," said Tana Umaga, which was quite an accolade from the celebrated centre, given that he is the captain of this exceptional side.

"His nous, his kicking game, his awareness... on the field, he's the bloke who makes it happen for us."