Contentious choices ahead over Twickenham

All Blacks 45 Ireland 7

Which All Black side was stronger? The one which erased Wales or the other combination which cleaned Ireland's clock yesterday?

It is a topic New Zealand rugby watchers will mull over while the All Black panel is more likely to weigh up the calibre of their beaten foes as they debate any borderline selection decisions for the next test against England.

The selectors will have settled on the core of the side to front up at Twickenham for what is now the pivotal international of the Grand Slam quest.

But there will be a few contentious choices after the Irish were dispatched yesterday in much the way the Welsh were destroyed a week ago.

Doug Howlett or Rico Gear for the right wing, Piri Weepu or Byron Kelleher as the halfback and who best to start at hooker, Anton Oliver or Keven Mealamu against the beefcake bullies at Twickers?

Where does captain Tana Umaga fit in to the mix? Is the team better with him as second five-eighths and Conrad Smith at centre as they were for the thrashing of France last year - or do they pair the skipper with Aaron Mauger in midfield?

It may have been a clue or it could have been a false lead for the England scouts when Tony Woodcock, Mealamu and Weepu were dragged off after 60 minutes of enterprise at Lansdowne Rd.

If they were being saved for this week's showdown why didn't the selectors deliver similar protection for supremo flanker Richie McCaw before he bruised a calf and retired?

Perhaps the subbing of the first trio was just a way of getting some bit-part players a little more experience before their Grand Slam conclusion against Scotland.

What should be acknowledged is that the alternate XV - those chosen to take over against Ireland - delivered for the coaching staff. They continued the standards set at Cardiff, they have offered options.

If Suzie transferred her food poisoning expertise this week to the All Blacks' hotel or the tour carousers got on another late train into London, the selectors have enough playing cover for Twickenham.

Computer analysis, intuition, the gameplan and an assessment of England will be put into the mix for the close calls before the team is announced tomorrow.

If the coaching staff were to pursue their World Cup development strategies they could pick teenage utility back Isaia Toeava for his test debut.

But that would be seen as unnecessarily audacious even for this All Black panel which is blessed with a depth of playing riches to take some gambles.

After a barren trot, there will be buoyant talk about England's rugby revival starting with their win yesterday against the Wallabies.

There will be some gushing reviews about the destructive white-jerseyed behemoths, who bludgeoned the imposters in the Wallaby pack, reducing them to uncontested scrums. But that weakness was an open secret on the international circuit, one finally censured by referee Joel Jutge.

The frontrow ruckus this week at Twickenham should be A-grade entertainment where Andy Sheridan's duel with Carl Hayman will take all of referee Alan Lewis' acumen to control.

England showed their muscle but little of the finesse or subtlety the All Blacks have incorporated in their game. The men in white look more lumber than limber.

Lineout anxiety remains a companion for Steve Thompson's throwing, the loose forwards are unbalanced and the midfield gives an impression of enraged water buffalo rather than smooth predators.

With sacks of ball, England were only three points in front with five minutes left. They should have won by at least 20 points.

Had the Wallabies not kicked away some of their precious possession, they might have sneaked an unlikely win, but they are a team lacking assurance.

Not so the All Blacks. They made mistakes against Ireland and were pegged back in the second half when the locals caught up in the ruck-and-maul statistics. But they played with a different dimension.

Loosehead prop Woodcock set the tone. He messed up John Hayes early in the scrums and still had enough energy to roam in open play or deliver thumping tackles.

Others showed the standards demanded of quality All Blacks - men like Ma'a Nonu, who treasured the ball much more than he has done in the past; Mose Tuiali'i, who increased the defensive side of his game; and Sitiveni Sivivatu, who skipped back into danger mode.

In contrast to England's attacking stodge, the All Blacks always had midfield options from phase play of using a power forward or backs running angles or decoys to hold the Irish defenders.

In his first international taste as first five-eighths, Nick Evans controlled those choices well and kicked strongly for goal. He was assisted by the snappy service from Weepu, the chunky halfback whose delivery creates reminders of Graeme Bachop.

Everyone sniffed offloads or piled into breakdowns to maintain the tempo which undid Ireland.

There were some misfires. Sione Lauaki manages to mix authority and uncertainty, Mauger flapped at a few tackles and Leon MacDonald was subdued - but those happen in any performance.

During their week in Ireland, some All Blacks travelled to its northwest to pay homage to the origins and deeds of Originals captain Dave Gallaher.

They acknowledged the deeds of Gallaher and his 1905 squad, their place in New Zealand rugby as the founders of the All Black legend.

Those who went to Lansdowne Rd yesterday saw their successors add another significant marker in that rousing century-old tradition.