John Drake: Trophies prove the mix is right

If, before the test against Fiji in June, we had predicted the All Blacks would have crushed the Lions, thrashed Fiji, retained the Bledisloe Cup and captured the Tri-Nations with only one loss, we would be pretty happy today.

Well, the Lions were so poor we couldn't really get a gauge on how good this All Black model was until the Tri-Nations. Some said the lack of preparation with only the Fiji entree would be enough; others believed we still lacked mental toughness and that the likes of Marshall, Mehrtens and Spencer would be missed.

The lack of experience and depth would cost us in the close matches. There was also the problem of poor Super 12 form of past heroes like Doug Howlett, Joe Rocokoko, Mils Muliaina and Ali Williams and the injury to Anton Oliver.

The international season is compressed and tough, so the decision to only play Fiji before the Lions was sound. It gave the selectors a chance to show some new faces like James Ryan and give some of the out-of-form players a chance. The New Zealand Juniors tour of Australia was used to work the likes of Rocokoko back into form and confidence.

By the end of the season Howlett and Muliaina were back to their best while Rico Gear and Sitiveni Sivivatu showed we had more depth than previously thought.

Forwards coach Steve Hansen publicly backed the talented and erratic Williams. The punt worked and Williams showed maturity to go with the natural talent.

Marshall was missed but Piri Weepu stepped up in place of the KO'd Byron Kelleher and suited the aggressive, driving, ball-running tactics used so effectively against South Africa - in particular, to negate the rushing defence.

Daniel Carter was a revelation against the Lions but showed his mortality in the Tri-Nations. His injury was unfortunate and exposed a weakness in the depth at No 10. Leon MacDonald and Luke McAlister were sound but Carter was sorely missed.

The scrum developed to be frighteningly good, against the flaky Australians and seemed to dominate the best South Africa could provide.

Keven Mealamu stepped into Oliver's shoes, was strong at the scrum, accurate at the lineout and freakish with the ball in hand.

Any thoughts that Tana Umaga was slowing down and needed to play closer to the scrum have been quashed. Besides, Aaron Mauger proved so important to the game plan that he emphatically made second five-eighth his home.

Jerry Collins was strong on defence and continued to develop as a ball player, while Rodney So'oialo was the glue between Richie McCaw and the rest of the pack. I still wonder if he is big enough against the likes of the Boks, but this may be being too critical of a maturing and thinking link player.

On the downside, the team too often started slowly and were obliged to play catch-up. Tries were conceded from unforced errors and dodgy tactical play.

Solid leads were thrown away and while it may have been exciting for some, I am sure the coaches would have preferred more comfortable victories rather than the helter-skelter stuff shown by some of the key decision-makers.

Too often, McCaw and co were heavily penalised at the breakdown, and the early failure to adapt to the illegal but very effective rushing defences was a concern. These issues will have been noted by the wise men.

The key will be the continued development of leadership and thinking amongst the whole group of players. Remember, in the tight games it is the players who must figure out what to do, often in a split second, not those in the coaches' box.

So I think we should be well pleased with the progress so far. Sure this All Black team have some improvements to come, but the critical factor of player depth has improved and the Rugby Union has the silverware to prove it.

Definitely a high pass mark so far for all concerned. Roll on the Grand Slam tour.

* John Drake is a former All Black test prop.