Richard Loe: Super 14 raising the bar as the big boys establish their class

Perhaps the most encouraging result to emerge from a very tight, hard-fought match between the two Super 14 favourites - the Crusaders and Waratahs - was the flow-on benefits for the All Blacks. It has been good to see some of our No 1 players starting to look more like No 1 players again.

Like Chris Jack - the big fella had a fine match all around the park, as well as in the set pieces.

He was even effective taking the ball up against the opposition defensive line.

It was an excellent display and he has really cemented himself as our main lock again after a time when Ali Williams took over that spot on the last All Black tour.

You would also have to applaud Leon MacDonald's performance at fullback, at which position he is the leading player at present. He has been consistently experimenting and finding gaps from fullback and, if the All Black team was being selected now, would be a cert.

Others, like Dan Carter and Aaron Mauger, are stepping up again and it was particularly pleasing to see big Waratahs winger Wendell Sailor running at them all night and being lowered by their firm defence.

The other point of interest for the All Blacks was the performance of the Waratahs scrum. I have stated that I do not rate the Wallaby front row or any front row in Australia. However, the Waratahs did well enough against the Crusaders to catch my attention - and they also stood up well against the Cheetahs, which, like all the South African sides have a huge front row, the previous week.

Maybe some of the sides the Waratahs have played have dropped their scrummaging game a little, but the player who has improved most is Al Baxter, the Wallaby and Waratahs prop.
He has done well so far this season and is at least part of the reason why the Waratahs are scrummaging better this year, particularly after some of the horrors of 2005 and the disintegration of the Wallaby scrum against England.

The Brumbies have also tidied up their scrum a bit as well.

I am sure the All Blacks have noticed this, but, while the Australian improvement will be of interest, I do not believe the Wallaby scrum will yet be a threat at international level.

They may have improved so they can withstand the All Blacks better, but I still think our front row will be the stronger at Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup time.

However, while the Crusaders did well to win a tight game after some fantastic defence, maybe the tight five is not as potent and dynamic as in past years.

They took off Ross Filipo and moved Reuben Thorne to lock and brought on Johnny Leo'o - a move which has previously paid dividends and did again. Committing few forwards to rucks and mauls, the Crusaders instead opted for a far-ranging, quick defensive screen.

However, they suffer the loss of a lineout option when they do that and maybe a little bit of grunt in the scrums as well.

Greg Somerville, Corey Flynn and Campbell Johnstone did well enough and, while they are not huge men, are good scrummagers.

The Crusaders lose a bit when they bring Wyatt Crockett on at prop. His forte is his general game - he is very mobile, a good tackler, good with ball in hand - but is not a strong scrummager.

Maybe the Crusaders are lacking a little depth there this year.

-HERALD ON SUNDAY