KEY POINTS:
Watch for the All Blacks to step up in the second test against France in Wellington this weekend.
I also expect France will be the better for the opening match of the series at Eden Park, but of the two, the home side will make more improvements because
- bottom line - they are better footballers.
There should be more cohesion and fewer signs of rust or indecision which afflicted them at times on Saturday night.
There were no real surprises about this first international hit-out of the year for the All Blacks.
In that respect, it was not much different from so many other years, irrespective of the opposition. But that excuse of familiarising themselves again with the pressure cooker test environment won't last long.
Graham Henry and his selectors will have been happy, up to a point. It's hard to grizzle over a 31-point winning margin over France - be it an A, B or C selection - but they will have seen plenty to work on.
The All Black scrum was technically pretty good. There were a few issues at the lineout. They didn't try anything too complicated - which is no bad thing - but for me they didn't drive the ball enough, and I suspect they missed Rodney So'oialo.
So'oialo is a regular contributor at the lineout and when he came on at halftime he unquestionably added some starch to the forward effort.
In the first half, the All Blacks tried to be too expansive at times for my liking. I'd have preferred to see a tighter platform set, but to be fair we're probably pin-pricking given the final scoreline and the good work which was done.
Ali Williams was strong at lock and in the backline, Isaia Toeava was good value but Aaron Mauger and Joe Rokocoko caught my eye.
I was very impressed with Mauger's overall game and Rokocoko thirsted for work. That was understandable for a guy who has started just one serious game of rugby since November. But he looked to be getting some of his timing right, which hasn't always been the case.
Two issues: Leon MacDonald looks to be trying too hard at fullback. He squandered one likely try by holding on to the ball instead of flipping it to Rokocoko early on and looks like he needs to relax and let the game flow rather than try and force things.
Also I have my reservations about Chris Masoe as No 8. Fair enough if the selectors want to tinker and try him out at this stage. But I wonder if he'd be their first choice starting No 8 if So'oialo is injured when things get serious later in the year.
I tip my hat to the French. I thought they tried manfully for most of the match.
It's not easy to keep the concentration levels and the desire up when you've got about 30 per cent of possession to work with. Tackling is a tiring business, but they plugged away pretty well.
They will certainly benefit from the run. I suspect France will be disappointed with their front row and the locks lacked a bit of pep, but they had some decent organisation about them. I'll be interested to see what changes coach Bernard Laporte makes. Replacement prop, Franck Montanella, who came on during the second half, might add some grunt.
They've also done the All Blacks a favour.
If there was any complacency before the kickoff it will be gone at Wellington.
Finally, referee Stuart Dickinson won't be in the French good books. If I was them I'd feel pretty hard done by with a couple of the All Black tries and a couple of other dreadful calls.
He got no help from his (Australian) touch judges but the players deserve better.