Justin Marshall: Ellis Park minor blip in solid campaign

Julian Savea is brought down by Willie le Roux in the Johannesburg encounter yesterday. Photo / Getty Images

Yesterday saw a terrific game of footy that produced an excellent note on which the All Blacks' Rugby Championship campaign ended.

Yes, I know, they lost and the All Blacks are never allowed to lose, but if I was in Steve Hansen and Richie McCaw's shoes, this one would sting a little less than others.

They were missing key players, came up against an inspired South African side playing in their fortress and it still took a long-range, slightly unlucky penalty with time almost up to beat them.

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We shouldn't downplay how well South Africa played - they showed a willingness to take New Zealand on at their own game and in first-five Handre Pollard they have a weapon for a long time to come - but neither should we overplay the importance of the loss.

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Sure if they go on to lose at Brisbane in the "dead" Bledisloe Cup rubber, there might be genuine cause for concern, but at the moment Ellis Park can stand as a minor blip in a fairly comprehensive campaign. The unbeaten run was going to end at some stage and it might as well end with nothing on the line.

The most pleasing thing that Hansen and his selectors would have taken out of this campaign is the discovery of depth in positions that might have been cause for slight concern.

Malakai Fekitoa has been a bit of a revelation at second-five, especially given that he was considered a better prospect at centre. Hansen now knows he can entrust either the No 12 or 13 jerseys to him on the biggest stage.

With Sonny Bill coming back to New Zealand rugby and Ma'a Nonu to return from injury, the All Blacks' midfield stocks are suddenly looking really healthy.

Fekitoa is an explosive young talent and there's also Ryan Crotty who has not put a foot wrong for the All Blacks.

We know how well-stocked we are at first-five, and it's always a case of who do you leave out of the back three, rather than who to pick.

There's plenty of talent at halfback and the experienced Andy Ellis waiting in the wings, so I wouldn't be too stressed about No 9 either.

It's much the same in the forwards, with genuine competition for places in most spots so if anything, the Rugby Championship has served to prove that the All Blacks are building a squad of excellent, experienced campaigners ahead of a certain tournament next year.

You just hope they don't button off for the final portion of their international year, starting with the Bledisloe in Brisbane, but I don't honestly think this team knows how to button off.