The romance of rugby enveloped the All Blacks opening test.
That passion and the allure of a tropical setting in Samoa drove much of the build-up as the occasion threatened to consume the game. All those historic rugby chapters seemed to overwhelm the sides at Apia Park and especially thevisitors.
They got a massive fright until referee Jaco Peyper stopped the anxiety with the scoreboard showing a 25-16 win to the All Blacks. It was one try apiece with Daniel Carter's boot delivering the margin.
Before kickoff, All Black coach Steve Hansen said his side had to do the business, they needed to get into gear quickly with the limited number of games before the World Cup. They got the result but they messed up the delivery.
The lack of control from the All Blacks was a thread throughout the match and while they suffered in the humidity, this was the premier side in world rugby up against the ninth-ranked team in the globe.
The All Blacks knew what they were in for and had been in several training camps to get ready for this piece of rugby history.
With 15 minutes left, they were still vulnerable to an enormous upset.
Samoa had rolled through the second half collecting 13 points to the All Blacks' three and were a converted try from the lead. Carter closed down that opportunity with his sixth penalty and the All Blacks were safe.
A number of their group will not have the same luxury as the All Black coaches reclaim their missing Hurricanes and Highlanders for next week's inquiry from Argentina in Christchurch.
A disconnect between the All Black pack and their backline with too many ill-directed passes from Andy Ellis before the break, meant there wasn't much flow. A lack of ball protection and patience invited Samoa to hound the All Blacks.
The flaws had a ripple effect and outside the steady Carter, only Charles Piutau who has been out of rugby for some time, looked busy and ready to investigate any chances.
Midfield content was modest and at fullback, Israel Dagg confirmed he has not played rugby for months.
Up front, the All Black pack had the scrum ascendancy and retrieved most of Keven Mealamu's lineout deliveries but they were sloppy with their ball protection. That neglect allowed Samoa to pilfer possession or rock the visitors with their defence and that disrupted the rhythm of the All Black intentions.
The game demanded more drive through the tight forwards and assertive leadership through the spine of the side in the No8, halfback, five-eighths unit. An absence of tempo through that section leaked into staccato production elsewhere.
We were uncertain what Samoa would bring and got a strong response; we know what we expect from the All Blacks and did not get it.
