Rugby: All Blacks' core skills set them apart

All Black Ma'a Nonu in action against England. The team showed their opponents why they are the world champions. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Pace per se was not the All Blacks' deadliest weapon in Dunedin - it was the ability to perform the core skills when playing at such a deadly pace that set them apart from England.

That accuracy made them lethal in the third quarter.

They were playing one game, England another.

The All Blacks were everywhere in that period - the passes were spun and popped; the support runners were on either side, the big men were there in a flash to clean out and it really was as if a black tidal wave had crashed at one end of the field and was sweeping everything in its wake.

England aspire to play a similar game and they are making progress towards it.

They are definitely on the right track but the gap between them and the All Blacks in specific regard to their respective abilities to play pass and catch rugby at top speed is significant.

"As far as the intensity of the game ... I thought we really stuck in," said England assistant coach Andy Farrell. "In the second half the All Blacks showed us why they are world champions.

"Their speed of thought and speed of the game was outstanding.

"Playing at that pace their core skills were excellent and allowed them to keep their continuity in the game. We could have had a barrage coming our way because of the intensity with which they came at us in the third quarter."

Farrell's assessment was spot on. Northern Hemisphere rugby isn't played at the same pace. It's physical, it's tough, it's good stuff but rarely does it end up at the sort of speed seen in Dunedin.

And that, sitting 15 months out from the World Cup, is where the contenders are going to have to make giant strides.

The All Blacks look to be on their own when it comes to this sort of rugby. South Africa, despite looking capable of mastering it, are not committed to it. Australia can do the frilly bits out wide but can't be certain of creating the platform to launch it and England were good at it, but only up to a point.

Too often in Dunedin they lost their accuracy after three phases: they forced the pass when it wasn't on. No doubt their athletes are fit - but are they fit enough to play like that? No doubt their players are skilled - but are they skilled enough to play like that? England coach Stuart Lancaster will be asking those questions this week as he tries to formulate a plan for the third test.

"When we look back it will come down to decision-making at the highest level," said Lancaster. "That is the next step we have to take as a team. That and a little bit of game management especially between our 22 and the halfway line. It pays to take territory against the All Blacks."