KEY POINTS:
It's done, it's over, let's move on. The first All Black test of this most highly inspected season has been and gone. Best to stack it and concentrate on the next international in Wellington.
The reconditioned All Blacks had moments of individual class but looked short of match
savvy as they dealt to the Best of the Rest France XV at Eden Park. There was never going to be doubt about the winner, only uncertainty about the level of All Black performance in what amounted to a training exercise.
For the bulk of the match, the French had to defend and they did that stubbornly until the effects of travel, late arrival in Auckland and pickup combinations failed them.
It took the All Blacks 30 minutes before Aaron Mauger claimed the first of their five tries in what was their best move. There were crisp passes from Daniel Carter, Isaia Toeava, a strong bust from Joe Rokocoko and players timing their runs. The other tries came from kicks or decisions which favoured the home side.
A healthy 41,500 crowd ignored the threat of a mismatch but their hopes were impaired by the wet weather.
Piri Weepu led a vigorous Kapa O Pango haka, Ali Williams charged about impressively, Mauger looked sharp while two big guns, Richie McCaw and Carter, were spiked early. McCaw damaged his hip, Carter rolled an ankle while the match struggled for any fluency.
Television match official George Ayoub was equally laboured with decisions, telling referee Stu Dickinson, during one extra-long pause, to bear with him as he wanted to get it right. Attaboy George!
Nick Evans and Rodney So'oialo appeared after the break for the injured stars, and the first five-eighths brought some real attacking sting as he tested the tiring French line. So'oialo, helped by a steadying scrum, looked more secure than Chris Masoe.
Mind you, Masoe had little right to be on the park after his head smacked into the turf and he lurched about when he had to reach for a high pass and offered a soft tackling target for the marauding Sebastien Chabal.
A minor fracas, a near-try for debut halfback Brendon Leonard, a messy seven-minute sub's role from Ma'a Nonu and the sight of four Frenchmen, all prostrate at the same time were further incidents in a lacklustre match.
The All Black jury remained out on most things. The scrum improved, three lost throws and a crooked delivery from Keven Mealamu affected the lineout, while handling marred the production of the back four.
Any match where there are nearly 40 scrums and more than 20 penalties is not going to be much of a spectacle.
The All Blacks created chances but did not finish well enough, while the inexperienced French played with plenty of spirit but may need to call for reinforcements from home for the injured.
After lying idle for six months, the All Blacks have turned on their engines, made their first practice laps and are ready to go better in Wellington.
French coach Bernard Laporte added to the motoring analogy as he assessed the World Cup favourites.
"It does not mean if you start the race in the pole position that you are going to win the Grand Prix."
