View photosKEY POINTS:
Graham Henry must have felt like Noah last night - counting his treasured troops to see who was going to make it on to the early morning ark heading to South Africa.
Much to his relief, there were two props safely down the tunnel, then two flankers and
the odd pair of a hooker and No 8. Two inside backs reported full health as did the midfielders, wings and the unpaired Mils Muliaina.
But most importantly, two locks made it through without suffering serious damage. Troy Flavell appeared to dislocate a digit in his right hand but was presumably told to literally pull his finger out and get on with it. Had to be done, there's a locking crisis, as if anyone needs reminding.
And besides the All Blacks kind of needed Flavell out there to help subdue what was a surprisingly stubborn and admirably spirited Canadian team.
They didn't have a bucket-load of finesse or clever tricks but did bring big hearts and a committed defence that put the the French to shame.
While there were no injuries of note, there will be plenty of sore All Black bodies wriggling around in their flat-bed seats en route to the Republic.
But Henry and the players won't mind too much. After glorified training runs against France, the All Blacks needed a bit of rough and tumble. They needed to be smacked around at the breakdown and hit by defenders who really did have the intention of putting them down rather than giving them a little man-love.
The Canadians were good value in the resistance role until their engines predictably began to run short of gas towards the final quarter. And that must be where the worry lies for the All Black coaching staff. They haven't had to front for 80 minutes in any of their three tests so far this year.
The jump in intensity this week in Durban will be Bob Beamon-esque. The forwards will find they have to get to the breakdown in greater numbers than they did last night.
They had the luxury against Canada of knowing only a couple of bodies were required to follow the line-break to retain possession. The Boks will defend far tighter to the breakdown and shut off fat man's alley - something Canada failed to do.
The space that could be found in those normally congested channels provided the All Blacks with an easy out. If in doubt, they could head back to the breakdown and often discovered it was the path of least resistance.
Easy yards won't be found in South Africa and nor will Aaron Mauger and Luke McAlister be afforded so much time on the ball.
The Boks will rush. They will harry and throw themselves about. That will be something new to the All Blacks this season. Canada dropped off their tackles in the second half and Carter, Mauger and McAlister need hardly any room to make themselves look good.
Mauger and McAlister are in grand form. Mauger has been asked to be more direct, to penetrate and off-load and the message has been received and understood.
He has a curious way of taking possession and then looking like he's dancing on hot coals or trying to manage the pain of a nasty toe-stub. It works, though. Defenders don't nail him early and before they know it, he's behind enemy lines.
McAlister gave one glorious example of his elusive running in the first half when he stepped four times in the blink of an eye and left white jerseys grasping at nothing. Choosing who starts at second five in Durban will not have been made any easier.
The rest of the side should be relatively straightforward. Flavell gave 50 tireless minutes at lock and his early removal was a sign he needs to keep his powder in a dry tin. Kelleher was again powerful and direct and Muliaina, by virtue of not getting injured, ensured he will feature again.
New Zealand 64 (S. Sivivatu, L. McAlister, J. Schwalger, A. Hore, C. Masoe, D. Carter (3), D. Howlett, R. Gear tries; D. Carter 7 cons) Canada 13 (M. Pyke try; J. Pritchard 2 pens, con). HT 26-13.