Triomphe - the boys are back

Richie McCaw (left), Doug Howlett, Ali Williams and Tana Umaga in the Stade de France dressing room with the Gallaher Cup. Picture / Fotopress

All Blacks 45 France 6

Suddenly, the Lions don't seem so frightening.

Six months out from next year's rugby tour of New Zealand by the Lions, the All Blacks - and their fans - have found in Paris a lion tamer's heart and skill.

Cracking the whip over France by 45-6, the All Blacks' tools were intense physicality, speed, daring and honour for those who had gone before.

One startling performance turned a mixed season to triumph and, in the words of All Black great Grant Fox, turned what could have been trepidation about New Zealand's chances next June-July into confidence.

Not over-confidence, though. Most rugby heads yesterday could remember the talk that followed a similar thrashing, of England, just five months ago and the demoralising losses to Australia and South Africa soon after.

For the All Blacks, there was euphoria in the dressing room. Things are certainly going well in New Zealand rugby when a press camera is allowed into that dark sanctum.

Hours later, after an official dinner beginning at 1am, the team bus was still rocking when it finally made its way back down the Champs Elysees to their hotel in the morning.

Coach Graham Henry declared himself "exceptionally happy".

A legendary predecessor, Fred Allen, could see why. The key features to the triumph were the All Black forwards taking charge and ball handling which was "right back to the way it should have been".

"That team spirit working, running in close to one another and making breaks, I thought was superb," Allen said.

Former All Blacks the Herald spoke to believed the win clearly exceeded expectations and would change the mood of the rugby nation over the summer.

World Cup-winning prop Steve McDowell said the team started this season well, then there was a bit of a "glitch" in performance in the middle of the year.

"A lot of that was to do with the forward pack not getting enough control and not delivering the ball to the backs."

Yesterday's win justified taking so many players away and the selections the coaches made, he said.

Former skipper Ian Kirkpatrick said the game suggested that New Zealand rugby was "back to the good old All Black stuff".

But former All Black captain Gary Whetton said the win did not mean we were going to "walk over" the Lions. They would still start favourites.

DEMOLITION JOBS

Among the big All Black victories within the past 25 years:

1980: 23-3 over Wales in Cardiff.

1987: 29-9 over France in Auckland (World Cup final).

1995: 45-29 over England in Cape Town (World Cup semifinal).

1996: 43-6 over Australia in Wellington.

2003: 52-16 over South Africa in Pretoria.