Richard Loe: All Blacks were great - now we want more

Jerome Kaino in action against France. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Opinion

What a solid Rugby World Cup performance right across the park from the All Blacks - and it was even better than that until they gave away that intercept try and referee Alain Rolland had that little brain explosion which saw him allow a try while he was still talking to both teams.

I don't know what all that was about - but what I do know is that I liked what I saw from the All Blacks, starting up front and ending up out wide.

They played smart rugby, not trying to do too much and took their chances when they were there. They showed composure and awareness and an ability to string their passes together which suggests this will be a very good side indeed soon.

They earned some black marks for Dan Carter's wonky pass that led to an intercept try and I thought they took their foot off the throat a bit in the second half - but this is minor fault-finding really.

They had the better of the French in the scrums and the breakdowns and they worked harder and put themselves about more physically; keeping the volatile Frenchmen pinned down for most of the match. It reminded me of the way the All Blacks closed out the first Bledisloe Cup match of this season.

For all his poor pass that led to Maxime Mermoz's try, I thought Carter had a good day. He assessed things well, his vision was good and he showed again what a dangerous character he is when he decides to have a lick. A really good all-round day.

Richie McCaw had a fabulous night for his 100th test and wasn't that a great moment after the match when he got his centurion's cap?

Israel Dagg and Piri Weepu absolutely justified their selections and Sonny Bill Williams goes from strength to strength. His judgement of a pass, those offloads and his growing presence on the field are all adding to the All Black punch and power - though it will be interesting to watch him when the acid is really on the All Blacks.

Adam Thomson played well too, Jerome Kaino was a real strong man and the props Owen Franks and Tony Woodcock had the edge until the scrums changed personnel and lost some shape later in the match.

There'll be some worries about the injuries. Thomson did not look good and, with Read already out, the loosie ranks are starting to look thinner than Bruce Willis' hairdo. Thomson's injury looked worse than Dagg's - and he had an ice bag on but it could just be a bruised thigh.

When all is said and done, it was the All Black physicality and bruising work at the breakdown that got the French going backwards and allowing opportunities - and their markers - to pass them by.

Good stuff, All Blacks, and we want more.