KEY POINTS:
The hamstring injury to fullback Mils Muliaina was the only blight on the All Blacks' training run against Portugal.
Otherwise, the management would have welcomed the rest of the squad getting some matchplay after their bit-part national championship work and a three-week lull on this trip before they
emerged yesterday in Lyon.
It was a chance for them to test their condition and state their claims for selection for the next World Cup match against Scotland next Monday.
Complications hinge on some decisions from the Scots.
They play their second pool game on Wednesday against Romania, a game where they need to use their top side to ensure victory, before their final pool game against Italy to decide who goes through to the quarter-finals.
Sandwiched between those assignments is the unlikely chance of victory against the All Blacks, a prospect which has them planning to send out their alternative side to save their best XV for Italy.
That may complicate the All Blacks' response.
Coach Graham Henry has spoken of testing his near-best against the Scots but he may want to tweak that idea to give more of his top side matchplay against Romania the week before their Cardiff quarter-final.
Mixed messages keep appearing about the health of injured locking choices Keith Robinson and Reuben Thorne, but somehow the panel want to get both into the next game at Murrayfield.
Muliaina is an improbable starter after he suffered a minor hamstring strain in the opening minutes of the 108-13 win against Portugal.
Around that annoyance, 11 in the squad had their first appearance at this World Cup, as the All Blacks romped through a 16-try, 14-conversion workout in the hot early afternoon sun at the Stade de Gerland.
Those in the 40,729 crowd who had never seen the All Blacks play live would have been blown away by the disparity between the tournament favourites and a mainly amateur Los Lobos side. It would be condescending to say much about Portugal other than to admire their spirit and their reward of a driving try to hefty replacement prop Rui Cordeiro.
For those who watch the All Blacks regularly, there was little merit in seeing them top the ton for the second time in their World Cup history.
This was a case of administration gone daft, a game which had no right to be classed as an international. All sorts of platitudes are delivered about the growth of rugby and spreading the gospel, but this game cheapened the sport.
Not that England enriched the tournament either, when they were unable to budge the scoreboard against the Springboks. The lack of attacking purpose from the defending champions was lamentable.
Not that the All Blacks were star class either in Lyon. They were nowhere near as sharp as their teammates were against Italy.
Combinations were patchy, some basic passing and catching skills were sloppy, decisions were nowhere near as crisp in this second game from the All Blacks.
Play did not run the way of some, like centre Conrad Smith, but apart from a missed tackle he was efficient. Nick Evans directed the backline strongly, Ali Williams and Andrew Hore grafted well and Greg Somerville got into some work after a year away from tests.
No 8 Sione Lauaki was kept for the entire game as part of his conditioning needs. He was a mix of power and untidiness without suggesting he is in the same league as Rodney So'oialo.
Fellow loosie Chris Masoe gave a varied performance, as did midfielder Aaron Mauger, while halfback Brendon Leonard was off-key in a rare start.
The debate for the selectors will be how many rusty players will benefit or can be used in a successive match against Scotland.
