Despite score, All Blacks sound warning

LAWRENCE SMITH/Fairfax Media

HARDMAN: Richie McCaw thinks the last two games are the best ones he's seen lock Brad Thorn play for the All Blacks.

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OPINION: Welsh whinging and the delusions of their coaches aside, the All Blacks have sounded an ominous warning to England and France.

Three disallowed tries, not the refereeing issues cited by Wales' Kiwi coach Warren Gatland, were what kept the score close at 19-12 in Cardiff yesterday.

It was not perfect, but during the third quarter of this test match the All Blacks displayed the aura Gatland has been at such lengths this week to tear down.

Thirty points could have easily been registered by the visitors had there been better camera work during their brutal assault in the 22 minutes after halftime.

Had the TMO awarded two legitimate tries in the 61st and 62nd minutes, and indeed one in the first half, Wales would not have been close. It was laughable after the match when Gatland suggested the failure to punish Dan Carter's high tackle may have cost Wales the match.

Gatland is clearly a good coach and deserves credit for closing the gap, but he should not have added to his pre-match rhetoric with a whinge about the refs. Such excuses will not end the All Blacks 21 match, 56-year winning streak over Wales.

The home side played with huge heart and courage, and showed skill and fitness to stay in the match till the end, and nearly snatch a draw. But till the frantic final 10 minutes the All Blacks had been in control.

"I thought we could have won by more, to be frank," said All Blacks coach Graham Henry after the match.

"You've got to be [a bit disappointed]. There was a lot of pressure. We had three tries the TMO looked at and I thought one was pretty obvious."

There is still work to do, but there is a sense the All Blacks are building. The lineout was sound, just one lost throw, the scrum was dominant, even without Tony Woodcock, and though there were too many penalties, the work at the breakdown was excellent.

Defensively the All Blacks showed they are a team willing to play for each other when their backs are against the wall. Brad Thorn was inspirational in the rushing defence and hooker Andrew Hore at the heart of everything including his fifth test try.

If there are cautions on this side's progress it is a heavy reliance on first-five Dan Carter, a penchant to give away penalties at the breakdown, and an inability to nail try-scoring opportunities. Though they were right to deflate Wales' belief by kicking them onto their heels, it may have been overdone in the first spell.

Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith were superb in defence, but possibly under employed with ball in hand. The natural instinct and confidence to run the ball without fear has not quite arrived.

On the individual front Jerome Kaino showed there is little between him and Adam Thomson, Wyatt Crockett was impressive at loosehead prop, and Zac Guildford had a debut that hinted at bigger things.

Cory Jane continues to thrive in test rugby, while fullback Mils Muliana counter attacked with a confidence that has been missing for much of the season.

It is hard to escape the feeling that the All Blacks are closer to their A game than Saturday's 19-12 score-line suggests, even if the Welsh do feel hard done by.

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