Comment: It took three attempts, but last night the All Blacks finally put on a performance that left us talking about them rather than the opposition.
Will Jordan chases the ball during the Test against Fiji in Hamilton last night. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2021
Week one it was the dismal state that Tongan rugby is currently in, week two it was the punishing Fijian showing, however normal transmission resumed with the routine 60-13 win in Hamilton.
While the Fijians piled on the pressure in the first 25 minutes, the side clearly benefited from having Samuel Whitelock back in the pack to absorb it and then launch the retaliation. But while the score was 7-6 for a lot longer than they would have wanted, overall this was a much more reassuring showing at the end of the first phase of what is shaping up to be a 15 test season.
This block, which had a bit of a Phoney War feel about it, is now done - the end of the beginning, so to speak.
So what has been learned? Firstly that the jury is very much still out on Ian Foster, as the reaction to the first two tests showed. There is a feeling that we're really not going to know what to make of his coaching stint until the Bledisloe Cup series is done.
It's worth remembering that the massive trophy has been taking up a considerable amount of space at NZ Rugby headquarters for 18 seasons now (long enough for the governing body to have moved premises three times), so if it were lost it would be another bit of unwanted history for Foster after becoming the first All Black coach to lose to Argentina last year.
However, there is a precedent here: John Mitchell's underwhelming start to his tenure saw consecutive losses to England and a draw with France. The 2003 Tri Nations series then blew that perception apart with record wins over the Springboks and Wallabies in consecutive weeks and suddenly Mitchell went from being reviled to revered.
To his credit, the new players Foster has brought into the side proved to be solid selections. While Ethan Blackadder needs a bit of work if he's to be a viable openside option, his presence on the other side of the scrum was impressive.
Finlay Christie picked up where he left off with the Blues and probably gave TJ Perenara a few concerns as to whether he will slot back into the All Blacks after his stint in Japan. Ethan de Groot showed enough to be part of the propping rotation from now on, but arguably the biggest impact was made by late call up Samisoni Taukei'aho last night with two tries on debut.
Samisoni Taukei'aho, on the left running with the ball, stood out in his debut showing. Photo: PHOTOSPORT/ Andrew Cornaga
Mo'unga has edge in Foster's mind
Even though there hasn't been a definitive statement made by Foster, it clearly appears Richie Mo'unga will be in the No 10 jersey for the time being with Beauden Barrett on the bench.
One of the biggest issues Steve Hansen had was unsuccessfully trying to find room for both of them at the same time, even though Mo'unga clearly plays better rugby when he is in sole charge of the backline.
Richie Mo'unga operates better when he is running the backline by himself, Jamie Wall writes. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
So the players are definitely there as the All Blacks now turn their attention to the Wallabies, who are coming off a pulsating series win against France.
It would be shock if the Bledisloe was lost, but while it seems unlikely it is worth remembering that game two of the series is being played in Wellington, which currently stands as an absolute graveyard for the All Blacks lately. They have only won one of their last five tests there, and game one is in Perth, where the Wallabies racked up a record win against them in 2019.
So there is a point to be proved, much like Mitchell did way back in 2003. But even if that does eventuate with some big wins, Foster would do well to note what happened at the end of that season.
In what was the most graphic example of a coach only being as good as his last game, Mitchell found out the hard way that while doubters can stay quiet for a while, they never really go away.
