Sometimes you just have to be grateful with what you've got

Last year I was overly critical of some RC games notably in Dunedin. So far in the RC there's been a lot to be grumpy about. There was much to criticize this week and the week before. Australia never put us under any sustained pressure in either test and we did well to convert our points like the Ben Smith try when Oz were up 6 0 and we needed points to settle us down. But there was still areas for concern.

The coaches will see a lot of work for improvement. Our set piece grew in the second half but we looked ordinary at times at the breakdown. Committing as few players to the rucks is all well and good but sometimes our protection of the ball and Smith were food wanting. I'd like to see Salii given a run against Argentina if we get one of our top three 10s back. Get him pumped for SA when he usually plays his best.

Big improvement can still be made but on this thread I want to point out the positives. We all know where we can do better but let's focus on what we're doing well.

1. Luatua is grabbing his chance with both arms. He's a big unit but he's got pace as well as deft handling. Welcome to the ABs bro and keep doing what you're doing!

2. The Super season was far from Super but Aaron Smith is back in form and outplayed Genia much like Hooper outplayed MCCaw. That doesn't make them better players but it does mean they have both been the best players along with Ben Smith. Dagg is another who's showing Super form can be turned around.

3. Ben Smith just seems to have the Midas touch at the moment and we're lucky to have him. A guy who can slot in at 15 14 and 13 and cover those gaps up for Jane and Conrad without losing anything.

4. Woody in his 100thgame. Like Aaron he had a forgettable Super campaign. But if Corbisero gets the plaudits for the Lions so too should this veteran who did his job today.

5. The team environment. Injury crisis at 10 and the world doesn't fall apart. You don't have to have the best individuals in each position. You just need the players working together with the right plan. The Wallabies too often looked like individuals playing out there whereas NZ looked more the composed team. They didn't do some things well but they did the things that mattered namely scoring points when they needed to.

So have to say Shag has a lot to work on but he hasn't really put a foot wrong. We all like to point out areas where we weren't convincing but for once I feel compelled to write that I'm really pleased at the direction in which we're heading and the great job the boys have done so far this year. Plenty of rugby to one and major challenges. But sometimes a nice thank you has to be said. So cheers NZ rugby and keep up the good work. Kia kaha

Early days yet for Link but it's only going to get worse of he can't turn results around. They put their heads down in training but in the end they didn't muster much today.

In all honesty I can't see that mcKewen has brought anything new to the table that wasnt on it with Deans. Persevering with Mogg was a major bad and failure to get a backline functioning in any real shape or form will increasingly plague the former prop-as-coach McEwen.

It is early days and not the best side to have to make your debut with but its still a job to be done and besides Hooper and an ok start from Toomua not a lot McEwen has brought as yet.

I agreed with Link giving players a second crack at it but now really there are no excuses and Mogg just doesn't look up to it. Folau at 15 has to be done.

Peyper had a shocker. We had a couple of calls go against us but in the main benefited hugely. Think we'd have won if we'd had a card but we were pretty cynical at times (though I don't think Aaron Smith deserved a yellow as he just didn't leap up and away to get clear separation and was trying to get the pill legally). Nonu on occasion is just a knobhead and I'm waiting for a citing notice for that.

Ben Smith has to play 13 in Europe. Give him all four tests if he can do it. Classy and intelligent player but you need time in the saddle there.

I still dont understand why Cooper is on the bench. I thought he would be in the starting line up. It is all right giving other players game time but you need your best players starting. right?

Tom Taylor played well today for his first debut as an Ab. How do you keep turning them out?

In watching the replay we did miss the go forward from the 10 pos and possibly why we werent able to make more gains through the backline. Good debut from Taylor but we are still going to need more at 10 in terms of front foot ball, gain line.

Genia is largely considered the best 9 but that's two games he was outplayed by Smith and for the Lions he was largely anonymous. He's showed some brief glimpses in the Lions and 1st bledisloe of what he can do at the top of his game but for this Walkabies backline to fire he has to. Cooper coming in at 10 might help that and Folau should move to fullback. But Genia is the white elephant on the field at the moment for me.

...true...and theyve been lightwight in other positions as well kia...Toomua and lilo didnt impress, dont recall hardly seeing AAC, Folau couldnt be brought in and mogg was just plain terrible.

Mind you the Bok argie match didnt have much to be alarmed about either. Boks were just not on their game, plenty of handling errors and both sides very disjointed. That Matera was the highlight, took on the Boks and some...only 20.

I said that Taylor would be alright but we would lose something in the attack.

I reckon Genia needs to take a break. He's played a lot of rugby and has been holding his teams together. He used to always be superb but last year his form began to waver a tiny bit and now its starting to trend down.

I wonder if this is going to be another year where the high kick pays dividends. If so it could be a good year for the boks.

I was plenty sick of the high kick from us by the end of the game - run the fxxking thing!

Taylorman wrote:...true...and theyve been lightwight in other positions as well kia...Toomua and lilo didnt impress, dont recall hardly seeing AAC, Folau couldnt be brought in and mogg was just plain terrible.

Mind you the Bok argie match didnt have much to be alarmed about either. Boks were just not on their game, plenty of handling errors and both sides very disjointed. That Matera was the highlight, took on the Boks and some...only 20.

Well you see that kind of isn't totally correct.

The problem you have with the Boks is that they are still one of the few teams that can give it to NZ.

sure we have become unpredictable and inconsistent, but if our forwards decide to actually pitch for the day I doubt any other team can put as much pressure on the All BLacks as them, and as often.

Our execution and skills was a far cry from the weekend before, but we have shown our new look back line has skills.

Whether it will all come together on the day is of course another question, but I won't dismiss the boks that quickly either.

We'll definitely have to lift the performance for the SA game. We're lucky in that we'll probably learn more about where SA is at after the Wallaby match and won't face a fired up Bok side after that indifferent performance in Argentina.

The game at altitude is our toughest challenge this year in a tough year of challenges. The England game is next. We will want to continue our good mini run at altitude but it's far and away the toughest hurdle.