The All Blacks never settled in to their flowing devastating speed in the backs until the last 20 minutes on Saturday while the Springboks cleverly rested players that could give them dominance come September in France.

For the Wallabies – it was the same story – the worn old cliché of “a game of two halves”. They could not string it together for 80 minutes and that will be the big challenge if the green and gold are going to make to the World Cup final.

In the earlier wins against the ABs and the ‘Boks it was the second half lift in play that brought them home.

On Saturday in Auckland the first half was passionate, committed and showing a speed at the breakdown that if it could have been maintained into the second half could have brought back the Bledisloe.

A total of 62% of possession against the All Blacks is admirable but scoring tries must result and not the two penalty goals and a field goal in that first stanza on Saturday.

There were a couple of doubtful decisions by the referee, Nigel Owens from Wales, and more is likely to be heard on this front when the video is examined on both the All Blacks try and the penalty against Captain Stirling Mortlock for an alleged high tackle on Doug Howlett that was nothing more than a slap on the shoulder. Three points resulted from the reliable boot of Dan Carter.

The manner in which Mortlock kept his cool during the game against some frustrating moments is what probably gained him selection as Wallabies captain for the RWC’07 ahead of George Gregan. The squad, just announced, contains few surprises except maybe Berrick Barnes, the rugby league convert, who wins selection as a five eight ahead of Sam Norton-Knight.

The example of Barnes, having been plucked from the Brisbane Broncos rugby league team at a fraction the cost of Lote Tuquiri, should be the way John O’Neill approaches recruiting players from the ‘other rugby” in Oz. O’Neill led the charge when Sailor, Rogers and Tuquiri were recruited back in 2002 and it is hoped good money is not squandered on future high profile converts ahead of low cost young and talented players like Barnes.

The squad is packed with veterans- 14 with previous World Cup experience and of these four who were in the 1999 winning squad (Gregan, Larkham, Latham and Staniforth). The Wallabies are scheduled to meet Ireland in the quarter final and the All Blacks in the semi so nothing can be overlooked in the preparation from now on.

Whilst the expectation this year was for a mediocre performance there were stages where it appeared the Wallabies were in with a strong chance and fully justifying their number two status on the IRB world ranking. The forwards were much improved on their previous bad performances on recent northern tours while the backs again did not get a chance to really show their wares due to the John Connolly ten man rugby team strategies.

It was the first half last Saturday that gives hope for the World Cup. A careful preparation and the right mind set with these talented and experienced players tells us that the Wallabies are still a force and should not be written off.