But what was so brilliant about Saturday’s game in Christchurch was that both sides took an approach you usually only see in festival games.
To then analyse the All Blacks, in particular, as if it had been a normal, tactically cautious international had the feel, as the Times of London once suggested after a drug raid on The Rolling Stones, of breaking a butterfly on a wheel.
No big shocks
There wasn’t a major upset in the first round.
Ireland had to battle to beat Australia 33-31 in Sydney, but in Cordoba, Scotland swept aside Argentina, 47-38, Wales outgunned Fiji 39-24 in Cardiff and in Johannesburg, South Africa were too big, too fast and too strong for England, winning 45-21.
The nearest to an unexpected victory came when Japan tipped over Italy, 27-10. There’s plenty of time for things to change, but right now South Africa, as might have been expected, look like the biggest challenge for the All Blacks.
An attitude to live by
Possibly the best news for Kiwi fans is that the word optimism is already looming large in media and team discussions with new All Blacks coach, Dave Rennie.
Xavier Numia, Fehi Fineanganofo and Jamie Hannah all made their All Blacks debuts in the win over France. Photo / Photosport
Put money on Rennie’s defensive coach, Tana Umaga, studying in minute detail the team’s defensive patterns on the flanks, where the All Blacks did look fragile against France.
But the most important factor from the opening game was surely the attitude that saw the All Blacks looking to run the ball out from inside their own 22. That approach didn’t change after halftime, so patently, Rennie gave it the stamp of approval.
Is it likely to work against a more powerful team than the understrength French side who played in Christchurch? Probably not, but it was still a hint of the confidence Rennie feels in his men.
Knowing that taking a chance is not going to wreck selection prospects is always comforting for a player, no matter what level of rugby is being played.
If they can somehow take the attitude they brought to the field in Christchurch into more demanding matches, tickets to their tests are likely to become as sought after as a Taylor Swift wedding invitation.
Look no further
It was certainly one of the weirdest ways to demonstrate big match temperament, but the way Ruben Love recovered from an unfortunate yellow card just a couple of minutes after kickoff, to play an excellent hand at first five, was actually a tribute in many ways to how strong-minded he is.
The combination of Love and a world-class halfback in Cam Roigard has the feel of a long, successful tenure about it.
There are certainly no questions to be asked about Roigard, who has a terrific range of skills and, just as importantly, is blindingly fast with rugby reflexes to match. Having the pair running the show behind the forwards will be a massive boost as Rennie’s squad settles into their work.
Ruben Love made his first start at No 10 for the All Blacks against France. Photo / Alyse Wright
Perception is important
As brilliant as Scott Robertson’s record was in Super Rugby with the Crusaders, there was always an element of unease among older, more conservative fans. The ultimate dismissal of Robertson was seen as brutal to the point of being unfair by, amongst others, one of the country’s most astute rugby men, Wayne Smith.
Eccentricity is not what the average Kiwi is looking for from the national coach. There won’t be any such issues with Rennie, who continues the line of All Blacks mentors who you feel are unlikely to ever make headlines with unexpected statements or behaviour.
Rennie’s not a throwback when it comes to making comments as a coach, as he showed with a number of interviews leading into the French test, but there is just a trace of the retiring nature of a terrific 1960s coach, Neil McPhail. After a test with England in ’63 he was asked by journalists for his opinion of the game.
“You need to ask the players,” he replied. “I wasn’t on the field.”
Phil Gifford is a Contributing Sports Writer for NZME. He is one of the most-respected voices in New Zealand sports journalism.