Scrum of the Earth /

Ma'a Nonu: 'No you can't have my extensions'

New Zealand 39: Tries: T Woodcock 2, M Nonu 2; Cons: D Carter 2; Pens: D Carter 5
Australia 10: Tries A Ashley-Cooper; Cons: M Giteau Pens: M Giteau

A wounded All-Black is the most dangerous species in the jungle and the ruthless animal rampaged through Eden Park to reclaim their spot as kings of the southern hemisphere.

New Zealand hadn't lost three on the bounce for over a decade and the class of 2008 weren't going to take on such a tag without a fight

It was more like the All-Blacks of old. Clinical execution, brutal in contact and kept their intensity up from the Haka.

Graham Henry's tactics were spot on. The All-Blacks coach left the sporadic, kamikaze stuff back in Sydney and played smart rugby – something Australia obviously forgot to register before leaving the tunnel.

The next time Robbie Deans delivers a message Australia won’t be as complacent. 

The All-Blacks were far more structured, ditching the over-zealous tap penalties inside their own 22, in favour of trusting their abilities and Dan Carter’s majestic boot.

The Richie McCaw factor was huge with the talismanic skipper’s composure belying his customary ferocity. His partners in crime backed him to the hilt.

Just like Australia's scrum, New Zealand's line-out has shared an equal amount of stick in recent years.

Andrew Sheridan’s face gives Australian’s nightmares, but now add Ali Williams’s mug to the list for the athletic second-row reaped all sorts of havoc at the set-piece.

All this nonsense about the Experimental Law Variations depreciating the tactical area was proved wrong once again - only Ma'a Nonu's contentious late score came from open play.

Prop Tony Woodcock became the first All-Black prop since Wilson Whineray to score a brace against Australia. The scrummaging machine popped up onto Rodney So'oialo's pass for the first and four minutes later latched onto an intelligent tap down from Ali Williams in the line-out to charge over.

Had referee Mark Lawrence grasped a proper idea of the new laws then New Zealand would not have been gifted the throw when Adam Ashley-Cooper deliberately put his foot into touch before fielding a clever Jimmy Cowan kick - and Woodcock may not have scored. 

Dan Carter looked noticeably happier with Jimmy Cowan next-door. It was far easier to understand why Henry didn't sling him onto the scrap-heap after such an assured display. His kicking game was superb and didn’t afford any such luxuries for the Wallabies back three to seize momentum.

Ashley-Cooper profited from some incisive trademark Wallaby handling to briefly get the visitors back in the match, but the All-Blacks were in beastly mood and would not be outdone in any facet of the brawl.

Australian hope was savaged when Nonu scored his first try soon after the break.

Another spoiled lineout and more Australian ill discipline saw the juggernaught centre crash over after a nice little one-two with Sitiveni Sivivatu for the pivotal score.

Nonu’s critics have been fierce since bulldozing through England’s Charlie Hodgson but this was more like it.

His second and New Zealand’s fourth saw the All-Blacks return to the summit of the Tri-Nations and will now ensure the trip Cape Town won’t be the same across the Tasman to Sydney.