1. Wallabies' progress obscured by post-game bitterness.
Too many people lost their heads on Saturday night. While passion is wonderful some of the bitterness in the post-match commentary, from a number of corners, was unedifying, certainly a poor contrast to the dignity shown in Ireland this week after the sad loss of Anthony Foley. That was rugby at its best, Saturday was something approaching the opposite.
Moreover the chance to give credit to the Wallabies' players, who richly deserve it, was lost.
If cooler minds had prevailed, the narrative could have been 'we lost, but beware Eddie because we are going in the right direction'. Rory Arnold and Lopeti Timani genuinely arrived as Test players, which should give Australian fans immense satisfaction as their traits - size, aggression - were desperately needed.
The furore over the perceived lack of respect - which is at the centre at Michael Cheika's anger, not some silly and unrelated clown cartoon - has to be put aside, quickly, because there were so many good things on Saturday night that the Wallabies need to embrace.
2. Stephen Moore was fantastic.
I know that Dane Coles did some special things towards the end of the game, but Moore's hard ball carrying and subtle passing game in and around the heavy traffic was very impressive. The captain produced easily his best performance of the year and you could tell that he was bringing his team with him. When he plays like this he is clearly the benchmark for hookers in Australia because he has real size.
He'll be the barometer now for the end-of-season tour. If he repeats that Eden Park performance in Europe, the Wallabies will have a successful trip.
Game of the series: Wallabies captain Stephen Moore had his best game of the Rugby Championship. Photo: Fiona Goodall
3. Israel Folau draws a line under recent form.
The big fullback was a constant danger with his long stride and exceptional footwork - really, against anyone apart from the All Blacks he probably would have scored a try and created another. I go back to the coming European tour - this is exactly what the Wallabies want from their big players.
After a poor year, this collective performance was the first I've seen that truly suggests they are back on track. Yes, there were some really damaging self-inflicted wounds, but Eden Park is an unforgiving environment and no side in Europe is going to convert every mistake into points, as the All Blacks did. There is new purpose about these Wallabies - that's the message from Saturday.
4. The Cooper-Foley experiment is dead.
Bernard Foley must now be restored to the No.10 full time - the problem position is No.12.
Reece Hodge had a tough night, but he is absolutely worth persevering with, even though my suspicion is that he's really a No.13. Foley took it to the line and exposed some issues with the All Blacks' defence close to the ruck, and was far more effective than Cooper has been.
Where the Wallabies got themselves into strife was in defence, where the decision to shield Foley back fired because it put Henry Speight in at centre, where he had no connection with his insides and looked a bit lost.
5. Nigel Owens got it wrong, but the result was right.
Unfortunately, Dane Haylett-Petty opened the door for the TMO to have a second look by raising his arm across Julian Savea - that's a bit of inexperience even though the decision to disallow Henry Speight's try looked wrong.
Speight was gone.
However, if you watch the last 20 minutes, and try to take the emotion out of it, the impact of the All Blacks' bench was so profound that I still think they would have won the game. Replacements can have such an impact these days that you can argue a player like Wyatt Crockett, who had 30 minutes, was the most influential loose-head of the night. Aaron Cruden also really started to dictate when he came on, Ardie Savea was a menace, and Liam Squire looked like he could break the game open. They are worthy holders of that new test record for 18 test wins.
Influential: All Blacks prop Wyatt Crockett was a crucial player off the bench. Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung
Team of the Week
1. Wyatt Crockett (All Blacks)
2. Stephen Moore (Wallabies)
3. Sekope Kepu (Wallabies)
4. Brodie Retallick (All Blacks)
5. Adam Coleman (Wallabies)
6. Jerome Kaino (All Blacks)
7. Matt Todd (All Blacks)
8. Kieran Read (All Blacks)
9. TJ Perenara (All Blacks)
10. Bernard Foley (Wallabies)
11. Julian Savea (All Blacks)
12. Ryan Crotty (All Blacks)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (All Blacks)
14. Dane Haylett-Petty (Wallabies)
15. Israel Folau (Wallabies)
