Right from the off, the All Blacks went for the jugular - a strange England kick-off was repelled by a stunning Rokocoko burst - England missed tackle after tackle - finally Simpson-Daniel hauled him down. This was a sign of things to come. The pressure from the All Blacks continued resulting in a Carter penalty 3-0.

The other sign of things to come was Grewcock and Robinson exchanging punches - Grewcock already was wound up and we were only a few minutes into the game. However we appeared to regain our composure and Hill and Catt nearly broke through. But it was met with an immediate reposte with a brilliant maul from the All Black pack. Spencer then launched a huge garry owen which Lewsey took despite the best effort of Carter to rip his head off.

We levelled the scores when Hayman was lying all over the ball - Hodgson coolly took the penalty - 3-3.

The first try came from a charged down kick from Dawson by Jack - the ball was beautifully moved across midfield - woeful tackling by the England backs and excellent handling from Howlett and Spencer resulted in a try in the corner. Carter converted 10-3 after 14 minutes.

The second try was frustrating - England missed yet more tackles and referee Kaplan missed three forward passes and a crossing but Rokocoko burst through to score. Carter converted 17-3.

My notes then read - "England awarded penalty, overturned, Cohen, stupid!". He was clearly frustrated by being taken out of the game by Umaga but really he should know better. Kaplan did exactly the right thing and penalised him. Moments later from a scrum, England suffered the ultimate punishment and gave away a try the Doug Howlett. Carter again converted 24-3. Two further penalties an at half time it was 30-3.

Second half and Worsley and Borthwick were on - the line-out calls were all over the place in the first half. Hill and Borthwick took over catching responsibility and things improved a little. The tide of tries had been held but with the game all but lost we created nothing. Lewsey, Hodgson, Dawson, Gomersall... the list is endless of players who kicked away possession. Tindall played with great heart but bursting through the middle on his own over and over again with no support unsurprisingly proved fruitless. Our runners never had options except to go to ground - McCaw was awesome - he ran after every back in an England shirt and put in hit after hit.

Our pack expected to be so dominant was proving very fragile - not helped by the departure of White - Matt Stevens was out scrummaged easily. Thompson usually so dominant in the lose was a shadow of his usual self. Woodman had a good game but he can't win things on his own. Dallaglio ran out of ideas - when plan A failed, he couldn't drag his troops to a new plan - the rabbit in the headlights look can't have inspired! The All Black pack played like a Wasps pack - streetwise invariably on the edge of the laws or even over the edge - Robinson rattled a number cages with his fists and effectively took Grewcock out of the game. Watch Mealamu's throw ins - his throwing can be as poor as Thompson's - the solution - stand one pace on the England side of the line-out and throw diagonally - genius!! Appears to be straigbt but isn't! The All Blacks out-thought England and instead of trying to play the perfect rugby John Mitchell wanted - they went for rough and tumble in the forwards saving the perfect bit for the back play.

Hodgson looked like a player who needs more big game time - nervous at the start but grew into the game. He needs to be more courageous. Dawson looked out of puff - slow to the breakdown, wayward passing to Hodgson but Gomersall wasn't much quicker and his passing wasn't that much better - however, I would expected him to start in the second test.

The All Blacks kept an inept England at bay and slotted two penalties in the second half to win 36-3.

So what for the next Test - let's go for it and blood some of the new chaps - I'd like to see Cohen on a plane home - Waters, Voyce, Abbott should give some pace in the backs. Gomersall at 9 and Hodgson to remain at 10. Lewsey needs to get his head together and keep his eye on the ball in both halves of the game. I'd swap Grewcock for Borthwick.

But the last words should be for a great All Black performance at the House of Pain - that's the sort of rugby we want to see from the men in black shirts - not the nonsense they were attempting last year. Aggressive in the lose, excellent scrummaging, wonderful mauls and quite breath-taking back play. It's going to be a really tough challenge for England in Auckland.

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