These are two fine rugby sides, but neither got close to beating the weather. In the struggle between man and nature there was only one winner. In the subordinate contest, New Zealand beat Australia to retain the Bledisloe Cup and make a winning start to their Tri Nations trail, but neither seemed to matter much, so comprehensively overwhelmed were both sides by the relentless rain.
Carlos Spencer, he of the imperious swagger, was reduced to the awkward, crabbing figure that still returns to haunt him now and then. There will remain niggling doubts about his suitability as an international fly-half until he can shake it off. But there's not much doubting the pedigree of his opposite number, Stephen Larkham, and he too seemed to dissolve in the rain.
Such weather, of course, is relished far more by the forwards, and there were some fine performances here. The New Zealand pack particularly enjoyed themselves. They helped the All Blacks to an astonishing 80 per cent of the territorial advantage and a share of the possession only slightly less impressive.
Considering what New Zealand did to the world champions with less than that, no side in the world should have been able to survive. It is some credit to Australia that they managed to keep them at bay under such pressure. After the match, though, credit was paid to the All Blacks for that dominance, but whether so devastating an attacking side should be satisfied with the failure to make those statistics tell is a moot point. Again, the real credit has to go to the weather.
In fact, it didn't really matter who held the territorial advantage, or even the possession - neither side looked likely to cut through the rain. But territorial advantage did mean that when New Zealand were awarded penalties they tended to be kickable. In the first half, though, Daniel Carter converted only one of those. He hit another one shortly after the break in the wake of an escalating exchange of prods, pushes and punches between the two hookers that saw both sent to the sin bin.
It wasn't until the hour had passed that we saw any try-scoring action, and it was a typically simple, beautiful piece of play by the All Blacks. After a drive from the base of a scrum, Joe Rokocoko came into the line from the blindside to create an overlap that Doug Howlett exploited.
Yet from only their second second-half foray into the All Blacks' 22, Australia replied - after more great play by the weather. Matt Giteau launched an innocuous kick that Rokocoko spilled in front of the posts. He slipped as well and Stirling Mortlock was able to aquaplane over the tryline from 10 yards out, gathering the ball as he did so.
But that was it for the frolics. The finish was nervy, and Carter's last-minute penalty sealed a convincing win for the elements.
New Zealand: Muliaina; Howlett, Umaga (capt), Carter, Rokocoko; Spencer, Marshall; Meeuws, Mealamu, Hayman, Jack, Maling, Gibbes (Collins 56), Holah, Rush.
Australia: Latham; Rathbone (Sailor 52), Mortlock, Giteau, Tuqiri; Larkham, Whitaker (Henjak 75); Young, Cannon (Paul 65), Baxter, Harrison, Sharpe (capt), Samo (Smith 59), Waugh, Lyons.
Referee: A Rolland (Ireland).
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