The first Bledisloe Cup encounter of 2018 may have been lopsided on the scoreboard, but there was still plenty to be gleaned from another impressive All Blacks performance.
Jack Goodhue is the future
The All Blacks midfield has been a turnstile in recent times, due to a combination of injuries and selector experimentation, but Jack Goodhue signalled himself as its potential long-term cornerstone.
The Northlander was imperious at ANZ Stadium, riding the momentum from his stand-out Super Rugby campaign into the international arena, with a display that didn't so much ooze, as overflow with class.
His influence was undeniable, leading the the All Blacks in both metres run (142) and tackles made (11).
Whether he was sparking counterattacks with his laser-like distribution or galvanising a formidable back-line defence that shutdown dangermen Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau, Goodhue seemed to have a hand in everything positive the All Blacks manufactured.
The comparison with Conrad Smith is so obvious, it almost feels lazy and while the cerebral skillsets match on the surface, Goodhue's additional speed and power mean his ceiling may actually be higher.
He's the complete package.
While his chances may be sporadic with Messrs Williams and Crotty still in the fold, a time when the number 13 jersey is his and his alone seems a mere inevitability.
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Rush defence is still a problem
Last year, the Lions laid the blueprint for how to stifle the All Blacks' attacking potency with their clinical brand of high-energy, fast-paced defence.
The Wallabies' efforts through the opening half proved it's still an effective means of suffocating the New Zealand backs.
The All Blacks persisted with launching attacks at depth, rather than playing flatter at the line, allowing waves of green-and-gold defenders to crowd Beauden Barrett and force mistakes, preventing them from finding their rhythm.
The physical demands of running that kind of disciplined defensive system for an entire 80 minutes is an altogether different proposition. The Australians structure gradually eroded, as the contest went on, the All Blacks were able to get in behind a tiring line and expose defenders, and the rout ensued.
You have to wonder whether a more robust and relentless defensive unit, able to maintain that the kind of intensity the Lions did, might see a better payoff on the scoreboard.
Ben Smith should play fullback. Always.
Enough with the wing malarkey, Ben Smith is truly at his best with a number 15 on his back.
The ever-unflappable Highlanders captain has the ability to shine in whichever position you place him in the outside back - he's just that good.
But fullback is where you get the most bang for your Bender buck - where his organisation, option-taking, raking punt and innate instinct on the counterattack mean he's able to have much more influence on a game.
Smith's battle with Israel Folau was billed as the clash of the world's best fullbacks and although his Australian counterpart's night ended prematurely, the mild-mannered Green Island man gave the rugby world a telling reminder of who still holds the mantle.
Brodie Retallick is the best player in the world
On the theme of the world's best, can anyone genuinely look past Mr Brodie Retallick?
The Chiefs lock stepped back into the international arena, after a hiatus of almost a year and looked every bit the destructive cyborg he always has, producing a landmark performance that exemplified the otherworldly presence he brings to any rugby field.
There arguably hasn't been a forward in modern rugby history who's been able to wield the kind of impact on a match he can.
Menacing rucks, folding attackers in the tackle, destroying opposition lineouts and terrorising defences with ball in hand - Retallick is the T-1000 of rugby.
His influence was encapsulated in one sweeping movement at the end of the third quarter, when he hustled back on defence to snuff out a dangerous Wallabies break, won a turnover at the ruck, then popped up a few phases later to sell an outrageous dummy and go 30 metres to score.
It was a sensational try that made a mockery of the number on his back, and left heads shaking in disbelief in pubs and clubs across the country, the kind of jaw-dropping feat that Retallick has made commonplace in a black jersey.
There's no more important player for the All Blacks.
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