Probably the biggest advancement the all Blacks have made (a new rugby?) is how ALL the players now have the necessary skills to play expansive rugby.

In the past teams may have had skilled backlines, maybe even skilled loose forwards as well, but the Blacks have gone the whole hog where props, locks and the hooker possess passing/handling/running/tackling/fitness/positional/thinking skills of very good players.

The equivalent of the forwards having the skill-set of 8 open side flankers on the field.

My mind goes back to the last game where McAllister made a line break and who was in support the whole way to the line? Woodcock! McAllister didn't pass it to him (instead waiting for the rocket man) but the fact he was there, and the fact it was the middle of the second half tells you something.

Locks are scoring on the wings and props are running huge distances in attack. The thing is though (and something New Zealand has struggled to do in the past) is that the forwards are also doing the business up front. Dominating at the setpiece, and doing the tough grunt up the middle.

There is no shirking of traditional rugby fundimentals in playing the expansive game.

It is their ability to suddenly change from playing 'basic' rugby to 'expansive' rugby that is creating the opportunities. How often do you see the All Blacks soaking up an attack near their line only to force a turnover and break out from all parts of the field for a long range try? The fact that every player recognises when to switch into expansive mode allows them to have numerous support numbers whenever turnovers occur.