The problem for ABs, IMO, is right about the cover...
Some first choice player are going to stay, but Roko, Sivi, McAlister, Muliaina, Tialata, Thorn (retires)... are going abroad, still quite young and with a chance for an AB spot, along with the growing age of the team (McCaw, Williams, Woodcock, Mealamu, Flynn also Jane), and a few youngsters that haven't already been well tested in international who will need a lot of experience (Dagg, Fruean, SBW as well, Toeava, Cruden)...
And maybe it will take a while to rebuilt, while Australia has already started this project (with different problems though) 4 years ago, and now they has a good advantage of time.
Average age for NZ today was almost 29
Average age for OZ is something like 24.4
That was really a matter of Men against Boys, but let's talk about that in a 2-3 year time, when NZ probably wouldn't have no more Carter, McCaw, Nonu, Jane... but Australia will still have JOC, Beale, Horne, Genia, Pocock, Higginbotham, Fainga'a, Slipper, Horwill, Ioane, Barnes...
New Zealand still have some extremely good young players already with experience...
Cruden, Fruean, SBW, Toeava, Messam, Read, Boric, Whitelock, Braid, Todd, Weepu, Ranger, B.Smith, Dagg, Maitland, Guildford, Savea, Vito, Robinson, Stanley, Franks and many many more when you consider they have won the last few U20 tournaments. I really think New Zealand are in the best position... Australia don't have depth and the Samoa match proved that.