All Blacks Beat Wallabies 41-33 in Thriller in Dunedin!

It may have been a dead rubber but both All Blacks and Wallabies didn't play that way as they won a thriller in the lunch box in Dunedin.

Well, you could say the defence decided not to show up although that would be harsh given the perfect conditions at Forsyth Barr Stadium for open, running rugby.

It had been a stunner of a day in Dunedin and it was still very much light well into the first half - perhaps the climax of the rugby season should be played in October, when the sport really wants to exhibit its best, given that daylight rugby has always been a winner over night-time rugby?

The All Blacks won as expected and fairly comfortably in the end despite a much improved and gallant Wallabies performance.

Quade Cooper was inspirational for the Wallabies, making an absolute mockery of his non-selection by Robbie Deans earlier in the season - you wonder what a Wallabies side led by Quade Cooper would have done against the British & Irish Lions.  His kicking was superb and his attacking play was fantastic. More importantly, he led the way with the ball - which sadly couldn't be said of the new deposed, James O'Connor.

Hopefully on that performance, the booing of Quade Cooper that has gone on too long from NZ rugby fans might subside a bit.

The best Wallaby of the day was Israel Folau who showed his class under the high ball and with ball in hand running at defences. Folau has definitely been the Wallabies' stand out player in a forgettable season for the green and gold, and rugby fans should be glad that the former Queensland, Broncos and AFL star is playing their game - he should be a delight to watch for a while yet.

As for the ABs, plenty has been said this season and more of the same continued even though they hadn't played for 2 weeks. McCaw and Carter's absences have now gotten to the point that All Blacks fans are asking "Richie and Dan who?" rather than wailing and gnashing their teeth.

Indeed, if there's any wailing or gnashing of teeth, it should be when Kieran Read gets injured - he is now the ABs key man, deservedly getting another try, the ABs' 4th in the game.

So what about the much talked about switch of Ben Smith to centre? To be honest, it was like glove to hand even if Smith didn't manage to add to his try-scoring tally - although he was pretty close right at the end with his trademark bust through a gap. Can he be the first choice centre for the ABs? On this yes.

So another season at home has finished with the ABs unbeaten in Pounamu and Maui islands again!

But don't despair, the black juggernaut will now travel overseas to see if they can have their first unbeaten season since 1997. On evidence of Saturday's night, the TAB should be cutting down their odds on that happening now.