It wasn't pretty and at times it was downright scrappy but the All Blacks won, won comfortably and the next generation of players got their chance for some decent game time.
Pretty much everyone was expecting the All Blacks to score many tries and win by an innings and a couple of runs - with some fans tipping a score well in the 60 bracket, if not quite the record score achieved back in 1995.
Certainly, the Brave Blossoms have improved immeasurably since that 145-17 mauling at the 1995 Rugby World Cup with rugby very much professional in the Land of the Rising Sun, even if they are definitely not quite in the calibre of the All Blacks.
The Brave Blossoms were physical at times and thanks to Michael Broadhurst, brother of Wellington and Hurricanes lock, James Broadhurst, they actually were competitive at lineout time, even if their scrums as expected melted like tomato sandwiches on a hot day. Fumiaki Tanaka led the way for his country but really at halfback, there is only much you can do against the world champions and a side as good as this All Blacks.
Overall, to keep the score at 54-6 - their best losing margin against the All Blacks by far, is quite respectable and kudos should go to Japan who are looking like a very competent international rugby side.
Indeed, the All Blacks will be slightly disappointed with their performance tonight in Tokyo even if conditions late in the game didn't quite help. If this game was a chance for players outside the fringes of the first XV to show their worth in the squad, then quite a few of them missed the boat.
I guess you could say Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett and Francis Sai'ili may have damaged their chances of starting for the ABs in the future - Kerr-Barlow kicked the ball too much, Barrett's kicking game was all over the place and Sai'ili was poor with his hands on the night.
One player who definitely took his opportunity well was Charles Piutau - a hat-trick on the night was deserved for a man who was definitely the All Blacks' player of the match. With Conrad Smith now on sabbatical and Ben Smith moving to centre, Piutau has a grand opportunity to make one of the outer back positions his to keep - he was dangerous with ball in hand and finished very well.
Sam Cane and Steven Luatua also did their prospects no harm whatsoever too with tremendous performances with and without ball in hand. Cane ensured that McCaw was not missed at number 7 and Luatua provided class in two positions - there are players who can play more than one position, and there are players who can play more than one position well. Luatua is definitely in the latter class.
His Blues teammate, Frank Halai didn't quite get as many opportunities to run with ball in hand, but when he did, looked pretty good as expected against this brave but limited Japanese defence, and even got a try thanks to his trademark strength.
What about his other debutants? Dominic Bird was solid in his first start although he did lose out to an inspired Michael Broadhurst in that one lineout in the first half, Luke Whitelock and Jeff Toomaga-Allen were happy just to get on and get their first ever All Blacks caps.
So this game is done and dusted and the ABs now look forward to the real business of the tour - a match against France at Stade de France in Paris. This is where the tour really begins for them and expect the real ABs to return for a clash that is always highly anticipated.
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