Cruden conducts All Blacks masterclass

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Australian rugby has a new nemesis, capable of continuing the punishment for several more years after a masterful return to ANZ Stadium.

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Aaron Cruden played conductor to the All Blacks hauntingly ruthless orchestra, as familiar tunes of pain rang out in the Homebush air on Saturday night.

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Replacing an icon in Dan Carter  whose skills and boot have played a large part in Australia's miserable record against New Zealand in the past decade  Cruden distinguished any hope Australia may reap some advantage.

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The diminutive playmaker, now seriously making claims as rugby's premier five-eighth, erased memories of his horror Test debut at this very ground three years ago.

For all the positive spirit around Ewen McKenzie's first Test as Wallabies coach, a new era of attacking football and hopes of an end to the Bledisloe Cup drought, it was the All Blacks who displayed renewed zest and vigour.

Australia planned to dominate at the breakdown, and play "fast, up-tempo" rugby to run the All Blacks ragged.

As usual, the opposite occurred, as the Kiwis taught lessons about the game played in heaven, the game these black-uniformed goliaths play on Earth.

McKenzie's plans were always going to need time to bear fruit, but he will be sporting a sizeable headache on Sunday morning from bashing his head in the coaches' box.

Dumb kicks, soft tackling, awful turnovers, and what seemed like a dozen over-eager grounded passes with tries beckoning will facilitate much head-scratching and whiteboard marking in Wallabies camp this week.

Cruden started his man-of-the-match magic show two minutes in, sending Wallabies defenders to the left sideline, then the right sideline, with his accurate wide passing.

Then having drawn in too many in midfield, Cruden placed himself out wide, taking a pass from halves partner Aaron Smith before catching and hopping right in one movement, leaving Wallabies centre Adam Ashley-Cooper barely caressing his jersey.

Cruden held the ball just long enough to draw in last defender James O'Connor before throwing an audacious one-hand flick-pass to winger Ben Smith who opened the scoring. Cruden's sideline conversion was merely icing on the cake.

Australia took the lead in the 28th minute via Christian Leali'ifano's fourth penalty but 60 seconds later Cruden charged down a kick from Leali'ifano to put New Zealand ahead once more.

With the half-time siren sounding in the background, Cruden's immaculate wide run and inside ball opened space for centre Conrad Smith to stroll through, eventually leading to another penalty Cruden would convert to give his side a 25-19 lead at the break.

These scenes made his first match in the black jersey a distant memory.

That night, perhaps ominously on September 11, 2010, Cruden made a blundering start that had Australia poised for a famous victory before he was hooked from the field with a quarter remaining.

With Colin Slade coming on to assume the playmaking duties, the All Blacks scrambled with two late tries to win 23-22.

Before he took the field this week, Cruden explained: "It wasn't the way I wanted my starting career in the black jersey to pan out, but looking back at that game it's made me a better player.

"I've been able to bounce back from that and grow and mature as a player. I'm really comfortable in this environment now, I know exactly what I have to go and do."

Cruden has led the Chiefs to successive Super Rugby titles, last year was part of New Zealand's record Test scoreline against Ireland, and with his performance in this first Test will make it difficult for Carter to resume his place in the All Blacks side even when he fully recovers from his calf injury.

Australia's new key playmakers, Matt Toomua, Leali'ifano and Jesse Mogg have just seven Tests between them.

Toomua made a mixed debut on Saturday night, looking sharp with his passing but also dropping the ball and at times hesitating with his support. He was subbed off at the same time as Cruden was, with Quade Cooper taking the field for the final 19 minutes.

Toomua can take a cue from Cruden, who many thought couldn't wipe Carter's boots after Test one, but is now walking comfortably in them 23 internationals later.

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