By TOBY ROBSON at Stade Velodrome - Stuff.co.nz
Last updated 10:41 29/11/2009
Stripped in white, the men in black lifted the darkness that has cast a shadow over rugby union this season with a 39-12 win against France at Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
Just when we thought the brilliance of yesteryear had been lost in a sea of rule changes and negative play, along comes the performance of the year.
This was the All Blacks as they sit in our collective memories, their imperious best.
The pace of the ball, the angle of the runners and the speed of the support play had France grasping for breath from the kickoff.
It is hard to remember the last time the All Blacks produced such a complete performance. They didn't drop a ball in the warm ups and it was hard to remember an unforced fumble in the match.
France were reduced to spectators as Richie McCaw and his men thumbed their noses at those who say rugby can no longer be won with ball in hand.
They had spoken of their tiredness before the match, but with the knowledge that the beach towels are a week away they cranked up a gear and surged to the finish line.
If there were two keys to this effort it was first-five Dan Carter's vision and the urgency of the All Blacks attack.
They had talked about their slow reload, the speed with which they set up their next attack, after the England match.
Against France it would have made Billy the Kid proud as players queued up to carry the ball like impatient commuters.
There were four All Blacks lurking as Cory Jane scored their fourth try, the first time they have crossed so many times in a test this season.
Confidence soared as the passes stuck.
Mils Muliaina scored the try of the tour on 24 minutes when France first-five Francois Trinh-Duc's grubber was swept wide by halfback Jimmy Cowan.
Conrad Smith surged, Sitiveni Sivivatu skipped outside David Marty and Muliaina trailed up on the inside to run to the line.
The doubt that blunted Muliaina's instincts earlier in the season was gone, replaced by the certainty of a man who knows where he is going and how he will get there.
The shackles that had gripped the All Blacks all year had been gloriously cast aside.
As his opposite struggled, Carter upped his game to freakish levels. His peripheral vision was putting his teammates into holes.
It was going to take a comeback of 1999 semifinal proportions for the French to escape this vice.
Richie McCaw was immense, Kieran Read was not far behind.
Smith's defensive decision making was impeccable as he came off his line time and again to snuff out the French backs. It was fitting that he scored the final try.
Lock Tom Donnelly must be close to the find of the season, a provincial battler who has more than meets the eye.
If this test was about how far the All Blacks have come this season the first try was a prime example of their progress.
The previously skittery lineout had the faith to throw long to Jerome Kaino and it set up Ma'a Nonu's break and then Sivivatu's try.
The All Blacks were being given yet another stern examination at scrum time, but even there the All Blacks struck the biggest blow.
Kaino got the second try, but Tony Woodcock would have got equal satisfaction after wheeling the French scrum off their own ball.
Random trumpets were blowing from all corners and drum kits were as common as a scarf. The All Blacks all but silenced them all.
France were fishing for a spark, emptying the substitutions with 25 minutes to play.
But today it was no use. Twenty Frenchman would have been powerless to stop this All Blacks side.
By shear will, skill and excellence they breathed life into the international game with a performance that will have restored the faith of even the most jaded New Zealand rugby fan...
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