Australia were compared to US basketball's Dream Team when they arrived in England for the World Cup. On Saturday they lent those comparisons such weight that there seems considerably more chance of Michael Jordan's successors being toppled than these Kangaroos losing their world champions tag.
The green-and-golds have won the last six World Cups, and although the emphatic final scoreline belied a brave Kiwi effort in a genuinely competitive match, the fact remains it was a record for a World Cup final.
That is one feature of this tournament which should concern the game's global decision-makers: the way in which the unforgiving nature of the modern game produces so many lopsided scorelines. It might be time to consider reducing the length of each half to 30 minutes, or even playing four quarters, at least in internationals, to give plucky underdogs, such as New Zealand on Saturday, a more realistic chance.
It would have been curmudgeonly in the extreme to complain about Australia's dominance on Saturday, though, as they were providing such spectacular entertainment in the second half.
Matthew Gidley and Wendell Sailor had already combined to breathtaking effect for Australia's single first-half try. The forward exchanges were also compelling, with Bryan Fletcher and Tallis hurling themselves at the Kiwis, for whom Stephen Kearney was, as ever, a colossus.
But those exchanges "sucked out all our juice", according to New Zealand's retiring coach Frank Endacott, who was less than impressed by his stand-off Henry Paul's preference for kicking to Sailor's wing.
Still, the Kiwis played their part in the second half, with a scrappy try for Lesley Vainikolo followed by a dazzler from the new Leeds signing Tonie Carroll, cutting Australia's lead to 18-12.
Australia: Darren Lockyer; Sailor, Gidley, MacDougall, Rogers; Fittler (capt), Kimmorley; Webcke, Johns, Kearns, Tallis, Fletcher, Hill. Replacements used: Stevens, Britt, Barrett, Hindmarsh.
New Zealand: Barnett (capt); N Vagana, Carroll, Willie Talau, Lesley Vainikolo; H Paul, Jones; Pongia, Swain, Smith, Kearney, Rua, Wiki. Replacements used: J Vagana, Swann, R Paul, Cayless.
Referee: S Cummings (England)
