FIFTEEN man rugby is one of the great cliches of the game, but after New Zealand's win in Pretoria on Saturday, the tired old expression has taken on a new meaning.

In beating the Springboks (33-26) and thus sealing their first ever series victory in South Africa, the All Blacks provided a glimpse of the rugby of the future.

They may not be able to claim the title of world champions until 1999, but these All Blacks clearly deserve the honour of world-beaters, and perhaps the best team ever to leave New Zealand's shores. The key to their superiority is the quality of their support play, and the astounding ball handling and passing skills from the full back down to the tight head prop.

The precision of their passing, and their incomparable ability to eliminate handling errors, increases their attacking potential dramatically, and has added a new dimension to the game of rugby.

This was never better demonstrated than in Jeff Wilson's first try when, after the scrum-half Justin Marshall broke 30 metres upfield, the immediate support came from the two lock forwards, steaming up on the outside. Two perfectly executed passes from Robin Brooke then Ian Jones, and Wilson flashed over in the corner.

But surely New Zealand's best example of all-round skill, and of a prototype of rugby players of the future must be the outstanding number eight, Zinzan Brooke. He scored a classic number eight's try in the first half going over unopposed from a scrum five yards out, then in the same way as he had crucified England in the World Cup semi-final, he dropped a field goal from 35 metres with full time up on the clock.

"I knew the droppie was on from the time the ruck was set up, so I just called for it," he said afterwards. No other forward in international rugby would even have dared a try, but Brooke has such accomplished all round skills that his field goal sailed elegantly over the cross bar.

"It's these little things which give you the advantage," he said. "In fact it's nothing more than using the skills I learnt when I was a wee kid, but I always keep practising my kicking because you never know when you, might get the opportunity to use it."

With attitudes and players like this in a side, New Zealand's hold on international rugby seems assured for some time to come.