They certainly did Gareth considering the slagging they get from certain British writers. Still, moving on, expect fists and boots from the English on Saturday, they have been royally rubbished all ways and as its their last game for the season....... well you know the rest.

Gardy, Wellington, New Zealand

Well Gardy seems like the NZ forwards done allright

Gareth Williams, Powys,

Matches played: 29

New Zealand wins: 22

England wins: 6

Drawn: 1

Paul, Sydney, Australia

Gardy, world champions? i didnt know SA were in town? England are in town but what have they won lately? any of the english play for munster, any of the english play for wales in the 6 nations? youve gone and confused me gardy. Or maybe its you who is confused. should be a good game tonight though.

phil, nz,

Unfortunately, as has been seen in football, WCs tend to negate the value of other International games.

So it is, now, with Rugby. But NZ wanted this. They wanted to prove how great they were and won the first WC.

Sad but all those great ABs non WC wins are seen as meaningless WC prep.

Paul, Toronto, Canada

Make no mistake, England have come to win. They have been in the colony an unheard of 2 weeks already. The grizzled champions of the worlds hardest, toughest and meanest rugby competition mean to sort these "candy floss rugby" All Blacks out. Who would want to be an AB forward tonite!

Gardy, Wellington, New Zealand

Glad to see you are in NZ Stuart. I did enjoy your commentary on the test last wk but had to laugh after when the NZ tv man asked McCaw whether ABs were happy with 8-8 at HT having played "into the conditions". You didnt mention any wind while criticising DC's kicking. Comfy in London, was it??!

Tony Clements, London, UK

British referee and the All Blacks are stuffed. The All Blacks have never lost a game at the RWC under a SH referee. Is it true that when British referees venture south the average IQ dips both sides of the equator? After last Saturday I must agree! Scotland got the most help and they whinge.

Ai Rui Sheng, Minhang, PR China

Hey Neil, Birmingham - the Tri-nations countries are on record as saying that we would have Argentina in an expanded Tri-nations and accommodate them in an expanded Super 14 any time they can convince the Northern Hemisphere clubs to release their players to play in these competitions.

Scottie, Auckland, NZ

A brave man to write off NZ Rugby, just before Eng due to play in the next week or so. NZ has been down before, however history is dramatically in their favour. NZ don't have a good record in knock-out style games (neither do Eng), I 'd be reluctant to bet against them in a series. 2 weeks wiil tell

Rob, Sydney, Aust

I guess the ref debate had to resurface. Sure, things will be missed in a game but 17 unawarded penalities (e.g. offsides, hands in ruck etc)?

Yes, the ABs were culpable in not overcoming this (i.e. drop goal x 10) but who in their right mind awards a job requiring experience to the apprentice?

Peter Annand, Wellington, New Zealand

Super 14 Final was a sell-out -- capacity was reduced to 25,000 due to construction.
32,000 out of 34,000 tickets sold for the Wellington Test vs. Ireland. Not bad for such Antarctic conditions.
TV ratings for Ireland Test -- 700,000 people watched it either Live or delayed (About 20% of NZ's popn

Stef, Pomona, USA

Ian in London, It is incredible that you still look to blame the officials for the AB's exit against France. "the pass was forward, etc"" Crikey mate, refs miss things all the time inc the AB's offside infringments throughout, Maybe the AB's should have scored more points?? just a thought....

miles, Gloucester, England

All this talk of SH vs NH is pathetic. Over the years NZ , SA Aus, Eng ,Fra and Wales have all been at the top. NZ has consistently put out very strong sides but where both Aus and NZ went wrong in the last world cup was to seriously under estimate their opponents - nothing to do with the referee.

Alec, Auckland, New Zealand

"...undermining of rugby in NZ by the match fixing, courtesy of English match officials..." Ian, London.

You are kidding! What mischief... and I'd bet you are English!
If NZers truly believed that, right now they'd be supporting Henry's AB team and the NZRU to hell and back.

Kiwi Joker, Harrogate, England

The rugby establishment in England have got what they wanted the undermining of rugby in NZ by the match fixing, courtesy of English match officials, at the so called World cup. The NZ public weren't fooled. Rugby as a sport is dead in NZ. NZers won't be going to the IRB games in 2011 either.

Ian, London,

To Oliver Chettle; the Heineken Cup Final was played at the Millenium Stadium, Cardiff, not in London. It was played between an Irish team and a French team, although there were probably some London based supporters there. I love it when the Kiwis get upset about rugby. I've seen them cry before!

Vic, York, UK.,

I was reading a comment on the Heiniken Cup game in front of 74,000 people. I watched that game live on TV, the atmosphere was awesome but what about the millions watching on TV. It was up there with the World Cup final as one of the most boring games i have ever watched.

Adam Dougherty, Perth, New Zealand

WC record against england? played 2, thrashed them 2. Didnt get to play them in 03 or 07 (our fault for choking I guess) but lets get real eh? Of the 6N teams, France are the only threat. Wales did sneak a win in 56, england have done it 6 times (EVER) and we still await scotland/ireland/italy!!!

David, Budapest,

Yeah Right!
So bring on the lilly white powder puffs and lets see what the score is.

Kiwi Kev, New Plymouth, New Zealand

Nige the Brummy, the Argies were offered a spot in the Tri Nations on the premise that they could field their top team for the competition. Unfortunately NH clubs won't release them for the powder-puff rugby we play down here - so you get to have your cake, eat it and then slag us for not helping!

Jonesy, London via Auckland, NZ

To Tom of Huddersfield - where did you get your facts about the All Blacks flouting the rules for decades to pay there players. What a load of old cobblers!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob, Wellington, New Zealand

Just a moot point for the tub thumping SH evangalists.

If you are to claim Argentina as a true SH side, and yes geography would inidicate that the country is south of the equator why do you not offer them a berth in an expanded Tri Nations?

Nigel, Birmingham, England

Thankfully the public & press are starting to react - at last! Steve Tew (CEO NZRFU) is incompetent beyond belief and any improvement in any aspect of NZ rugby must be preceded by his departure. The WC failure is being sighted as the cause of NZ rugby's low ebb but the problems run wider and deeper.

Peter, Wellington, NZ

All that really needs to be said about the difference between Northern and Southern hemisphere rugby is that a guy like Riki Flutey, who couldn't cement a place in the Wellington NPC team moves to play in the UK and is hailed as an all conquering attacking genius.

Quentin DeSoto, Wellington, New Zealand

As a Springbok supporter I thought the All Blacks were amazing on Saturday - the conditions were horrendous - did you not see how cold BOd and Ritchie McCaw were at the post match interviews? - almost hypothermic yet during the game i never got the feeling ABs were going to crumble.

Bruce, Perth,Scotland,

Spot the Trojan Horse. You are setting aside your up and coming talent and increasing the base number of SH players being paid to play professional rugby across the world. This past weekend has shown the cost - the quality of your national sides. Consolation - an wealthy and exciting club comp.

Benjamin, Christchurch,

Good piece by Stuart Barnes. Not a lot to disagree with to be honest.

Mark, Wellington, New Zealand

England have only beaten the All Blacks once in 10 years - how many times have the All Blacks beaten England? not to mention the penalty count against the All Blacks in the France Cup match 10 -2 not one penalty to the All Blacks in the second half - then the forward pass for the French try -

Jon Hall, Sydney, Australia

Stop leaning on the AB's. They will continue to do what they have always done - defeat NH teams 90% of the time. Forget the joke that is the World Cup - The only measure of rugby supremacy is the Test record over the years - Only the AB's and the Springboks are in the hunt here.

Kenneth Riggs, Napier, New zealand

How terrible Stuart, to have to make your money from being spiteful. Last weekend 3 SH teams played and beat 3 NH teams. Look at the IRB rankings; SH teams hold the first 4 positions.

Realist, Sydney, Australia

Jim McDonald, Sydney, Australia

Insightful piece. The rugby public is likely to become enthusiastic once the team is on a winning roll again: it's human nature to identify with winners. The real problem is market saturation, too much rugby driven by corporates/unions putting dollars over sense. The public is more discerning now.

Kristin, Auckland,

Neil, Brussels - SH rugby is a joke? I think you'll find the world cup-holders are from the SH, as is the team with consistently the best international record. And why then is it that players who fail to shine (Rickie Flutey?) down here become superstars for their clubs in Europe - I'm puzzled...

Scottie, Auckland, NZ

Fair comment Mark. Just a little disappointed but I still would have loved to see Fitz and Quinlin.

Neil, Brussels,

The last time the AB's brought in so much youth was in 1986, producing the Baby Blacks and a world cup win. Hold off on the eulogies Stuart. The future's all black.

jim, brussels, belgium

Neil, you talk about not having your best team out. You seem to forget that we have recently lost eleven players! AND we still beat you. If it was dry players like Sivivatu and Muliana would have shredded your sorry lot to pieces...

Mark, Frankfurt, Germany

a fair article - and an accurate assessment of the feeling in NZ at present. I imagine the same could be said for a number of national teams that were equally focussed on the same prize. Still - good to see new blood coming through. Have to laugh at some of the nationalistic jibes here. Move on!

David Johnston, New Delhi, India

The All Blacks flouted the amatuer rules for decades to pay players; it's payback time.
And Trish -if you want to watch none stop running then you need athletics not rugby - which is probably too complex for you.

Tom, Huddersfield, uk

We are a nation of 5 million and play 4 majoe field sports with rugby at number 4 in the list so stop your consistent moaning about NZ rugby, you guys really get under my skin and if the conditions were better and we had our full team I doubt you would have won. Ruby in the SH is a joke.

Neil, Brussels,

Yes the Heineken Cup final can generate an amazing atmosphere, but lets be honest that was almost exclusively down to the passion of the Munster fans. Let us no forget those other less passionate occasions - for example Toulouse v Perpigan at Lansdowne Road when only 28 000 turned up.

John Mitchell, Les Trois Ilets, Martinique

Did any Northern hemisphere side win against any of their counterparts this weekend? Imagine the scorelines if the TriNations sides played to SBs expectations.. Our boys are only warming up.

Alan, Perth,

The game in the Southern Hemisphere is dead. It is too boring in comparision to Rugby League and AFL. Unless they make t somewhat exciting with new "running" rule changes, British teams will only be able to play themselves.

Rugby Union is very boring. It is meant to be a running game.

Trish, London, England

Hey we will get over it once we beat up the English team and extend our record against that pathetic excuse for a rugby team. Stuart we are a proud country of 4 million measuring how many go to a rugby match does not equate to how good the competition is.

Mark , Auckland, New Zealand

New Zealanders should be realistic about the All Blacks, I find it pathetic that rugby supporters can only support, constantly winning sides. It shows lack of character and a purile attitude. Go to Cape Town and watch the crowd at the Stormers games 40-50,000 win or lose. Kiwis = moaners.

Russ Collins, cape Town, South Africa

What happened to the foreign player quotas in the NH clubs and what are the IRB doing to halt the exodus north? Or is it all part of the IRB master plan to "grow the game"?

Last nights weather was appalling. Had it been better the stands would have been full and the winning margin a lot more.

Peter Annand, Wellington, New Zealand

Selling 29,000 tickets in Wellington is roughly equivalent to selling 580,000 in London. It is not pathetic.

Oliver Chettle, Bedford,

Kiwis do support Richie McCaw and the blacks but not Henry (& Co), Tew and the NZRU. New Zealanders will vote with their feet and stay away until a breath of fresh air blows these gutless men away.They care not for the fans, game or players but only for their own gratification.

Tony Walsh, Kaikoura, New Zealand

Well written but please avoid any 'cheap' shots on the size of NZ. We all know about size but talent must have a part to play as well. Perhaps this was the game we saw Nonu come of age and finally people will start to recognise Conrad Smith as a fine player. This is a NZ team that will change.

richard, abu dhabi, UAE

Bloody good article. As a kiwi living overseas it summed it all up. Sad as it seems it is the enevitable. However we will adapt and make this team as good as its predecessors....at least until that next blimmin world cup !!!

Paul, Singapore,

Stuart - its pretty obvious you wrote this article before the game gambling on a NZ loss against Ireland. The game is in decline in NZ but you need to also appreciate the other side of the coin: The stunted growth of NH players caused by this as per the national Engalnd football side.

jack, London,

One of the better articles I have read from SB and not lacking the accuracy of other dribble he sometimes makes. NZer's will still fully support the AB's despite the shambolic situation with Henry.The whole supporting the wallabies thing is just tough talk by small minded individuals that wont last.

Shane, fulham, UK

After this devastating hatchet job, I don't know how NZ can carry on. They'll now have to give rugby up, or perhaps pick themselves up and continue to beat their Northern counterparts 83% of the time, score three times as many tries, and dominate age-group rugby, the tri-nations, and the Super 14s.

David, Manchester,