It's now Aug 3. NZ have just thumped Australia 39-10. That's considerably more than the points differential described above. So... if Australia are heading for hegemony in world rugby, where does that put the All Blacks? Something to think about, Mr Jones.

Peter H, Wellington,

What do you mean the game lacked contests, Australia bombarded NZ with kicks landing just outside the 22 and NZ where forced to salvage the situation through tough contested possession not a 20 metre pass backwards and then a kick into touch. Surly you can't like that sort of negative play.

Michael S, Melbourne, Australia

I just watched a recording of the game and held back commenting until then on the ELV's. Break down was chaos, structure was nowhere and the line out might as well not been there. Exciting yes, but due to the chaos. Grass roots will suffer. Expect violence and frustration due to struggling refs.

James Cullup, Oxford,

NZ has a better record against the aussies cos for most of the century every talented aussie played league or AFL cos he could get paid for it. Total Vindication that ELVs are the way forward, I think that France and Wales would do well under them! English backs play pretty fast and could step up!

Sam, Sønderborg, Denmark

SJ has a point regarding the refereeing of the breakdown and the offside line at ruck time...complete shambles! The ref seemed to make it up as he went along! The AB's defensive line was offside at nearly every ruck without being penalised, yet they still leaked 4 tries. ELV's are not all good.

Richard Dingle, Dubai, UAE

Always amusing to hear the chippie Kiwis bleating (no pun intended) about how they are still "Best in the World". The truth is that the all blacks are just not intelligent enough to play international sport; some of them make Wayne Rooney look capable of tying his own shoe-laces.

Tony, London, England

You must be kidding regarding the new ELV laws. That was a wonderful spectacle that was free flowing with a huge percentage of ball in play. It was fast, furious and exciting. You northern hemisphere people need to get with the program. Its going to happen..... it needs to happen

Peter, Sydney,

go all blacks!!!

Daniel, Coventry, England

The only "hegemony" that will be created with Rugby's bold new future Jones is the top southern hemisphere teams cementing their current positions in the top 4 places in world rugby!

Its actually northern hemisphere rugby that I despair for the most... your head-in-the-sand attitude won't help!

Richie, London, United Kingdom

The game was a beacon of hope after the dismal stuff served up in the recent past. Australian forwards are improving a lot (the backs are being allowed to play to their potential). As a proud Aussie I would never underestimate the All Blacks. They are a great team and will be back. Bring it on.

Liam Kelly, Brisbane,

"Total vindication for the stance of rugby in Europe"... must have been watching another game. Face it you English are in denial and couldn't face a faster game! There more to the game than forwards and one precious kicker!

Rick, Perth, Australia

From down South the hysterical denial of the virtue of the ELV's is laughable. The complete lack of courage shown by some NH teams to trial them is not. And can we all stop hanging our hats on the ELV's bassed on one or two games?

Pete, Brisbane, Australia

Ah Jones of the ill-formed sentence; Jones of the cliche; the killer of the Times tradition of fine rugby writng. As an ex international, I have smiled sadly at your hollowness for 20 years. K. Packer rode over your hidebound cricket heavies; the ELVs will triumph over your slight ideas.

Anthony Abrahams, Sydney, Australia

C'mon guys there are LAWS in Rugby not rules.
ELV = Experimental Law Variations.
Some may be retained and hopefully most will be ditched!
Why this constant tinkering with the Laws just for spectators and ineffective Aussie forwards?

P.A., Northampton , England

"One trick pony" referring to New Zealand - this should be the trademark of Mr. Jones. I imagine his joy while writing it. Nevermind his own team usually is a "not a single trick pony".

ABs are not weak (England can only dream of beating them regularly),it's Australia who are getting very strong.

Nils, Riga, Latvia

You have described a pulsating game of test Rugby Mr Jones. However the sole reason this game was such a great spectacle are the ELV's. The contest at the scrum is as crucial as ever, two tightheads to New Zealand proved this! The breakdown is a fierce battle, plus seven tries..open your eyes sir!

Jon, Brisbane, Australia

One of the best tests in years!! Jones get your head out of the sand...the contest is still on at Scrum (two tightheads), ruck and maul (countless turnovers), and Lineout....the ELV's have produced four inthralling Tri Nations matches....the players and fans are loving it...open your eyes sir!

Jon, Brisbane, Australia

Why is there no analysis of each of the ELV's separately? All we get is a moan about an Australian conspiracy. Surely some of the proposed changes are okay.

For instance, the inability to kick out on the full when the ball has been passed back into the defender's 22 seems to me to be good.

mikey, sydney, australia

Watching the AB backs was like watching Englands....an exercise in pretty much nothing, zilch, a creative vacuum and a lot of wasted energy. Woe! How aweful to be fed the same dreary fare that the Poms take for granted.

Nick, Wellington, New Zealand

I agree with much of this . I thought our team (NZ) played without intelligence. It reminded me of the loss in NZ to England before the Aus world cup (15 - 13?). That day we just bashed and crashed at a resolute England defence. That game screamed out for a clever kick behind the English.

Steve Low, Nelson, NZ

There is only one opinion that is important when it comes to the ELVs - the players. All I have read/seen is that the players playing under the new laws mostly like and agree with them, with the odd refinement (tackle ball mainly).

End of argument Stephen... the game is after all for the players!

Scott, Feilding, NZ

Get real Jonesey. It's all over for the fat forwards in tight white shirts mauling downfield for a lousy 3 points. Learn to play in the new ELV world of passion,skill,speed and intensity.Players and fans love it. The cheats charter is the rolling maul. The ultimate in obstruction. More meat pies.

Tony Thompson, Sydney, Australia

How can anyone who saw that match not like the ELVs? Even the pace of Super 14 games leaves the old rules for dead. Sure the referees are having trouble keeping up but with practise they'll get more consistency and accuracy in their calls. Hope the NH teams are training hard. They'll need it.

Patrick Carr, Tamborine, Australia

NZ have a 66% winning record against the Wallabies.
We play them four times this year.
The Wallabies have had their win for this year against the AB's.
Enough said.

Christian , Auckland City,

Jones,
Your words describe one of the most free flowing, attractive, esciting game of rugby been seen in decades, apart for the one ridiculous paragraph where you scorn the ELV's.
Get with the program fella - this is the future if you want fantastic rugby.
Dougie, Sydney, Australia

Dougie, Sydney, Australia

Irrespective of whether you believe in the ELV's, thats the best game to rugby I've seen in ages. I'm English and I'd rather watch that than most of the dross served up in the last World Cup (especially the England Semi Final & Final). Open your mind up a little mate

ben, london, London

The game was thrilling; a pace that NH teams won't be able to match, however, part of the reason I found it good was that I felt the referee bossed the break down. I fear the problem is that the pace of the ELV game increases the difficulty of refereeing Rugby. Sadly, it is one dimensional.

Ges, Harrogate, UK

Jones has demonstrated that he has completely lost it. He and others like him don't like the ELV's because it essentially means that the Northern Teams, in particular England, will never win another game until the can get fit enough to play rugby at the speed it is played in the South. plod on Jones

Matthew Birch, Ohoka, New Zealand

The ruck activity is really no different from what has always happened. McCaw will make a difference - flankers' role is to push the envelope. ELVs are being trialled. Sooner NH unions join the trial, sooner we can get universal rules. Whinging about ELVs without trying it devalues comments.

PO, Campbell,

Come on Stephen come on over to the dark side - you might like it. The ELVs are a revelation, Sat night's game is even being talked about by Rugby League people as better than State of Origin in terms of intensity and spectacle - the ref was poor the game was incredible. BTW Barnes hit the drop goal

Mat, London, UK

Mr Jones your never ending belittling of All Black rugby is hilarious. A couple of facts for your consideration: Tri Nations Titles: Australia 2, South Africa 2, NZ 8. Super 12/14 Titles: Aus teams 2, SA teams 1, NZ teams 10.
This year is for rebuilding, we can't win every single year just most!

posty, gold coast, Australia

Steve how come you hate the All Blacks so much. I have been reading your reports for the past 4 years and you never say anything nice about them. Please can you write a nice or a bit more balanced piece because your analysis is really good.

Jack Rees, London, england

Two ealrier posts have suggested that Sivivatu should have been awarded a penalty try...while I agree that a penalty should have been awarded for taking a man out without the ball, a penalty try would not have been correct as Lote Tiquiri was covering back and was well ahead of Sivivatu.

Richard, Dubai, UAE

Again with the ELV bashing - the contest for the ball was once again sensational at the breakdown. The only thing to be concerned about is what the southern teams will do to England over the next couple of years.

Dave, Manchester,

Stephen, your tunnel vision regarding the ELVs is truly bizarre is this instance. We witnessed a festival of rugby with wonderful contests at the breakdown, scrum, and line out. I think you have made a short sighted judgement on these laws and you're now clinging to it even if they serve feasts

James, london,

I disagree with the ELVs introduced & with my fellow 'Southerners' in AUS & NZ.. ELV's are indirectly enhancing the chance of a team committing foul play. How is it when a ruck is formed that the ball then pops out on the other side re:Aus vs SA? Blatant hands in the ruck? Penalties punish foul play

Jason van Eden, Weymouth, UK

New Zealand used to be criticised for playing brilliantly between World Cups, and then blowing it at the big tournament. Well, we have now thrown off that jinx, by playing poorly between tournaments also! So many mistakes.
Rubbish ref, but credit to Australia, they deserved to win.

Eamon Row, Wanaka, New Zealand

Cheers Dave, Aussie used disappointing tactics to gain ball. Stephen Jones loves to hate the All Blacks, just like Clive Woodward.

Tim Marshall, London, England

Jones dosen't fully understand ELV's, maybe soon Stephen?
New Zealand played dumb rugby and Australia played smarter, credit to them.
Any half decent Ref would have awarded a penalty try to NZ after Sitiveni was taken out, still it wasn't awarded so we move on.

Micha, Palmerston North, New Zealand

why does the English media think that rugby is supposed to be a boring game of boot tennis interrupted by a few free kicks?

Tyron, Sydney, Australia

Lote Tuqiri got it wrong when he said the All Blacks aura has disappeared. The aura of "CHOCKERS" still remains. Combine this with an inept NZRFU board who reappointed Graham Henry instead of Robbie Deans and you have the perfect recipe for failure.......again.

Neil Staite, Auckland, New Zealand

Steve, 2nd week running you have given a positive and truthful summary of the game. I notice that you have now limited your ELV comments to only one pargraph - thank you for that. I still feel that there are some way to refine the ELV's, ref had a shocker - again. Taints the true spectacle of ELV's

Steve, Sydney, Australia

No wonder the NH has binned the free-kick ELV. It is a disaster, removing structure and substuting frenzy. The level of cheating at the breakdown was staggering, now I know why the original proposal was to allowing handling in the ruck!

Michael James, Koh Samui, Thailand

Talk about wearing blinkers. Is this Jones guy serious? "A total vindication of the stance" of Europe towards the ELV's. Really? My goodness! That was a superb game of rugby played at a literally exhausting pace. If Jones & is NH supporters can't admit at least that, running rugby is truly doomed.

Joseph Pagliaro, sydney, Australia

How can two Brit journos see the game so differently? This is Michael Alywin in the Guardian.

"comfortably the best game of the tournament to date, what some will no doubt call a ringing vindication for the experimental law variations."

Terry, Napier, NZ

Might have been a good game but Joubert made sure it wasn't.If no rules are to be applied at scrum time,why bother having them? Just throw the ball into a pile of bodies on the ground.I was shamed by the cheating of Oz.Take the chip off your shoulder Jones. Thats embarrassing, not the All Blacks

Dave, Sydney,

The australian loose forwards were amazing not penalised off the park by an inept ref performance who missed the most audacious tackle on Sitiveni as he was about to score which should have been a penalty try.

Watch the game with eyes open and mouth shut and it becomes so obvious

neil, matamata,

I think Nick Easter being linked to Dwain Chambers as a sprinting coach is evidence of the NH looking to address the imbalance, but I couldn't think of two least probable candidates

James Cullup, Oxford,

And frankly, frankly - er - frankly Stephen, it ain't the rules, it's the ref. Great Rugby match, poor ref who let the ABs stand offside all evening. Both these teams demolished your Northern great white hopes under the old rules. Can you imagine Poms playing at this pace for even ten minutes?

Monash, Melbourne , Australia

Very tired of close minded English journalists. Opposed the Rugby World Cup 20 years ago. They now blanket oppose all the ELV's as they are different. The real problem is that boring non-athletic rugby teams playing 80 yard rugby in order to kick penalties/drop goals will not be able to compete.

John, Cambridge,

New Zealand played poorly, yes. Australian hegemony, though? Let's look at the numbers: Australia v. NZ (Played 128, NZ wins 85, 66.4 win %). Let's not be rash now because when I look at these numbers I fail to see hegemony.

Dane W., Palmerston North, NZ

Jones, once again you are wrong on two accounts.

1. The Australian scrum was not cheating and is improving.

2. The new rules are fresh air cleaning out the stale air of the last 10 years.

Matt Braine, London, England