No longer are the All Blacks the Richie and Dan show

It says a lot about the current status quo in the All Blacks camp when considering that for two consecutive tests, first five-eighth Dan Carter has not produced a playmaking master class, yet the black clad players all around him were anything but all at sea.

In the past many have felt that the All Blacks ability as a winning rugby team centered around the presence and actions of the two Crusaders kingpins, but the growing maturity and leadership of the men around them is taking responsibility and pressure off the all important 7 and 10 bloc.

There is still no real test class open side flanker waiting in the wings, and it is no joke that McCaw’s abilities and leadership make him indispensable to this All Black team.

This is no different to any team in world rugby, where any test captain or star player is central to a side’s prowess. Would not the Springboks have been a far more intimidating proposition had Bull’s maestro Fourie du Preez been present in the side?

But while the presence of “Captain Fantastic” makes the All Blacks a far more potent force, one only needs to look at the growing influence of his back row partners (Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino) to know that if the unthinkable occurred and McCaw was unavailable, his replacement would be aptly supported.

Indeed much of McCaw’s brilliance seen in recent test matches has been not so much for the mercurial skills of a man who is currently untouched as the world’s best fetcher – although it would have been fascinating to see him again go head to head with Heinrich Brussow – but for the balance and support of his blindside and eightman.

The benefit of having two provincial partners in the loose in working wonders, and Kaino is providing the muscle in what is the most important triumvirate on the rugby field.

McCaw also has the support of veterans up front, with Brad Thorn, Keven Mealamu and Tony Woodcock being backed by the rise of the Franks brothers and Tom Donnelly.

And to think that Andrew Hore hasn’t even strapped on a test rugby boot in 2010.

Carter was judged on what was overall an average kicking performance from the All Blacks, with five kicks worth 12 points missed.

But the reliance perceived to be heaped on the All Blacks number ten’s shoulders is put into perspective when considering that seven players ran with the ball more times than Carter.

The All Blacks assaults were rarely centered on conventional offence marshaled by the playmaker, which meant that the axis of attack came from all around the field.

Carter has the benefit of playing with two class but varied scrumhalves, and while question marks could remain on the fact that Jimmy Cowan and Piri Weepu are far from classical in their passing service, they both bring other aspects to the table that suit the All Blacks style of play.

The midfield of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith – again showing the benefit of a provincial relationship – is untouchable and on current form is the world’s best centre partnership.

And out wide Mils Muliaina continues to shine, moving steadily forward as the most capped All Blacks back, while Graham Henry has a plethora of wing options and competition in the outside three quarters.

This All Blacks team is no tandem act, and while the importance of the red and black duo is crucial, the options around them are becoming just as crucial to what is seemingly a class All Blacks side.