CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- After steady improvement in Dave Rennie's first three matches in charge, the All Blacks regressed somewhat in a 38-21 win over the Stormers on Friday, the opening match of their Rugby's Greatest Rivalry (RGR) tour.
A narrow 34-32 win over France had been followed by convincing wins over Italy (47-17) and Ireland (40-21) in New Zealand's first three Nations Championship games. However, a physical Stormers side showed that there is work to do yet for a team looking to usurp the Springboks and once again become rugby's dominant global force.
The All Blacks' early jitters can perhaps partially -- albeit not wholly -- be attributed to team selection headaches. However, the Stormers were also without several players - notably those who are with the Springboks in Argentina.
The hosts still disrupted their illustrious opponents' momentum and used their physicality to their advantage - particularly from set pieces.
There was at least some cause for optimism for the All Blacks, however. New Zealand finished strong - with debutant Josh Jacomb impressing in a late cameo off the bench in place of starting flyhalf Beauden Barrett.
Rennie rested captain Ardie Savea, while usual stand-in skipper Codie Taylor was left out of the team as he nursed a calf injury.
Patrick Tuipulotu captained the All Blacks in his absence, but the forward pack was dealt another blow when eighthman Wallace Sititi dropped out due to illness. Peter Lakai started in his place.
The All Blacks dominated the early minutes, but were initially frustrated by the Stormers forward pack. In the sixth minute, Rennie's charges finally forced their way over via Samisoni Taukei'aho from the lineout maul after a sustained spell of pressure - with Beauden Barrett converting.
New Zealand's flyhalf almost had a try of his own a minute later as the All Blacks carved the Stormers defence open. Seabelo Senatla had to race to the rescue as he prevented Barrett from getting a clean hold of his grubber-kick.
The hosts had a spell on the front foot thereafter, originating from a scrum penalty won by Vernon Matongo. They got the advantage off the lineout maul around 15 metres out from the try-line and piling the pressure on through several phases.
Senatla was unable to keep hold of Yaqeen Ahmed's cross-kick for what would have been a beautifully worked try in the corner, but play was brought back and Anton Lienert-Brown yellow-carded for a high tackle on Jonathan Roche in the build-up.
John Dobson's side piled the pressure on from the lineout maul and the visitors had no answer to their physicality. Andre-Hugo Venter was denied a try for separating from the maul, but Simon Parker was yellow-carded for an infringement.
The Stormers did not get the penalty try, but kept the pressure on and made the most of their numerical advantage. Deon Fourie finally forced his way over from another lineout maul set up on the five-metre line. Ahmed added the extras from near the right touchline.
As expected, the Stormers looked vulnerable to All Blacks line breaks. However, handling errors continued to frustrate Rennie's side as they sought to catch the hosts out.
The Stormers almost carved out an opportunity for themselves from a loose ball that had been allowed to bounce half an hour in, as Senatla kicked ahead and chased, but was unable to get it under control at the second time of asking - allowing it to go into touch.
The All Blacks gradually gained momentum again and after being allowed to swing the ball out to their left side, they forced their way over in the 39th minute as Parker powered through three tackles to score in the corner. Beauden Barrett added the extras to send the All Blacks into the break 14-7 up.
After the war of attrition in the first half, the second began with both teams running the ball at each other in a more open game.
In the 56th minute, Senatla carved through the heart of the defence after some quick hands off the Stormers lineout culminated in Fourie sending him through. The veteran winger dived over for the try under the posts - a simple conversion for Ahmed.
It was the Stormers who looked more likely to break the deadlock thereafter - buoyed by an electric atmosphere inside DHL Stadium. The crowd of 47,130 was almost unanimously behind the Stormers - bar specks of black and white here and there in territory where the All Blacks have traditionally enjoyed strong support.
New Zealand weathered the storm and got back on the front foot in a calm, but increasingly chilly Cape Town winter's night. The All Blacks regained the lead 67 minutes in when Rieko Ioane spotted a gap only a few metres from the line, picked the ball up and trotted over. Barrett's conversion was good once more.
The floodgates had opened and Lakai's clever inside step and offload sent Leroy Carter on his way. The winger broke through three tackles effortlessly to score, with the conversion by Jacomb stretching the lead to 14 points.
The result was put beyond doubt in the 76th minute, when Josh Moorby charged down a Hacjivah Dayimani clearance kick and sprinted over. For the first time in the game, the conversion attempt was missed.
Moorby's failure to release following a tackle on Warrick Gelant saw the All Blacks pick up another yellow card -- and this time, the penalty try was awarded -- giving the crowd cause for one last cheer.
However, it was the All Blacks who had the last laugh as Asafo Aumua peeled away from the pack to go over one last time. Jacomb's missed conversion was of no consequence as the All Blacks sealed the win.
There is little time to rest for Rennie's charges as they travel to Durban next for Tuesday's clash against the Sharks.
There is plenty for Rennie to ponder ahead of four Tests against the Springboks between Aug. 22 and Sept. 12.