Clinical in the wet: All Blacks blank the Sharks 54-0 in Durban

If the tour opener was a scrap, the second tour match was a statement. The All Blacks were ruthless in the Durban wet, running in eight tries to blank the Sharks 54-0.

Conditions were greasy, the kind of night that usually flattens attacking rugby, but the tourists simply adapted. They led 14-0 at the break and then pulled clear after halftime, the handling holding up where the Sharks' could not.

Luke Jacobson captained the side and led by example, topping the tackle count with 12 and setting the tone up front. Fehi Fineanganofo grabbed a double, with further tries to Caleb Clarke, Damian McKenzie, Timoci Tavatavanawai and lock Sam Darry off a well-worked power play, among the eight.

The standout, though, was Jordie Barrett. Moved into midfield, his long kicking was a real asset in the wet, controlling territory all night, and he capped it with what the reviewers called the best try of the match. Halfback Kyle Preston was excellent as well, his box kicking precise in the slippery conditions and his quick taps giving the Sharks defence fits, while Quinn Tupaea's clever running made him one of New Zealand's best.

Keeping any South African side scoreless at home is no small thing, and doing it in the wet with a rotated side says plenty about the depth on this tour. Two tour games in, the All Blacks look to be finding their feet on the veldt at exactly the right time.

The Bulls are next, and then the real business begins.