Sunday Special: That will do for starters

An over-aroused and under-accurate first-test-of-the-year newsletter for ($) subscribers.

Fabian Holland goes a bit over the top. Getty Images

As far as first tests of the season go, last night’s was rambunctious, mostly harmless fun.

Or so I thought at the time.

Reading the morning reports, a common theme seems to be that the All Blacks, 31-27 winners in Dunedin, were underwhelming. If you look at the relative strength of France and the margin of victory, then yes, I guess you could say so — but what the hell, I’m in a contrarian type of mood.

The match, if anything, was a little overwhelming.