Wallaby captain Stirling Mortlock has been involved in his fair share of Bledisloe battles over the years, and as far as he was concerned, this one was no different. For many on-lookers, however, there was something missing.
The stage was set for an epic clash when the singing of the national anthems and the haka had the packed stands in raptures.
But what followed was an encounter that, apart from a few passages of real intensity, never really got the pulses racing. At least that was how it looked from the stands - as far as Mortlock was concerned, it was a very different scenario on the pitch.
'Don't think for a second that there was any lack of passion out there today,' Mortlock said. 'It was no different than any other Bledisloe Cup clash I've played. It was tough as ever.
'We both badly wanted to win and it was a hard-fought game. Neither team wanted to lose this match, believe me.' It was hard to argue with a man who has been in his fair share of rugby wars with New Zealand, but although the All Blacks No. 8 Rodney So'oialo may have ended the match with his head bandaged and blood seeping from the wound, it was generally a sluggish affair.
After a torpid first half, the intensity stepped up a few notches after the interval, but there just seemed something lacking.
It would be only natural that both sides had an eye on the challenges that lie ahead over the coming weeks as both go on their respective European tours.