He played a crucial role in setting up Marika Koroibete's fine try with some lovely ball-handling and was busy on defence.

However, his best quality is that he is a forward who has some footwork and he uses it to great effect.

It is rare that he carries the ball without a subtle change of distance or small step before contact, which allows him to make metres even in traffic.

He has taken ownership of the No.6 jersey with that performance because at the moment he is offering much more than Ned Hanigan.

2. Reece Hodge is a proper Test winger now.

He'll probably never have the finishing speed Marika Koroibete showed for his try but Reece Hodge is growing strongly into the winger's role. He looked dangerous in space and his all-round game was excellent.

There was one restart where Hodge chased an excellent Bernard Foley kick, made the tackle then got to his feet to secure the turnover.

The Wallabies ask a lot from him on defence, where he defends in the midfield from first phase but then has to run back to the wing, but he has really grown since taking over for the injured Dane Haylett-Petty.

As for Koroibete, some defensive issues were still on display, especially for the Pumas' second try. There is still some doubt in his mind about what he should be doing and only experience can solve that.

3. Tight-forward skills are still a work in progress.

The ability of the No.1, No.2 and No.3 to handle the ball has become such a crucial area of the modern game and the Wallabies demand that their big men are up to speed here.

But I don't think Scott Sio and Sekope Kepu nailed this area in Mendoza, and the ball was turned over in the centre of the park a few times because their interplay wasn't quite right.

It was pleasing to see No.6 Jack Dempsey more prominent with the ball but the front-rowers probably fell short of their own high standards here.

Ability isn't the issue for these guys - we have seen the skills before - but the execution dipped against the Pumas and was an anchor on the Wallabies' performance.

4. Malcolm Marx shows one way to take on the All Blacks.

There is one position where the Wallabies are caught between two eras at the moment: hooker.

Tatafu Polota-Nau is playing strongly but the clock is ticking for him and Stephen Moore is already heading for the exit door. But no wonder they are keen on big youngster Jordan Uelese.

In the Springboks v All Blacks game, Malcolm Marx showed that going up the guts is one way to really get in behind the All Blacks.

He did what Agustin Creevy did to the All Blacks for an hour in New Plymouth - times 10.

He hurt them with his pick and runs from close to the ruck, where the All Blacks often appear to be low on numbers because of their preference to spread the defence. Even in defeat, this was the game when Marx fully took the baton from Bismarck du Plessis.

5. Springboks and All Blacks game may not be bettered this year.

Southern hemisphere rugby is dead, picked apart by cashed-up European clubs. Not quite.

At Newlands, South Africa and New Zealand played a game for the ages full of passion and skill. Fittingly, it was essentially won by a remarkable passage of play.

All Blacks replacement fullback David Havili showed some class to create a half gap for Damian McKenzie from about 50 metres out.

Seconds later McKenzie was over the try line thanks to a remarkable burst of speed, McKenzie can play No.10, No.15 and now No.14.

No one really knows where he will end up playing. He is like James O'Connor but with less peroxide, fewer budgie smuggler photos and much more ability.

Team of the Week

1. Steven Kitshoff (South Africa)

2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa)

3. Nepo Laulala (New Zealand)

4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)

5. Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)

6. Jack Dempsey (Australia)

7. Michael Hooper (Australia)

8. Kieran Read (New Zealand)

9. Will Genia (Australia)

10. Lima Sopoaga (New Zealand)

11. Rieko Ioane (New Zealand)

12. Jan Serfontein (South Africa)

13. Ryan Crotty (New Zealand)

14. Reece Hodge (Australia)

15. Damian McKenzie (New Zealand)