The end of the world seemed nigh in Auckland yesterday, and it had nothing to do with Ireland letting the first Test get away and the foreboding thought of a second rendezvous with the All Blacks in Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday.

Strong winds brought down a cable in the Otahuhu station an hour away from Auckland and the city - and its 750,000 residents - was left without electricity from 8.30am until 1pm.

An estimated 300 sets of traffic lights were cut off, as the police attempted to maintain some kind of order on the roads, and with most outlets and offices closed for much of the day, it's reckoned the cost in lost productivity was NZ$100 million.

With a massive snow storm blanketing the south island, the Irish squad abandoned their attempted gym work in the dark to later in the day, while the All Blacks were obliged to move their loosener to the gym and basketball arena at the impressive multi-purpose Trusts Stadium in the suburb of Waitakere.

Fulfilling daily media commitments, as well as a public autograph session, the All Blacks conveyed the impression they are smarting from the first Test as much as Ireland.

While for the most part affording Ireland due respect for their performance, they're clearly itching to atone for some of their own flaws.

"Anxious to get back out there," was how Rodney So'oialo described the mood in the home camp. "Even though we're happy we came away with a win, we're definitely disappointed because we totally went away from our gameplan and there were obviously those little things that really nearly cost us the game."

So'oialo is a relatively understated but integral member of the All Blacks, as well as being a good barometer of their mood.

Being an All Black is akin to royalty over here, and no less than any of his team-mates, the softly spoken, likeable and modest So'oialo is not inclined to lessen his workload, although his musings on the demands this places on his wife Marilyn and his young daughter Tiamamya, brought to mind the reasons for Tana Umaga's retirement from test rugby.

"I've got a four-year-old daughter and my wife is pretty much a single mum for eight or nine months of the year, so it's pretty tough on my wife. Definitely, definitely, the backbone of most rugby players, I'll tell you, is their partner," he says, with a smile.

His faith is another source of strength and to help fill in his spare time in camp or on tour, So'oialo is acquiring an internet education in construction.

"Rugby players can't play all their life, especially professional rugby, so you've got to get something else under your belt to try and look after yourself and your family," he says.

The Samoan-born 26-year-old, whose brother Stephen plays scrumhalf for the country of their birth, bridled a little at the official tally of only two turnovers to the All Blacks.

"I think we turned over more than that. A few of our tackles really got stuck into them and they lost the ball in contact, so that's a turnover for me as well."

Marcus Horan would be one of the first to testify to that, recalling So'oialo's wince-inducing hit in the first half when the number eight lined him up from a short pass inside by Gordon D'Arcy.

As you'd expect from someone with his heritage, So'oialo thrives in defence, and is one of the fittest, hardest working players on the New Zealand playing circuit. For him, clearly, lessons were also learned in the All Blacks' strong-finishing last quarter and a bit, when scoring 19 unanswered points.

"Just go back to his basics," is his focus for next Saturday, "the stuff that the All Blacks are good at, trying to maintain the ball. And during the last 20 minutes the forwards started coming into their own game."

Nonetheless, having also played in the All Blacks' effortless victory in Dublin last November, So'oialo was struck by the change in the Irish mentality, if also glad for the greater challenge this presented to a team constantly in search of self-improvement in their search for their holy grail that is the World Cup.

"The Irish positive attitude was definitely a bit better than it was in November. I think they've come here to play rugby, which is really good to see from our side. It definitely helps us to progress in the areas that we want to work on," he said, adding: "We can't afford to make mistakes, especially against this Irish team. They're a top team."

He also believes it will awaken the somewhat complacent New Zealand rugby public. "I think the public have seen they are not a pushover team as presumed in some of the media, so hopefully they'll be there to support us."

Ireland have earned plenty of respect out here. Now comes the task of retaining it.