The All Blacks have gained a mix review from Zinzan Brooke as they get set for a rematch with England - he likes Ma'a Nonu and their attacking attitude but is worried about their lineout and inability to shut down a game.

Brooke, in his regular column on the BBC, did own up to misreading last week's first test in Auckland where he felt the English had a decent chance.

But he hasn't given up on the men in white and believes their fresh-looking backline for the Christchurch match has an exciting element to it.

But it's the All Blacks great's thoughts on the progress of Graham Henry's 2008 side that are most interesting.

"England didn't really play that badly, but once the All Blacks found their stride, it's impossible not to sit back and admire them in full flow," wrote Brooke.

"For the first 44 minutes, the All Blacks were scintillating. If they had continued like that for the rest of the match, it could have been a cricket score.

"However, I am slightly concerned about their inability to shut a game down. England stopped them from scoring a single point in the last 30 minutes, which is worrying going into the Tri-Nations."

Brooke warns of more worries with the opening Tri-Nations match against the Springboks looming in Wellington on July 5.

"The All Blacks don't really use Brad Thorn as a number two jumper," said Brooke, noting that Rodney So'oialo was their next target after Ali Williams.

"So that's one area England skipper Steve Borthwick should exploit to spoil All Blacks ball and disrupt their distribution.

"I think this is one area New Zealand will have a real problem with in the Tri-Nations, especially against the likes of South Africa's Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha."

Brooke has seen some pleasing improvement in Nonu and New Zealand's midfield play in general. He didn't view the dropping of Conrad Smith as an issue at this stage of the season and predicted a good game from his replacement, Richard Kahui.

"I was really impressed with the offloading of Ma'a Nonu. His decision-making has improved drastically, like when he broke through Charlie Hodgson's tackle to offload to Mils Muliaina for New Zealand's third try. Two or three years ago Nonu would have tried to score that try himself.

"I was also very impressed with Conrad Smith. New Zealand lacked someone of his intelligence and direction in the backline at the World Cup.

"Richard Kahui is a powerful centre, like Nonu, whose brief will likely to be to provide ball to Sitiveni Sivivatu and Rudi Wulf on the wings."

Brooke is once again prepared to put his head on the line and predicts a narrow in to the All Blacks in Christchurch.

"I'm not going to write off England as I like the look of the team on paper.

It's a young side with experienced heads, but I reckon it will be a seven to 10-point win for the All Blacks."