Aaron Cruden's punishment is a timely reminder for the All Blacks © Getty Images

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No matter what you might think of the Aaron Cruden incident you have to give huge kudos to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen for the way he has handled the matter.

I feel Hansen has nailed it. He's given Cruden a slap on the wrist and told him to go away and think about it while reinforcing the message that the All Blacks have standards and he has dealt with it - end of story.

Once upon a time this sort of thing would have been swept under the carpet and in that team environment his mates would have looked after him. They'd have probably sneaked him through immigration with a pair of sunglasses on and got him on the plane. I think Hansen's complete honesty has been a winner.

Bear in mind that Cruden hasn't put a foot wrong in the past so it is not a case of whether he has an issue or a problem or anything we should be really worried about.

He's a young man who's made a mistake. He's been dealt with and I like that. We all love Aaron Cruden and we would love to see him back in the All Blacks' environment. But in the meantime he's in the naughty chair and has to sit there for two games. Then come Brisbane for the last Bledisloe Cup game, he is welcome back.

Ironically, it is another useful tool for Hansen as he builds towards a World Cup. Last week when former coach Sir Graham Henry was asked how this team could improve, he said a loss would serve them well because it would make them realise they are all mortal.

This sort of thing is probably just as valuable. The team can see Hansen putting his foot down and proving that no-one in that team is above anyone else and that he doesn't suffer fools. That attitude will send shudders throughout the whole environment of that team and they will sit up and take notice and realise that anyone of them could cop the wrath.

It just raises the standards of the whole environment. It reminds everyone that the All Blacks are mortal. And it comes about because of the complete honesty in what they are doing. There're no secrets. That was just not acceptable. It was dealt with and the All Blacks have moved on.