Savour the record. It's exceptional and should never be taken for granted.



But if there's one thing possibly more impressive than the win ratio Steve Hansen's All Blacks are accumulating, it's their unparalleled depth.



This isn't just a very good All Blacks outfit - possibly on the way to becoming a great one - but it's also deeper than Voltaire.



That's an attribute that is every bit as important as all those ticks in the victory column which are edging Hansen towards pretty hallowed territory.



For the true value of what Hansen has achieved since taking the reins of the All Blacks, it's worth looking beyond the numbers which are, to be fair, mind-blowing.



Since Hansen stepped into the top job the All Blacks have won 17 of their 19 tests, with just a lone defeat (to England last November) and that 18-18 draw with the Wallabies in Brisbane that preceded it.



That's a win ratio of a tick under 90 per cent; or, if you prefer it, a non-losing one of nearly 95 percent.



But if the All Blacks are going to keep winning so consistently - ideally, right through to the 2019 World Cup - then that depth is crucial on three fronts: it allows Hansen to deal with injuries almost seamlessly; it means workload can be studiously managed; and it builds an urgency within the environment that no amount of selectorial discretion can match.



The days of getting by with 15 world-class players are over. John Hart did it in 1996 and '97 when his All Blacks embarked on the last great run of staggering success. They won 20 of their 22 tests over those two seasons, losing just once, with one draw.



That was a special group and Hart managed to keep them largely intact through the epic series victory in South Africa in '96 and the unbeaten year in '97. But then his lack of depth was exposed markedly in '98 when, on the back of retirements of several key players, the All Blacks went into a form tailspin that saw them lose five consecutive tests.



They never quite recovered by the time the '99 World Cup rolled round.



These days depth is even more crucial, with the rugby calendar even more. The All Blacks are now playing an extra two or three tests a year, Super Rugby has grown and the general wear and tear on bodies has gone up several notches.



Hansen, either by careful planning or circumstances, is playing the game splendidly, building depth across every position in his squad, with the possible exception of midfield. And you know that's No 1 on his to-do list.



He now has viable and proven alternatives at loosehead prop, hooker, second row, blindside and openside flanker, halfback, first five-eighths and in the back three.



The No 10 situation has been a prime example of the value of depth. The All Blacks did not miss a beat on Saturday night, even with Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett all out injured. In came 24-year-old Cantab Tom Taylor and within 80 minutes the All Blacks had emerged with a fourth first five capable of piloting them through a test.



There's really only two, maybe three, positions where Hansen might feel a bit nervous about losing a frontliner. The alternatives behind Owen Franks at tighthead prop and Kieran Read at No 8 are not quite so compelling, while they've yet to unearth a viable backup for Ma'a Nonu in midfield.



The situation looks like it's only going to get better, too. Jerome Kaino is due back next year to add to the loose forward mix, while Cory Jane's imminent return from a long-term knee injury adds another world-class performer to the back three.



Hansen is happy with what he's building, and so he should be. He was able to hand skipper Richie McCaw a six-month sabbatical and actually achieve a positive outcome with the continued development of Sam Cane. Ben Smith has been a revelation covering for Jane, likewise Steven Luatua for Liam Messam.



"Some of it's been forced upon us through injury but we've always set out to have enough depth in the group to cover the unexpected," said Hansen after Saturday night's 27-16 victory over the Wallabies.



"We've got an environment we work really hard on and that allows people to fit in easily. We've got some great leaders, it's not a complicated place and that makes people comfortable, because it's easy to go out and do what you're being asked to do."



Hansen deserves huge credit, not only for developing the best team in world rugby, but the best backup one as well.