United States vs. New Zealand: Winners and Losers from Chicago International

New Zealand emerged victorious at Chicago's Soldier Field on Saturday, beating the United States 74-6 in a fixture that never looked as though it would produce an upset.

North American audiences rarely get the opportunity to witness teams of New Zealand's quality firsthand, and what a master class it was as Steve Hansen's concoction of first-stringers and hopeful contenders ran rampant.

Read on for a breakdown of the biggest winners and losers to come from this result, with players, teams and even an entire world of sport benefiting from a superb Test exhibition.

Winner: Sonny Bill Williams Announces His Union Return in Style

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It's been a long-awaited return for Sonny Bill Williams in the world of union, and after he scratched his NRL itch with the Sydney Roosters, New Zealand officially have their poster boy back.

By no means will the Chiefs star waltz into Hansen's line-up with the likes of Malakai Fekitoa, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith sauntering around, but a very positive return to the All Blacks fold confirmed Williams has still got it.

That was never a genuine fear for one of the most rounded athletes this generation has ever known. Williams carried for a gargantuan 120 metres in Chicago, scoring two tries and beating four defenders along the way.

The autumn international will test Williams in proving just how close he comes against genuinely elite enemies over the coming weeks, but some extremely positive signs were shown in this, his rebirth.

Loser: Eagles' Ball Retention Among Chief Concerns

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Statistics such as these are hard to hold against a team of the United States' quality when coming up against a foe as talented as New Zealand, but Mike Tolkin will nevertheless look to improve his side's grip on possession moving forward.

When faced with an intimidating opponent, jettisoning the ball is a regular byproduct for any lesser team, but that's an area in which confidence will come to benefit the Eagles over time.

It's a difference that can be seen between players such as Samu Manoa, Todd Clever and Chris Wyles when compared with their lesser-known compatriots, who aren't as well-travelled.

Those players mentioned will be more willing to take the ball into contact and set a foundation, but until the team comes closer to the level of those stars as a whole, chinks in the armour will continue to be exploited.

Rugby matches can't be won without possession, and while their tackling and reclaiming of the ball needs improvement too, USA need to first identify their issues in protecting the small share they're able to obtain.

Winner: Aaron Cruden Is Back Where He Belongs

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Having bid his time on the sidelines following the controversy of his temporary dismissal from the squad for conduct-related issues, Aaron Cruden returned to New Zealand's ranks for the first time since mid-September on Saturday.

Even after the two-match suspension had run down, Hansen opted to omit Cruden from his squad for the Bledisloe Cup encounter against Australia a fortnight ago.

In his absence, Beauden Barrett and Colin Slade have shown that they may not be of the same quality as Cruden, who would look to replace Dan Carter in the long term.

Stronger opposition will come up in the next 12 months for Cruden, that's for sure. However, a steady display against the United States did help in once again showing the consistency he brings to New Zealand's No. 10 role. He'll undoubtedly cherish his minutes in the fallout of September's scandal.

Loser: England May Rue Dan Carter's Untimely Return

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However, Carter isn't a departed figure just yet, and his return to fitness will come at a poor time as far as Stuart Lancaster is concerned.

New Zealand head to Twickenham next Saturday for their first stop in Europe in what they'll assuredly look upon as the real beginning to their autumn Test series.

Premiership Rugby's Paul Morgan sees the 101-Test veteran lining up against the English as a bad omen for the London hosts, with Carter having featured in Saturday's second half:

"

.@DanCarter at 10.... And @SonnyBWilliams at 12 next Saturday at Twickenham next Saturday.... Might be worth a look!!!

— Paul Morgan (@PaulMorganrugby) November 1, 2014"

Those minutes and some brief time spent with Canterbury in the ITM Cup will have helped prepare the fly-half for his comeback, where he'll be as eager as ever to show Hansen what he adds to the team.

With that motivation behind him and his touch of wizard-like playmaking, Carter may come to be a major threat for the English in just a week's time.

Winner: Rugby Continues to Assert Its Global Appeal

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With a capacity crowd of 61,000 showing up to Chicago's Soldier Field, it's clear the game is growing in North America, with the previous United States record for a rugby fixture sitting closer to just 20,000.

A nation raised on American football and baseball is now a fully fledged member of the rugby community, and while the All Blacks are something of a spectacle wherever they tread, there are sure to be more teams making their way stateside.

So popular is the sport in America now that IRB chief executive Brett Gosper has even backed the idea of a Six Nations fixture being hosted in North America. He told The Telegraph's Gavin Mairs:

"

I know PRL [Premiership Rugby] are talking about bringing some big club games to the States and why not some internationals like the Six Nations? If that fits in with the Six Nations’ vision of their tournament that would be certainly interesting from a developmental point of view in the United States. It is up to the Six Nations as to where they want to play their games but again I think that would be a terrific thing for the game.

"

It may not be a notion every European fan would jump on board with, but just the fact that the sport's governing body is assessing such markets is hugely promising.

It will be some decades before the level of global competition hits the same heights as a sport like football, but the writing is on the wall that we're homing in on such an achievement with rapid motion.

All statistics come courtesy of ESPN Scrum.