Spiro Zavos
September 14, 2010
Saturday night's epic Test between the Wallabies and the All Blacks was watched by 70,288 spectators, including several IRB heavyweights, the chairman Bernard Lapasset, vice-chairman Bill Beaumont, chief executive Mike Miller and the boss of the referees, Paddy O'Brien. What they and the vast roaring crowd saw was 21st century rugby at its best.
The Test was everything the World Cup 2007 final between England and South Africa should have been, but was not. That final was a static match where both teams played for field position and penalties. On Saturday night, the ball was in play for long periods, with the All Blacks five times establishing seven phases of play, and the Wallabies once. There were only 33 kicks, and many of them had a scoring intent. There were five scrum resets, 14 lineouts, and 27 turnovers (12 to the Wallabies, 15 to the All Blacks). There was a thrilling unpredictability about the play, which is the glory of rugby.
Australia and New Zealand have led the way (remember the ELVs?) to write a set of laws and a way of interpreting them that allowed for the thrilling spectacle at ANZ Stadium. For years, forces in the IRB resisted these efforts. There is some justice, therefore, that the Wallabies (No.2 in the rankings) and the All Blacks (No.1) lead the world in running rugby.
This season the Wallabies have lost once each to England and the Springboks and three times to the All Blacks. But they have improved significantly. The scrum is much steadier, the lineout is stronger, with several steals against the All Blacks on Saturday night. The defence needs stiffening, with 22 tries leaked in the Tri Nations compared with nine by the All Blacks. And the goal-kicking by Matt Giteau is a moveable feast, with two defeats, to England and the All Blacks, both in Sydney, directly related to misses that should have been converted.
Importantly, the Wallabies have finally established a distinctive and winning pattern to their game. It exploits the width of the field with long, flat passes to the outside backs to create overlaps. This allows the fullback to come into the line out wide, as Kurtley Beale did twice on Saturday, forcing Conrad Smith into two missed tackles. Once the defence is stretched, Giteau and Quade Cooper start to flick inside passes for runners to storm down the unprotected midfield. The All Blacks, playing their midfield driving game, crossed the advantage line 81 per cent of the time compared with the 67 per cent by the Wallabies.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
All Blacks pull win 'out of the fire'
By MARC HINTON in Sydney - Stuff
Last updated 06:11 12/09/2010
Graham Henry's first three words at the post-match press conference said it all: "Character, character, character - first, second and third," when the All Blacks coach was asked to sum up his side's latest victory.
It was that all right, the All Blacks forced to dig as deep as they had three weeks earlier in Soweto, maybe more, as they came back from 22-9 down with 20 minutes to play to snatch a 23-22 victory over the Wallabies.
The win saw the All Blacks enter record territory with their 10th straight against the Australians and also saw them complete the first 6-0 Tri-Nations season. But, as in Soweto, it was a close run thing, and needed composure of the highest order.
"I thought the guys got better as the game went on," added Henry. "We were pretty rusty initially. We had a few new guys who hadn't played a lot of test football playing as well and it took them a wee while to settle down.
"But the guys just showed huge character and really hung in there and got better as the game went on and pulled it out of the fire. Beautiful."
Having stormed through their first three games of the Tri-Nations, the All Blacks have had to call on all their intrinsic qualities to topple the Wallabies in Christchurch, the Boks in Soweto and now the Wallabies again at the Olympic venue.
"That's got a lot to do with the composure on the field and the leadership of the senior players, Richie [McCaw] in particular," said the All Blacks coach. "It's hugely pleasing."
Henry felt the key moment of a compelling test came shortly after the third-quarter mark when McCaw elected to take, first, a lineout option and then the scrum one from successive penalties. Eventually the skip himself thundered over off an 8-7 move that worked to precision, even if the Wallabies later complained it had featured an early detachment.
"That was a good decision, and it gave us a bit more momentum," said Henry of a score that saw the All Blacks close to within a half-dozen with still plenty of time left. "We got better as the game went on, we got some go-forward and went through the guts and got in behind them a bit. We had some control for the first time in that last 20."
Henry also had some high praise for stand-in goalkicker Piri Weepu who coolly slotted all five of his shots at goal, which contrasted sharply with Matt Giteau's less than 50 percent record for the Australians.
"He kicked magnificently, and played very well," said Henry. "He's a very special player."
Henry confirmed that hooker Keven Mealamu had suffered a calf muscle tear and would likely be out of rugby for 4-5 weeks. The loss of the in-form hooker after just a dozen minutes was another factor in the All Blacks' shaky first half.
Assistant coach Steve Hansen said the most pleasing aspect of the win for him had been the way the All Blacks had changed their game as they searched for answers with 25 minutes remaining.
"We started to go up the guts a bit and that allowed our forwards to come into the game. We spent a lot of time in the course of the match going from side to side which probably suited the Australian way of defence. Once our forwards came into the game they got excited."
Defensive specialist Wayne Smith also found some fault in the overall performance. "Areas of our game weren't great. As defence coach I felt we were on our heels too much and weren't coming forward. That affected us, as every time they dropped the ball we didn't get benefit because we weren't coming forward."
Hansen felt his forwards had been "scratchy" and gave them 6.5 or 7 out of 10.
But then he made an important point: "We won't remember that in a half-hour or so. We'll just enjoy the win because they're bloody hard to get against Australia and it's important you celebrate your successes."
By the looks of the relieved All Blacks brains trust as they filed back out of the press conference room, it seemed like they fully intended to do that.
Last updated 06:11 12/09/2010
Graham Henry's first three words at the post-match press conference said it all: "Character, character, character - first, second and third," when the All Blacks coach was asked to sum up his side's latest victory.
It was that all right, the All Blacks forced to dig as deep as they had three weeks earlier in Soweto, maybe more, as they came back from 22-9 down with 20 minutes to play to snatch a 23-22 victory over the Wallabies.
The win saw the All Blacks enter record territory with their 10th straight against the Australians and also saw them complete the first 6-0 Tri-Nations season. But, as in Soweto, it was a close run thing, and needed composure of the highest order.
"I thought the guys got better as the game went on," added Henry. "We were pretty rusty initially. We had a few new guys who hadn't played a lot of test football playing as well and it took them a wee while to settle down.
"But the guys just showed huge character and really hung in there and got better as the game went on and pulled it out of the fire. Beautiful."
Having stormed through their first three games of the Tri-Nations, the All Blacks have had to call on all their intrinsic qualities to topple the Wallabies in Christchurch, the Boks in Soweto and now the Wallabies again at the Olympic venue.
"That's got a lot to do with the composure on the field and the leadership of the senior players, Richie [McCaw] in particular," said the All Blacks coach. "It's hugely pleasing."
Henry felt the key moment of a compelling test came shortly after the third-quarter mark when McCaw elected to take, first, a lineout option and then the scrum one from successive penalties. Eventually the skip himself thundered over off an 8-7 move that worked to precision, even if the Wallabies later complained it had featured an early detachment.
"That was a good decision, and it gave us a bit more momentum," said Henry of a score that saw the All Blacks close to within a half-dozen with still plenty of time left. "We got better as the game went on, we got some go-forward and went through the guts and got in behind them a bit. We had some control for the first time in that last 20."
Henry also had some high praise for stand-in goalkicker Piri Weepu who coolly slotted all five of his shots at goal, which contrasted sharply with Matt Giteau's less than 50 percent record for the Australians.
"He kicked magnificently, and played very well," said Henry. "He's a very special player."
Henry confirmed that hooker Keven Mealamu had suffered a calf muscle tear and would likely be out of rugby for 4-5 weeks. The loss of the in-form hooker after just a dozen minutes was another factor in the All Blacks' shaky first half.
Assistant coach Steve Hansen said the most pleasing aspect of the win for him had been the way the All Blacks had changed their game as they searched for answers with 25 minutes remaining.
"We started to go up the guts a bit and that allowed our forwards to come into the game. We spent a lot of time in the course of the match going from side to side which probably suited the Australian way of defence. Once our forwards came into the game they got excited."
Defensive specialist Wayne Smith also found some fault in the overall performance. "Areas of our game weren't great. As defence coach I felt we were on our heels too much and weren't coming forward. That affected us, as every time they dropped the ball we didn't get benefit because we weren't coming forward."
Hansen felt his forwards had been "scratchy" and gave them 6.5 or 7 out of 10.
But then he made an important point: "We won't remember that in a half-hour or so. We'll just enjoy the win because they're bloody hard to get against Australia and it's important you celebrate your successes."
By the looks of the relieved All Blacks brains trust as they filed back out of the press conference room, it seemed like they fully intended to do that.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Nerveless All Blacks come-from-behind to beat Wallabies
Nerveless All Blacks come-from-behind to beat Wallabies
By MARC HINTON in Sydney - Stuff
Last updated 00:10 12/09/2010
For a team chasing perfection this was far from perfect. But who cared? The All Blacks once again showed that they have nerves of steel and superb mental strength as they kept their remarkable run for 2010 alive.
Only just though, by an almost unbearable one-point margin, 23-22. It took everything they had, and a 17-3 second-half effort that included 14 unanswered points over the final quarter to achieve it. But somehow the New Zealanders found a way to rattle up their ninth straight victory for 2010, and a record 10th on the trot against these Wallabies.
The Australians contributed plenty to a thrilling match, and when they led 22-9 with just 20 minutes to go it looked for all money as though they were about to pull off a remarkable, against-the-odds victory.
But, just as they had done in Soweto, the All Blacks kept their nerve splendidly and never panicked even when they had every right to. Richie McCaw scored a crucial try off a slick scrum move and the superb No 8 Kieran Read put his team in front just seven minutes from the end when he charged over as the New Zealanders finished with a wet sail.
From there McCaw and his men held on over a frantic finale and kept alive their dream of the perfect season. They certainly completed a pretty perfect Tri-Nations, becoming the first side to sweep the board in the six-game series
What a great way it was to celebrate McCaw’s 52nd test as captain (with just six losses), breaking Sean Fitzpatrick's record. The leader was wonderful in the second half and was at the forefront of a remarkable fightback.
It was a poor first 40 minutes from the All Blacks who mixed way too many errors in with their early endeavour. In fact you could make a case that they were a shade lucky to be trailing just 6-14 at the break, Lachie Turner going within inches of adding to the only try of the opening half by Justin Bieber lookalike James O’Connor.
The New Zealanders had showed some early promise, especially whenever they attacked down Israel Dagg's wing, but spent most of the second quarter battening down the hatches on defence. Much of it was self-inflicted stuff too as the Wallabies were gifted a succession of opportunities.
The All Blacks were badly off key, from Aaron Cruden's wonky restarts, to some sloppy passing, to some fairly ragged defence. They were even getting bested at the breakdown. It was supposed to be the Wallabies who were weary, but instead it looked as if McCaw's men were playing their third test in as many weeks.
You expected the adjustment would come in the second half, and it did eventually. Too loose. Too inaccurate for too long. But the charge came just in the nick of time and you have to heap credit at this side's feet for their cool composure.
Dan Carter was missed. Badly. Cruden's kicking game was well short of the mark and for all his courage, he needs to be able to execute in this area. The youngster's restarts were atrocious, his general kicking only marginally better and he hit the depths midway through the second spell when he missed touch off a penalty.
As Henry noted later he would have learned from the experience, but it didn't help the New Zealand cause as they struggled to establish field position for the first 60 minutes.
If this was an experiment for Henry, albeit a forced one, it demonstrated vividly that this young man is not yet up to this level of rugby. Victor Vito was marginally better, but the All Blacks were much better when Jerome Kaino came on. Suddenly the loose trio took command.
The same couldn't be said for Dagg over on the left wing, where the 22-year-old looked every inch a top test performer. Read -- this side's most improved player -- had a highly influential game, too, for the All Blacks to cap a fine campaign.
But most of all this win was satisfying because a class team survived a bad day at the office and still snuck away with a win. Sometimes you just have to take that and smile.
And now the quest will go on. The All Blacks have won 15 tests on the trot. They could become the first team to complete a perfect calendar year in the professional era. The record winning streak of 17 and 18 is now tantalisingly close.
They could do a lot of things if they keep finding ways to win like they did last night.
New Zealand 23 (Kieran Read, Richie McCaw tries; Piri Weepu 3pens, 2cons)
Australia 22 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O'Connor tries; Matt Giteau 3pens, Kurtley Beale pens).
By MARC HINTON in Sydney - Stuff
Last updated 00:10 12/09/2010
For a team chasing perfection this was far from perfect. But who cared? The All Blacks once again showed that they have nerves of steel and superb mental strength as they kept their remarkable run for 2010 alive.
Only just though, by an almost unbearable one-point margin, 23-22. It took everything they had, and a 17-3 second-half effort that included 14 unanswered points over the final quarter to achieve it. But somehow the New Zealanders found a way to rattle up their ninth straight victory for 2010, and a record 10th on the trot against these Wallabies.
The Australians contributed plenty to a thrilling match, and when they led 22-9 with just 20 minutes to go it looked for all money as though they were about to pull off a remarkable, against-the-odds victory.
But, just as they had done in Soweto, the All Blacks kept their nerve splendidly and never panicked even when they had every right to. Richie McCaw scored a crucial try off a slick scrum move and the superb No 8 Kieran Read put his team in front just seven minutes from the end when he charged over as the New Zealanders finished with a wet sail.
From there McCaw and his men held on over a frantic finale and kept alive their dream of the perfect season. They certainly completed a pretty perfect Tri-Nations, becoming the first side to sweep the board in the six-game series
What a great way it was to celebrate McCaw’s 52nd test as captain (with just six losses), breaking Sean Fitzpatrick's record. The leader was wonderful in the second half and was at the forefront of a remarkable fightback.
It was a poor first 40 minutes from the All Blacks who mixed way too many errors in with their early endeavour. In fact you could make a case that they were a shade lucky to be trailing just 6-14 at the break, Lachie Turner going within inches of adding to the only try of the opening half by Justin Bieber lookalike James O’Connor.
The New Zealanders had showed some early promise, especially whenever they attacked down Israel Dagg's wing, but spent most of the second quarter battening down the hatches on defence. Much of it was self-inflicted stuff too as the Wallabies were gifted a succession of opportunities.
The All Blacks were badly off key, from Aaron Cruden's wonky restarts, to some sloppy passing, to some fairly ragged defence. They were even getting bested at the breakdown. It was supposed to be the Wallabies who were weary, but instead it looked as if McCaw's men were playing their third test in as many weeks.
You expected the adjustment would come in the second half, and it did eventually. Too loose. Too inaccurate for too long. But the charge came just in the nick of time and you have to heap credit at this side's feet for their cool composure.
Dan Carter was missed. Badly. Cruden's kicking game was well short of the mark and for all his courage, he needs to be able to execute in this area. The youngster's restarts were atrocious, his general kicking only marginally better and he hit the depths midway through the second spell when he missed touch off a penalty.
As Henry noted later he would have learned from the experience, but it didn't help the New Zealand cause as they struggled to establish field position for the first 60 minutes.
If this was an experiment for Henry, albeit a forced one, it demonstrated vividly that this young man is not yet up to this level of rugby. Victor Vito was marginally better, but the All Blacks were much better when Jerome Kaino came on. Suddenly the loose trio took command.
The same couldn't be said for Dagg over on the left wing, where the 22-year-old looked every inch a top test performer. Read -- this side's most improved player -- had a highly influential game, too, for the All Blacks to cap a fine campaign.
But most of all this win was satisfying because a class team survived a bad day at the office and still snuck away with a win. Sometimes you just have to take that and smile.
And now the quest will go on. The All Blacks have won 15 tests on the trot. They could become the first team to complete a perfect calendar year in the professional era. The record winning streak of 17 and 18 is now tantalisingly close.
They could do a lot of things if they keep finding ways to win like they did last night.
New Zealand 23 (Kieran Read, Richie McCaw tries; Piri Weepu 3pens, 2cons)
Australia 22 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O'Connor tries; Matt Giteau 3pens, Kurtley Beale pens).
Australia slumps to 10th successive loss to New Zealand
Australia slumps to 10th successive loss to New Zealand
• Wayne Smith Rugby Union Editor
• From: The Australian
• September 11, 2010
New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw leaves Ben McCalman in his wake on his way to the tryline at ANZ Stadium Picture: Krystle Wright Source: The Sunday Telegraph
THERE was to be no last-minute miracles for the Australia this week as New Zealand yet again staged another remarkable come-from-behind fightback.
In so the All Blacks score their record-breaking 10th straight Bledisloe Cup victory over Australia at ANZ Stadium.
Both sides scored two tries apiece in a gripping and at times pulsating contest but it was the part-time goalkicker Piri Weepu, with five goals from as many attempts, who edged the All Blacks home 23-22 while Australia's prolific kicker Matt Giteau could manage only three goals from seven attempts.
That in the end made all the difference and a heart-breaker it was for the Wallabies who played well enough for long periods of this match to have finally broken their hoodoo against Richie McCaw's world number one ranked side.
Fittingly, in the Test in which he surpassed Sean Fitzpatrick as New Zealand's most capped skipper, McCaw was to score the try that signalled the start of his country's comeback.
Certainly the gap between these two great rivals is shrinking with every encounter and the Wallabies can look towards the October 30 showdown in Hong Kong with real hope of toppling the All Blacks but until they learn to defend sizeable leads, they will remain all too vulnerable against quality opposition.
Two weeks ago, they blew 14-0 and 21-7 leads against the Springboks. Last week they let slip a 31-6 advantage and had to rely on a long-range Kurtley Beale penalty to escape with w win in Bloemfontein, while tonight they were overhauled from 22-9 in front.
"We came here to win and that didn't happen so the boys are very disappointed," growled Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom.
"A couple of little errors put the pressure back on us and at the end of the day they finished the stronger."
Coach Robbie Deans agreed. "I feel we've made progress but against the benchmark we've come up short again," he said.
The Wallabies completely dominated field position throughout the first half but some uncharacteristically poor goalkicking by Giteau, who was astray with three relatively easy shots, restricted Australia to only a 14-6 lead at half-time.
As they did in the two Tests against South Africa on the highveld, the Wallabies began with a flourish and looked to have scored a try after only five minutes when recalled winger Lachlan Turner planted the ball over the All Blacks line in the left-hand corner.
But the television match official, Matt Goddard, correctly ruled that NZ defender Cory Jane had just managed to drag Turner's foot into touch before he scored.
Still, there were some payments for the Wallabies for their early adventure as referee Lawrence returned to award them one of three penalties he had called against the All Blacks in the build-up to Turner's sizzling sideline run.
Giteau landed the easy goal to cancel out a second minute Piri Weepu penalty goal but the All Blacks struck back almost immediately, with only an heroic one-on-one tackle by Beale on rampaging centre Ma'a Nonu denying them a try.
No sooner had that raid down the left-hand touchline been snuffed out than the All Blacks lit the fire under a new one. Winger Israel Dagg, hemmed in by the cover defence, cleverly banana-kicked infield, straight to Mils Muliaina who looked certain to score until cut down from behind by Turner.
In the mad scramble that followed James O'Connor conceded a penalty in front of his own posts but the Wallabies dodged a bullet to limit the damage to only another Weepu goal.
When the first try did arrive in the 15th minute, it could hardly have come from a least-likely source, a rampaging run off the back of a scrum-gone-wrong by number eight Ben McCalman.
All Black flanker Victor Vito made a dreadful read in defence to allow McCalman to burst into the clear before sending O'Connor on an untroubled 30m run to the line.
That signalled the start of a golden period of domination by the Wallabies, with Quade Cooper and Giteau kicking deftly for field position, but with Giteau having yet another horror night on what is becoming his nemesis ground _ he did after all, miss "that" kick in front to lose the England Test in June at ANZ Stadium _ the All Blacks were able to stay well within range.
The worry was that the All Blacks, who have outscored Australia in the second half in the last nine Tests, would launch the second half with a blitz but in fact it was the Wallabies who scored first through Adam Ashley-Cooper after a disjointed build-up was made good by a brilliant Will Genia pass to his powerhouse outside centre.
The New Zealanders scrambled across in coverf but from 15m, Ashley-Cooper was never going to be denied. Yet again, however, Giteau missed the conversion, every wasted point ultimately to prove so crucial.
When the All Blacks yet again offended deep inside their own half, Rocky Elsom pleaded with Lawrence to pull out the yellow card but he showed not the slightest sign of taking such extreme measures.
Still, when Beale stepped up as Giteau's goalkicking replacement and calmly slotted the penalty goal, the Wallabies looked in be in charge at 22-9.
But that was to be the highwater mark of the Australian scoring and, as has happened so regularly in the past, it was the All Blacks who finished by far the stronger _ although to be fair, they did have the advantage of three weeks rest while the Australians have played three Tests on the trot, and made the trip home from South Africa across eight time zones.
For 10 minutes the Wallabies defended heroically on their own line but ultimately something had to crack and an O'Connor dedfensive misread from a 5m scrum provided all the opening McCaw needed to stroll over for the 19th try of his career in the 66th minute.At 22-16 down, the All Blacks knew thety were right back in the contest and there was almost a sense of inevitability about the Kieran Read try that came on the back of another five minutes of pouding away at the Australian line.
Weepu's conversion nudged the All Blacks in front 23-22 and although the Wallabies had eight minutes at their disposal to work another Bloemfontein-like miracle, this time the fell short.
NEW ZEALAND 23 (Richard McCaw, Kieran Read tries Piri Weepu 2 cons 3 pens) AUSTRALIA 22 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O'Connor tries Matt Giteau 3, Kurtley Beale pens) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Mark Lawrence (RSA). Crowd: 70,288.
• Wayne Smith Rugby Union Editor
• From: The Australian
• September 11, 2010
New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw leaves Ben McCalman in his wake on his way to the tryline at ANZ Stadium Picture: Krystle Wright Source: The Sunday Telegraph
THERE was to be no last-minute miracles for the Australia this week as New Zealand yet again staged another remarkable come-from-behind fightback.
In so the All Blacks score their record-breaking 10th straight Bledisloe Cup victory over Australia at ANZ Stadium.
Both sides scored two tries apiece in a gripping and at times pulsating contest but it was the part-time goalkicker Piri Weepu, with five goals from as many attempts, who edged the All Blacks home 23-22 while Australia's prolific kicker Matt Giteau could manage only three goals from seven attempts.
That in the end made all the difference and a heart-breaker it was for the Wallabies who played well enough for long periods of this match to have finally broken their hoodoo against Richie McCaw's world number one ranked side.
Fittingly, in the Test in which he surpassed Sean Fitzpatrick as New Zealand's most capped skipper, McCaw was to score the try that signalled the start of his country's comeback.
Certainly the gap between these two great rivals is shrinking with every encounter and the Wallabies can look towards the October 30 showdown in Hong Kong with real hope of toppling the All Blacks but until they learn to defend sizeable leads, they will remain all too vulnerable against quality opposition.
Two weeks ago, they blew 14-0 and 21-7 leads against the Springboks. Last week they let slip a 31-6 advantage and had to rely on a long-range Kurtley Beale penalty to escape with w win in Bloemfontein, while tonight they were overhauled from 22-9 in front.
"We came here to win and that didn't happen so the boys are very disappointed," growled Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom.
"A couple of little errors put the pressure back on us and at the end of the day they finished the stronger."
Coach Robbie Deans agreed. "I feel we've made progress but against the benchmark we've come up short again," he said.
The Wallabies completely dominated field position throughout the first half but some uncharacteristically poor goalkicking by Giteau, who was astray with three relatively easy shots, restricted Australia to only a 14-6 lead at half-time.
As they did in the two Tests against South Africa on the highveld, the Wallabies began with a flourish and looked to have scored a try after only five minutes when recalled winger Lachlan Turner planted the ball over the All Blacks line in the left-hand corner.
But the television match official, Matt Goddard, correctly ruled that NZ defender Cory Jane had just managed to drag Turner's foot into touch before he scored.
Still, there were some payments for the Wallabies for their early adventure as referee Lawrence returned to award them one of three penalties he had called against the All Blacks in the build-up to Turner's sizzling sideline run.
Giteau landed the easy goal to cancel out a second minute Piri Weepu penalty goal but the All Blacks struck back almost immediately, with only an heroic one-on-one tackle by Beale on rampaging centre Ma'a Nonu denying them a try.
No sooner had that raid down the left-hand touchline been snuffed out than the All Blacks lit the fire under a new one. Winger Israel Dagg, hemmed in by the cover defence, cleverly banana-kicked infield, straight to Mils Muliaina who looked certain to score until cut down from behind by Turner.
In the mad scramble that followed James O'Connor conceded a penalty in front of his own posts but the Wallabies dodged a bullet to limit the damage to only another Weepu goal.
When the first try did arrive in the 15th minute, it could hardly have come from a least-likely source, a rampaging run off the back of a scrum-gone-wrong by number eight Ben McCalman.
All Black flanker Victor Vito made a dreadful read in defence to allow McCalman to burst into the clear before sending O'Connor on an untroubled 30m run to the line.
That signalled the start of a golden period of domination by the Wallabies, with Quade Cooper and Giteau kicking deftly for field position, but with Giteau having yet another horror night on what is becoming his nemesis ground _ he did after all, miss "that" kick in front to lose the England Test in June at ANZ Stadium _ the All Blacks were able to stay well within range.
The worry was that the All Blacks, who have outscored Australia in the second half in the last nine Tests, would launch the second half with a blitz but in fact it was the Wallabies who scored first through Adam Ashley-Cooper after a disjointed build-up was made good by a brilliant Will Genia pass to his powerhouse outside centre.
The New Zealanders scrambled across in coverf but from 15m, Ashley-Cooper was never going to be denied. Yet again, however, Giteau missed the conversion, every wasted point ultimately to prove so crucial.
When the All Blacks yet again offended deep inside their own half, Rocky Elsom pleaded with Lawrence to pull out the yellow card but he showed not the slightest sign of taking such extreme measures.
Still, when Beale stepped up as Giteau's goalkicking replacement and calmly slotted the penalty goal, the Wallabies looked in be in charge at 22-9.
But that was to be the highwater mark of the Australian scoring and, as has happened so regularly in the past, it was the All Blacks who finished by far the stronger _ although to be fair, they did have the advantage of three weeks rest while the Australians have played three Tests on the trot, and made the trip home from South Africa across eight time zones.
For 10 minutes the Wallabies defended heroically on their own line but ultimately something had to crack and an O'Connor dedfensive misread from a 5m scrum provided all the opening McCaw needed to stroll over for the 19th try of his career in the 66th minute.At 22-16 down, the All Blacks knew thety were right back in the contest and there was almost a sense of inevitability about the Kieran Read try that came on the back of another five minutes of pouding away at the Australian line.
Weepu's conversion nudged the All Blacks in front 23-22 and although the Wallabies had eight minutes at their disposal to work another Bloemfontein-like miracle, this time the fell short.
NEW ZEALAND 23 (Richard McCaw, Kieran Read tries Piri Weepu 2 cons 3 pens) AUSTRALIA 22 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O'Connor tries Matt Giteau 3, Kurtley Beale pens) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Mark Lawrence (RSA). Crowd: 70,288.
Monday, September 6, 2010
All Blacks beat Wallabies to retain Bledisloe Cup
All Blacks beat Wallabies to retain Bledisloe Cup
from Latest News-All Black resigns by Haka 2011
All Blacks beat Wallabies to retain Bledisloe Cup
By MARC HINTON in Christchurch - Stuff
Last updated 21:34 07/08/2010
Rejoice New Zealand. You should, for these All Blacks of yours are getting closer and closer to a rugby peak that is going to have the rest of the world needing to enter nosebleed territory to catch them.
This was a real test match. A competitive one. But in Christchurch tonight the All Blacks found a new way to do an old thing – that was to secure a ninth straight victory over the Wallabies and retain the prized Bledisloe Cup for the seventh consecutive year.
Their 20-10 victory, two tries to one, was not quite enough to put the Tri-Nations in the bag – but it is as good as theirs with the New Zealanders now on 19 out of a possible 20 points and only a cataclysmic series of events could allow the Wallabies to catch them.
It won't happen. And so a 10th Tri-Nations title will also be secured as these All Blacks lay down their marker to the rest of the rugby world.
Having won their first three Tri-Nations matches on the back of their exhilarating attacking game, it was refreshing in a way tonight to see them ride home on the back of their magnificent defensive steed. It made a change, and it's reassuring to know this side can win like artisans as well as artistes.
Where razzle-dazzle has won them their tests through this year's programme, tonight it was grit and grunt and sheer determination.
The Wallabies had more than enough ball in the second half to finally shake that black monkey off their back. But they weren't good enough. Or the All Balcks were too good on defence. Late in the second half the All Blacks had made nearly twice as many tackles as their rivals. But they kept making them, right to the end, and their vice-like grip on the blokes from across the ditch continues.
In some ways, as much as the Wallabies improved in seven days, this will be equally galling. Last week they were never in it. This one they had every chance.
In front of a capacity crowd of 39,000 at AMI Stadium, a fast-paced and free-flowing opening quarter was notable for a continuation of the All Blacks' ball-in-hand policy - not only gloriously entertaining but stunningly effective under the new laws now in play.
With the New Zealanders refusing, for the most part, to kick away possession, they conjured two magical tries inside the first 15 minutes, to rejuvenated fullback Mils Muliaina and classy centre Conrad Smith.
They were stunning scores, and summed up perfectly the strikepower of these All Blacks as they play with those mighty twin traits of pace and precision. They know as they work through the phases that they can wear defensive lines down, eventually finding holes to probe, if they're patient and accurate enough.
Muliaina's sixth-minute touchdown, his 29th test try, continued a rich vein of form since his belated return to the arena this year after thumb and calf injuries. And Smith's measured strike eight minutes later demonstrated palpably what a wonderfully efficient footballer this fellow is. Sonny Bill Williams may be looming menacingly in the background, but right now the All Blacks are splendidly served by their midfield men.
Smith actually featured in Muliaina's try when his initial carry got the go-forward and then Keven Mealamu – another in splendid form – and Joe Rokocoko played their parts perfectly to put the fullback over with not much room for error down the blindside.
It was similar stuff when Smith was eventually put over wide on the left. This time it was Dan Carter who created the initial breach, and when he was able to pop the ball off the deck, Piri Weepu's sharp clearance enabled Nonu to put his old mate over against an outmatched Wallabies defence.
But there was a difference this week. The Wallabies showed a bit more resilience and crucially kept the All Blacks within reach. When Carter made a rare error on the carry soon after Muliaina's opening score, the Australians pounced, David Pocock and Nathan Sharpe good enough to put Kurtley Beale away on a 65m run to the line.
Yes, this was better stuff from the Aussies. Their application in the key area of ball retention was streets ahead of Melbourne and when they did find themselves under the cosh late in the first half, they were able to prevent any further damage being inflicted when it looked imminent. At 10-17, they were well in it at the break.
But they couldn't find a way through in the second half, so once again they came up short against the All Blacks they're so desperate to defeat. Carter's penalty was the only score in the spell, and the Wallabies will be gutted by that.
But to the vistors the spoils. And the kudos. The All Black forwards were great on defence, the loose trio tackling themselves to a standstill, indefatigable Brad Thorn bashing away as he does and Mealamu continuing his magnificent form. The backs struck twice in some style early on, but thereafter largely struggled to find a way through. They were not helped, though, by a serious lack of possession for most of the second spell.
Who cares? They won a great arm-wrestle, and that, folks, is well worth celebrating.
NEW ZEALAND 20 (Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith tries; Dan Carter two penalties, two conversions).
AUSTRALIA 10 (Kurtley Beale try; Matt Giteau penalty, conversion).
Halftime 17-10.
from Latest News-All Black resigns by Haka 2011
All Blacks beat Wallabies to retain Bledisloe Cup
By MARC HINTON in Christchurch - Stuff
Last updated 21:34 07/08/2010
Rejoice New Zealand. You should, for these All Blacks of yours are getting closer and closer to a rugby peak that is going to have the rest of the world needing to enter nosebleed territory to catch them.
This was a real test match. A competitive one. But in Christchurch tonight the All Blacks found a new way to do an old thing – that was to secure a ninth straight victory over the Wallabies and retain the prized Bledisloe Cup for the seventh consecutive year.
Their 20-10 victory, two tries to one, was not quite enough to put the Tri-Nations in the bag – but it is as good as theirs with the New Zealanders now on 19 out of a possible 20 points and only a cataclysmic series of events could allow the Wallabies to catch them.
It won't happen. And so a 10th Tri-Nations title will also be secured as these All Blacks lay down their marker to the rest of the rugby world.
Having won their first three Tri-Nations matches on the back of their exhilarating attacking game, it was refreshing in a way tonight to see them ride home on the back of their magnificent defensive steed. It made a change, and it's reassuring to know this side can win like artisans as well as artistes.
Where razzle-dazzle has won them their tests through this year's programme, tonight it was grit and grunt and sheer determination.
The Wallabies had more than enough ball in the second half to finally shake that black monkey off their back. But they weren't good enough. Or the All Balcks were too good on defence. Late in the second half the All Blacks had made nearly twice as many tackles as their rivals. But they kept making them, right to the end, and their vice-like grip on the blokes from across the ditch continues.
In some ways, as much as the Wallabies improved in seven days, this will be equally galling. Last week they were never in it. This one they had every chance.
In front of a capacity crowd of 39,000 at AMI Stadium, a fast-paced and free-flowing opening quarter was notable for a continuation of the All Blacks' ball-in-hand policy - not only gloriously entertaining but stunningly effective under the new laws now in play.
With the New Zealanders refusing, for the most part, to kick away possession, they conjured two magical tries inside the first 15 minutes, to rejuvenated fullback Mils Muliaina and classy centre Conrad Smith.
They were stunning scores, and summed up perfectly the strikepower of these All Blacks as they play with those mighty twin traits of pace and precision. They know as they work through the phases that they can wear defensive lines down, eventually finding holes to probe, if they're patient and accurate enough.
Muliaina's sixth-minute touchdown, his 29th test try, continued a rich vein of form since his belated return to the arena this year after thumb and calf injuries. And Smith's measured strike eight minutes later demonstrated palpably what a wonderfully efficient footballer this fellow is. Sonny Bill Williams may be looming menacingly in the background, but right now the All Blacks are splendidly served by their midfield men.
Smith actually featured in Muliaina's try when his initial carry got the go-forward and then Keven Mealamu – another in splendid form – and Joe Rokocoko played their parts perfectly to put the fullback over with not much room for error down the blindside.
It was similar stuff when Smith was eventually put over wide on the left. This time it was Dan Carter who created the initial breach, and when he was able to pop the ball off the deck, Piri Weepu's sharp clearance enabled Nonu to put his old mate over against an outmatched Wallabies defence.
But there was a difference this week. The Wallabies showed a bit more resilience and crucially kept the All Blacks within reach. When Carter made a rare error on the carry soon after Muliaina's opening score, the Australians pounced, David Pocock and Nathan Sharpe good enough to put Kurtley Beale away on a 65m run to the line.
Yes, this was better stuff from the Aussies. Their application in the key area of ball retention was streets ahead of Melbourne and when they did find themselves under the cosh late in the first half, they were able to prevent any further damage being inflicted when it looked imminent. At 10-17, they were well in it at the break.
But they couldn't find a way through in the second half, so once again they came up short against the All Blacks they're so desperate to defeat. Carter's penalty was the only score in the spell, and the Wallabies will be gutted by that.
But to the vistors the spoils. And the kudos. The All Black forwards were great on defence, the loose trio tackling themselves to a standstill, indefatigable Brad Thorn bashing away as he does and Mealamu continuing his magnificent form. The backs struck twice in some style early on, but thereafter largely struggled to find a way through. They were not helped, though, by a serious lack of possession for most of the second spell.
Who cares? They won a great arm-wrestle, and that, folks, is well worth celebrating.
NEW ZEALAND 20 (Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith tries; Dan Carter two penalties, two conversions).
AUSTRALIA 10 (Kurtley Beale try; Matt Giteau penalty, conversion).
Halftime 17-10.
Statistics don't lie - ABs first, daylight second
By GRANT FOX - Sunday Star Times
Last updated 05:00 05/09/2010
OPINION: They say you can twist statistics to paint whatever picture you want.
When it comes to the Tri Nations, I'm not so sure Pieter de Villiers and Robbie Deans will agree.
Since the All Blacks secured this year's Tri Nations title a fortnight ago with that memorable victory in Soweto, I've been quietly analysing some stats around the annual triangular tournament.
What I've found should impress even the hardest marker among All Blacks' fans.
The graphic within the Ruck and Maul column on this page makes the point pretty starkly.
In a nutshell – when it comes to Tri Nations' stats – it is the All Blacks and then daylight. And by some way too.
We have now won the Tri Nations championship 10 of the 15 times it has now been played. Or, to put it another way, we win it, on average, two out of every three seasons.
Of the 67 Tri Nations' matches the All Blacks have played, they've won 47. That's a 70% winning record. With all due respect to our Springbok (40%) and Wallaby (38%) opposition, their records don't look too flash alongside the men in black.
Maybe some knowledgeable reader can correct me, but I don't know of any other annual high-level international triangular tournament where one country has been so dominant.
Maybe the Australian cricketers could lay claim to a similar winning record in the now defunct three-team, limited overs series they would host each summer. But those matches were all played in Australia, not on a home-and-away basis.
What's even more remarkable about New Zealand's Tri Nations record is that, for most of those 15 years, Australia and South Africa have been among the top three teams in world rugby.
That makes the All Blacks' feats even more meritorious.
The away record is even more mind-boggling. We like to think it's almost impossible to win a Tri Nations match away from home. Certainly the Wallabies and Boks have traditionally had plenty of trouble in that area. Both have away-winning records of less than 20%. The All Blacks sit at 57%, having won 19 out of 33 away matches.
What's my point?
Simply that we need to celebrate that level of achievement. We often get caught up in the moment within New Zealand rugby. That's actually one of our strengths and contributes to what making the All Blacks what they are. But it doesn't hurt to occasionally pause and reflect. And then smile about a job well done.
On that point, and given the current All Blacks coaching group have been there for seven of those 15 Tri Nations' years, we should be tipping our hats to them too.
The three wise men have had plenty of flak (and praise) in recent times but with a winning record of about 85%, there's a strong argument we're in safe hands.
The doomsayers will tell us it all means nothing if we fall over next year in the world cup. And maybe they've got a point.
But who would you rather be right now – us or the Aussies?
The Wallabies are going through enormous pain and, yes, it may all be forgotten if they win the world cup. But what if they don't? That makes it a pretty lean time for a long time if you're a Wallaby fan. It will be painful if we don't take the Webb Ellis trophy next year. But I have to say it's been a pretty good time to be an All Blacks fan in the lead-up!
And, who knows, if we knock over the Wallabies in Sydney next weekend, we'll have within our sights the world record – 18 – for the most number of successive test victories. The All Blacks will never admit it publicly, but I believe the chance to set that record will be on their minds in Sydney and should ensure another focused and strong performance. I know if I was still playing, it would motivate me.
I suspect we will see Piri Weepu start at halfback and assume the goal-kicking duties. That would help first five-eighths Aaron Cruden, who will also be assisted by knowing he has Weepu inside him and two other Hurricanes – Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith – outside him.
We need to find out more about Cruden at test level.
Dan Carter's injury provides the perfect opportunity.
Last updated 05:00 05/09/2010
OPINION: They say you can twist statistics to paint whatever picture you want.
When it comes to the Tri Nations, I'm not so sure Pieter de Villiers and Robbie Deans will agree.
Since the All Blacks secured this year's Tri Nations title a fortnight ago with that memorable victory in Soweto, I've been quietly analysing some stats around the annual triangular tournament.
What I've found should impress even the hardest marker among All Blacks' fans.
The graphic within the Ruck and Maul column on this page makes the point pretty starkly.
In a nutshell – when it comes to Tri Nations' stats – it is the All Blacks and then daylight. And by some way too.
We have now won the Tri Nations championship 10 of the 15 times it has now been played. Or, to put it another way, we win it, on average, two out of every three seasons.
Of the 67 Tri Nations' matches the All Blacks have played, they've won 47. That's a 70% winning record. With all due respect to our Springbok (40%) and Wallaby (38%) opposition, their records don't look too flash alongside the men in black.
Maybe some knowledgeable reader can correct me, but I don't know of any other annual high-level international triangular tournament where one country has been so dominant.
Maybe the Australian cricketers could lay claim to a similar winning record in the now defunct three-team, limited overs series they would host each summer. But those matches were all played in Australia, not on a home-and-away basis.
What's even more remarkable about New Zealand's Tri Nations record is that, for most of those 15 years, Australia and South Africa have been among the top three teams in world rugby.
That makes the All Blacks' feats even more meritorious.
The away record is even more mind-boggling. We like to think it's almost impossible to win a Tri Nations match away from home. Certainly the Wallabies and Boks have traditionally had plenty of trouble in that area. Both have away-winning records of less than 20%. The All Blacks sit at 57%, having won 19 out of 33 away matches.
What's my point?
Simply that we need to celebrate that level of achievement. We often get caught up in the moment within New Zealand rugby. That's actually one of our strengths and contributes to what making the All Blacks what they are. But it doesn't hurt to occasionally pause and reflect. And then smile about a job well done.
On that point, and given the current All Blacks coaching group have been there for seven of those 15 Tri Nations' years, we should be tipping our hats to them too.
The three wise men have had plenty of flak (and praise) in recent times but with a winning record of about 85%, there's a strong argument we're in safe hands.
The doomsayers will tell us it all means nothing if we fall over next year in the world cup. And maybe they've got a point.
But who would you rather be right now – us or the Aussies?
The Wallabies are going through enormous pain and, yes, it may all be forgotten if they win the world cup. But what if they don't? That makes it a pretty lean time for a long time if you're a Wallaby fan. It will be painful if we don't take the Webb Ellis trophy next year. But I have to say it's been a pretty good time to be an All Blacks fan in the lead-up!
And, who knows, if we knock over the Wallabies in Sydney next weekend, we'll have within our sights the world record – 18 – for the most number of successive test victories. The All Blacks will never admit it publicly, but I believe the chance to set that record will be on their minds in Sydney and should ensure another focused and strong performance. I know if I was still playing, it would motivate me.
I suspect we will see Piri Weepu start at halfback and assume the goal-kicking duties. That would help first five-eighths Aaron Cruden, who will also be assisted by knowing he has Weepu inside him and two other Hurricanes – Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith – outside him.
We need to find out more about Cruden at test level.
Dan Carter's injury provides the perfect opportunity.
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