Another Black night across ditch for Wallabies

Greg Growden

August 7, 2011

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Eden Park hoodoo remains as All Blacks ruthless in 30-14 win

To the victors go the spoils ... the All Blacks celebrate with the Bledisloe Cup. Photo: Getty Images

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SMASHED. Swamped. Made to look second rate. And there goes the Bledisloe Cup for the eighth year running.

MATCH STATS

The All Blacks' extraordinary quarter-century dominance over the Wallabies at Eden Park continued untroubled last night when they took control of this Tri Nations Test in minutes, then stubbornly refused to allow their rivals back into the game.

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After all the bluff and bluster about the new-generation Wallabies suddenly worrying the All Blacks, their first meeting of the year was a demoralising affair from an Australian point of view. The raging World Cup favourites were simply too physical and too clinical for an often-frazzled opposition.

At the start of the Test, the All Blacks conducted their provocative ''slit across the throat'' haka, and this appeared to have the desired effect of unsettling their opponents.

Right from the kick-off, the All Blacks succeeded in carving up the Wallabies, who were soon floundering and forced to play frenetic, disorganised, catch-up football.

For the Wallabies to have any chance at Eden Park, they had to start well. Instead, they were abominable, and paid a dreadful price when finding themselves 17 points behind after just 26 minutes.

The Wallabies put the hobbles on their own legs by allowing the All Blacks midfield to break through and make an enormous amount of ground virtually every time they were in possession in the opening quarter.

Wallabies players fell off tackles, giving the All Blacks confidence and a surge of energy. They were everywhere in numbers, while the visitors were often restricted to scrambling, one-out play.

The Wallabies were lucky to have only two tries scored against them before the break, so dominant were the All Blacks in attack.

After just eight minutes, the All Blacks were 10-0 ahead. Wallabies flanker David Pocock was caught on the wrong side of the breakdown and the home team took advantage when winger Sitiveni Sivivatu got through a Rocky Elsom tackle. Sivivatu then cleverly popped the ball up to flanker Jerome Kaino, who warded off more Wallabies tacklers before putting centre Ma'a Nonu through. There was a brief surge of excitement for the Wallabies midway during the half when they went through 14 phases of play, often pushing it to the wings. But it was soon clear the All Blacks were more effective in defence, knowing precisely what the Wallabies playmakers, in particular Quade Cooper, were up to.

The All Blacks were decidedly more aggressive in their play, often stunning the Wallabies with their belligerent approach, which lead to scuffles aplenty - something which does not often happen in trans-Tasman matches. But the All Blacks knew they could unnerve the Wallabies youngsters by being arrogant - and it worked. They enjoyed a near-perfect first half that also involved their hooker Keven Mealamu scoring a burrowing try.

Adding to the Wallabies' woes was James O'Connor's wayward kicking - he missed his first three penalty shots.

There was some rejoicing in the 52nd minute when the Wallabies were able to make something out of virtually nothing, when fullback Kurtley Beale charged away from the tackle area and sucked in a few defenders before giving winger Digby Ioane space. Ioane picked the right moment to swerve in and out to get around Mils Muliaina to at last put the Wallabies on the scoreboard.

But as usual, their heads turned into pumpkins. The Wallabies relaxed, and wasted the moment. At a time when they had to rally, the All Blacks scored immediately from the kick-off, when their centre Conrad Smith seized the ball and then Sivivatu beat four Wallabies to score.

It was a horrid red-face moment for the Wallabies and ended what little hope they had left of winning the Test.

NEW ZEALAND 30 (Keven Mealamu, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu tries Daniel Carter 3 cons 2 pens drop goal) btAUSTRALIA 14 (Rocky Elsom, Digby Ioane tries Quade Cooper 2 cons) at Eden Park. Referee: Craig Joubert.

All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup with Eden Park win

Highlights of the All Blacks v Wallabies Bledisloe Cup test match played at Eden Park, Auckland.

All Blacks keen to quell cocky Australians

TOBY ROBSON

Last updated 05:00 01/08/2011

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw talks about the importance of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup match against Australia.

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GETTING DOWN: Digby Ioane celebrates for the Reds after their Super Rugby final victory over the Crusaders.

Revenge is an obvious starting point for the big guns being ushered back into the All Blacks for this Saturday's Bledisloe Cup test in Auckland.
But All Blacks coach Graham Henry says the squad must maintain its focus on game plans, not emotions, as it builds toward the Rugby World Cup.
It is hard to escape the fact that the All Blacks will want to avenge recent defeats against their trans-Tasman foe, including last year's test loss in Hong Kong and the Crusaders' Super Rugby final loss to the Reds.
The fatigued four of hooker Keven Mealamu, prop Owen Franks, lock Brad Thorn and No8 Kieran Read have become the fresh four and are "likely" to start against the Wallabies.
There are already signs of a quiet desire in the All Blacks camp to stamp out Australia's growing confidence and cockiness.
Prop Ben Franks did his best to steer clear of controversy yesterday, but eventually admitted the wild celebrations that followed both matches did not sit comfortably with the understated Kiwis.
"You just need to watch the games and how they like to act and stuff after a win. So you don't really want to let them win," he said with a grin.
The Reds' post-match celebrations included a breakdancing routine from wing Digby Ioane, while All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw is unlikely to have forgotten the shove in the head he received from first five-eighth Quade Cooper last year.
Henry will not stamp out such thoughts, but knows his side's quest is on a larger scale as it continues to add to its repertoire.
"They are a very good side with some outstanding individual players and I think we've got to be on our game," he said. "We have to be bright in what we do, so it's going to be a big week in trying to get the right game plan to play Australia."
The approach would need to be different from the one that brought the All Blacks a 40-7 win in Wellington.
In other words the All Blacks will continue to develop their game, this time moulding it to a side that will keep the ball in hand far more than the Springboks.
First five-eighth Dan Carter said the players were realistic about what they had achieved in Wellington, but were pleased to have successfully trialled new methods, particularly on attack.
The challenge will be to continue the good work with new combinations, though it is becoming obvious most of this Tri-Nations campaign has been carefully planned.
The team to play the Wallabies would be "a strong test side", but Henry said the selectors would continue to manage each player individually and hinted some players who had a heavy load in the first two tests could get a rest.
"There are some guys in the squad who need space, they've played a lot of football. You can't send them all home at the same time, so there will be some who get a chance to recharge."

Time is right for bit of old black magic

JUSTIN MARSHALL

Last updated 05:00 25/07/2011

OPINION: If the All Blacks are going to make a bold statement – fire the first psychological blow in this all-important rugby year – then they need to produce something emphatic over the next fortnight.

The phoney war is over and the Tri-Nations, albeit abbreviated, is before us. Nothing short of two wins at home against South Africa on Saturday and Australia a week later will do.

While in the event of a loss in either game I would caution against hitting the panic button, the importance of this next two weeks cannot be overstated. The Rugby World Cup will be played on our turf, our grounds, in our cities, and in an environment we feel at home in.

That's why it's so important the All Blacks lay down a marker in this Tri-Nations and produce the type of obdurate performance which will win us the cup – hard, hostile, uncompromising, ruthless and very accurate.

Imagine if the Aussies beat us at Eden Park on August 6. Imagine the boost their confidence would receive.

Perhaps it's better not to. They're never short on confidence, so while these next four tests won't win us the cup, they could contribute to losing it. Step one was on Friday night when the All Blacks took on Fiji.

Richie McCaw's side was solid, if not spectacular, and I think the All Blacks should be reasonably pleased with their performance. There was plenty of rust and yet they managed to score 60 points while looking a tad average. We also garnered a small insight into their game plan for this year, which they need to evolve. Teams will come to New Zealand this year having studied their every move.

While it was impossible to fully assess how much progress the All Blacks have made against Fiji, they appeared to make some tweaks, which could be effective when the big guns are ushered back in after their rests.

Australia too appear to have moved on from last year.

They looked good in beating an under-strength South African side 39-20 on Saturday night. Both sides will be tremendously difficult to beat at home in the Tri-Nations. That's why executing Henry's blueprint for success will be as important as retaining the championship.

In other words, I want to see substance over style. For any last-minute tips, Henry need look no further than Christchurch's Rugby Park on Saturday, where Southland won the Ranfurly Shield off Canterbury, notably, via a rarity in New Zealand rugby, a drop goal.

The win should resonate not only in Invercargill, where the passion for the log is undimmed. Southland are now expert in their approach and attitude in sudden-death-style rugby. They are the obdurate, stubborn, win-it-any-way-possible force the All Blacks aspire and need to be over the next few weeks.

History against them but belief is back for Wallabies

Greg Growden

July 25, 2011

THE Wallabies believe they have their best chance in years to defeat the All Blacks in Auckland, but are not beating their chests just yet as they are well aware of their dreadful Test record at Eden Park.

While Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said yesterday that his team was better placed to counter the All Blacks than in previous years, he was - naturally - not keen to elaborate, knowing how hope can turn into helplessness when confronting the world's best.

Apart from the Wallabies' run of 10 straight losses to the All Blacks before defeating them in Hong Kong late last year, their record at Eden Park - the venue for this year's World Cup final - is diabolical.

The Wallabies haven't won in Auckland since their 1986 Bledisloe Cup triumph. That was followed by 11 successive losses at the venue. Of the 22 New Zealand-Australian Tests in Auckland, only four have been won by the visitors - in 1949, 1955, 1978 and 1986. And New Zealand's home wins over Australia sit at an extraordinary 75 per cent, from 48 victories and a draw out of 64 Tests.

At least Deans is confident they will have ample time to prepare for the Bledisloe Cup fixture.

''It's great we have a week to regroup, so that we can really focus on this match,'' Deans said. ''It's a key game for us now. We haven't had a lot of success at Eden Park, but now [we] have a great opportunity to really target that game, and make the most of it.''

Rusty All Blacks swamp Fiji

July 22, 2011

New Zealand 60 Fiji 14

Sitiveni Sivivatu of New Zealand scores the opening try of the game. Photo: Getty Images

New Zealand's All Blacks opened their rugby World Cup build-up with a lopsided 60-14 win over Fiji in Dunedin on Friday but failed to produce the dominating performance they sought.

After leading 32-0 at halftime, the All Blacks were held to only two more tries for most of the second spell, before they broke away to cross the line twice more in the closing minutes.

The shining light for the All Blacks was the performance of Colin Slade, who staked his claim to be the flyhalf understudy to Dan Carter after missing most of the Super 15 season when he twice broke his jaw.

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Ben Smith of the All Blacks makes a break. Photo: Getty Images

In his first Test start, Slade posted 19 points with a try, four conversions and two penalties and steered the side around the park with confidence before he was substituted with 20 minutes to go.

But around him there were question marks over the All Blacks' performance as they struggled in the second spell against a side ranked 14th in the world and lacking several key players.

The forward domination of the first half faded as the game wore on and the decision-making was at times questionable as the All Blacks allowed themselves to be bustled by the Fijians' physical approach.

Piri Weepu of New Zealand scores a try. Photo: AFP

The one tactic which did pay dividends was the chip kick over the Fijian backs, which provided three tries.

In a match billed as the definite farewell for the iconic Carisbrook venue after it won reprieves following three previous Tests also billed as the last, Slade received an early confidence boost with a penalty in the third minute.

Sitiveni Sivivatu, another player under the microscope, followed with the first try when the All Blacks moved the ball wide after sucking in the Fijian defence with a series of pick-and-goes.

Ma'a Nonu of the All Blacks. Photo: Getty Images

One of the Fijians' rare attacking periods in the first half turned to disaster for them when Zac Guildford latched on to a turnover ball and kicked downfield and caught fullback Iliesa Keresoni.

Quick ruck ball was fed to Slade who chipped over the Fijian defence, gathered in the ball and scored under the posts.

With 18 points on the board and the initial rustiness starting to wear away, the All Blacks stepped up the pace in the closing minutes of the first half with Andrew Hore and Adam Thomson both crossing for tries.

Ali Williams of the All Blacks makes a break. Photo: Getty Images

But having spent most of the first half in defence, a fired-up Fiji took control of the second half and were rewarded when bruising backrower Sakiusa Matadigo broke from a scrum to run 50 metres before sending halfback Nemia Ranuku in for the try.

The All Blacks replied with two quick tries to Conrad Smith and Piri Weepu, both resulting from chip kicks by Weepu, and Fiji were successful with the same tactic when Vereniki Goneva kicked over Weepu and won the race for the ball over the line.

The All Blacks' superior fitness told as they regained the initiative in the closing stages and picked up a late 14 points with a penalty try and a try to Mils Muliaina, both converted by Carter.

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All Blacks thrash Fiji in season opener

Crouch ... touch ... pause ... engage. Photo: Getty Images

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New Zealand 60 (Sitiveni Sivivatu, Colin Slade, Andrew Hore, Adam Thomson, Conrad Smith, Piri Weepu, Mils Muliaina tries, penalty try; Slade 2 pens, 4 cons; Dan Carter 3 cons), Fiji 14(Nemia Serelevu, Vereniki Goneva tries; Seremia Bai 2 cons).Ht: 32-0.