By Andrew Logan
July 28th 2008 @ 8:41am
Wallabies: so far, so good.
The brilliant 1960 western The Magnificent Seven (starring Steve McQueen as Vin, and Yul Brynner as Chris) has a seminal moment of character introduction. As the two arrive in town, a local funeral director is bemoaning the fact that the cemetery is being blockaded by some gangsters who won’t let an Indian be buried in Boot Hill.
Vin and Chris borrow a shotgun, commandeer the hearse, drive up the hill through sporadic gunfire and confront the villains who, after a brief standoff, back down and allow the burial.
The classic quote from the scene comes from Chris who has the end of his cheroot blown off by gunfire whilst driving the coach. As the shot dies away, Vin asks “You get elected?”. Chris pulls the shattered panatela from his mouth and peruses the frayed end before answering. “No – but I got nominated real good”.
Saturday night’s Wallabies also got nominated real good, but managed to guts out a significant win through a series of Vin-and-Chris-like tactics – a willingness to take on the tough jobs; composure under fire; and the mettle to stare down an opponent who seems to hold a lot of the cards.
The frantic first 20 minutes of this Test match was old-school Bledisloe, and for the first time in years, fans who elected not to make the trek to Homebush were regretting their decision. A near capacity crowd, combined with sweeping running and brutal defence, made for the spectacle that Australian rugby fans have been waiting for.
The malevolent defence started in the first minutes, when the resurgent Lote Tuqiri continued his defensive rout from last week, and again when a hard running Ma’a Nonu was stopped in his tracks and spilt the ball.
In the second minute, Wallabies supporters were rubbing their eyes when the Aussies elected to take a scrum in an attacking position from a free kick. After 4 minutes the Wallabies had been pressuring the All Blacks consistently into mistakes and by the 8th minute Brad Thorn was desperate enough to earn himself an unlucky yellow card through a high shot on Giteau which was careless, but not malicious.
The pressure at this stage was on the All Blacks and it continued this way for much of the night, with the Wallabies continuously pulling off big plays when the occasion demanded, despite Carter and Sivivatu regularly, and sometimes successfully, testing the defence.
Almost every Wallaby had a play to remember. Tuqiri’s run to set up Cross’ try was reminiscent of the Tuqiri of old, and his defence was regularly dangerous. Adam Ashley-Cooper knocked himself silly in a tackle in the 12th minute, but only seconds later arrived in cover to hammer another All Black attacker and stop a promising move.
Al Baxter made a crucial counter-ruck which led to an Australian penalty and had several supporters wondering if this piledriver was the same guy they had been writing off for the last 3 years.
Nathan Sharpe, another Wallaby who at times has been anonymous, again arrived when the going got tough. He carried over the advantage line several times, and was a crucial link in the lead up to Cross’ try.
Matt Giteau made several important plays but perhaps none more so than his field goal with ten minutes to go which put the Wallabies 8 points out. The look on Giteau’s face as he high-fived Cross on the run back was indicative of the situation – he was clearly pleased, but the joy was tempered with a fierce resolve. It was obvious that he knew the job was not yet done, and the Wallabies now had to shut the game down.
Rocky Elsom turned in his usual high standard game and scored a typical hard-running opportunist try. George Smith was again outstanding, and caved in Andy Ellis’ ribs with a hit that dropped Ellis like an empty suit of clothes. James Horwill bloodhounded his way to another Test five pointer. Cross was solid filling in for the champion Mortlock. Burgess improved his pass immensely and gave quality service. Benn Robinson tackled like a backrower, and Steven Moore was obstinate, if not flashy.
However, in mentioning the Wallabies, I’m saving the best till last. Berrick Barnes was simply awesome, having his standout game in the Wallaby jersey, and certainly vindicated Deans’ “extra five-eighth” policy with some judicious kicking and ball distribution. But that wasn’t all. Barnes’ defence was brutal, which is not a word often used when describing the hits dealt out by a man who weighs in at some 87 kilos.
Fans of both codes would remember names like Paul Taylor and John Kolc, rugby league small men who tackled beyond their size. As the great Jack Gibson once said “It’s no use being big if you can’t play big”. Perhaps you could also say of Barnes “You don’t need to be big, if you can play big”.
The All Blacks? Predictably, Dan Carter was the go-to man, and very nearly rescued his team from the jaws of defeat. Several times he broke the line, only to be pulled down looking desperately for support. His sole runner was the explosive Sitiveni Sivivatu, who shadowed Carter all night and ran hard into holes, being unlucky not to get better results at times.
The most obvious difference between this All Black side and its predecessors was twofold. First, it lacked ball security, and although the Australians were deserved winners, they can be thankful that the All Blacks turned over ball at crucial times, relieving pressure. Second, the ruck contest was far less brutal than we have come to expect when the likes of Richie McCaw and Jerry Collins are on duty.
Where to from here? If Australia can maintain the desire that underpinned their massive defence and adventurous running, they must be in with a show of winning the Tri-Nations. However, they are about to play the All Blacks at Eden Park, and then South Africa at Kings Park and Ellis Park. These are tough assignments, on the road and with in front of fiercely partisan crowds so the Wallabies have a long road ahead.
Which brings us back to Vin and Chris.
Vin: “It reminds me of a fellow back home who fell off a 10 story building”. Chris: “What about him”. Vin: “Well, as he was falling, people on every floor kept hearing him say, so far - so good. So far - so good”.
It’s the same for the Wallabies. There’s a long way to go, but so far - so good.
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We were talking about the important things in life, mainly sport.
Lenny said | July 28th 2008 @ 7:51am | Report comment
Congratulations on your 15 point prediction on the match, Andrew. I look forward to next week’s prediction!
Jim Boyce said | July 28th 2008 @ 8:38am | Report comment
Andrew - The motto of the Texas Rangers ” A little man will always beat a big man if he keeps a comin’ “. Barnes is good , but I am still not convinced that I/C is his position. When you are marking a knucklehead like Nonu, it makes it easier, the guy has no idea about setting up supports or supporting the break.
McCaw’s play was not the only thing missing. The ABs seemed to have no leadership and the kick return was about as uninspired as anything I have seen. However you are right about the stadium . It has been a long time , probably the Eales era, since one got excited out there. It would be even better if they redesigned the hoopla. Regards Jim
LeftArmSpinner said | July 28th 2008 @ 8:45am | Report comment
I saw the true effect of the Tri Nations so far this year during my weekend “Festival of the Boot”. On Friday evening, around the barbecue at junior rugby, with the repeated question “Are you going to the game?”
By Saturday morning, this time while watching my sons playing schoolboy rugby, the discussion amongst the Dads was down to a comparison of plans and logistics for getting to and from the game. Even one of the schoolboys turned down a dance so that he could watch the game live!!!!
By Sunday morning, and back to junior rugby again, the talk was all about how well the Wallabies played and that it had been a long time coming.
The national team is, once again, playing great rugby that is a joy to watch. The win was less important.
TembaVJ said | July 28th 2008 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Congrats Andrew you called it… I even bag you for it. What a game of rugby, im a saffa and sat on the edge of my seat for 80 mins. If anybody from up top say that was not an exciting game has to have their heads checked. Well done Wallabies and well done Andrew.
Worlds Biggest said | July 28th 2008 @ 9:41am | Report comment
I agree regarding the Wallabies steady progress, so far so good is the best way to sum it up. Sterner challenges await overseas where we have struggled mightily the last 5 to 6 years. I am sure the players celebrated a great win but are now focusing on Auckland. Elsom is a big loss but an opportunity perhaps for McMenimen to show if he has got what it takes.
Gordo said | July 28th 2008 @ 10:10am | Report comment
Andrew, very humble of you to leave the words “I told you so” out of your article. A great prediction of a great game.
Any chance you could predict the Wallabies to win the tri-nations or Bledisloe cup? Please at least get your prediction out for next Saturday early enough for me to get to the bookies…
Bennalong said | July 28th 2008 @ 10:19am | Report comment
“Steady progress”? ? ! ! (Worlds Biggest) It’s been a rocket ride!
The Wallabies have been struggling for form and confidencefor years and I always held the talent was there.
Pity we had to get a Kiwi to sort it out but then clearly God gave us Robbie Deans!
The dour Aussie critics are still pulling apart the bones, cautious of the future and refusing to barrack for their team unless an all-Black chant gets going.
Pull the finger out !
We’re witnessing the rebirth of belief within the team and it’s happened in the blink of an eye. We have a coach whose self-interest is dwarfed by his desire to find the best in his players in the knowledge that it will only be found when they’re all busting their guts for the team.
They are.
God bless Deans.
Andrew Logan said | July 28th 2008 @ 12:18pm | Report comment
Gordo - the scoreline was revenge in itself, so I resisted the urge to gloat!
Seriously though, last week I just had a strong feeling that the Wallabies were on the crest of a wave, and if things went our way, we could get a good win. “If things went our way” was the key part to that - we had some luck along the way which we haven’t had for a while eg Hines getting away with his tackle on Sivivatu, All Blacks knock ons at crucial stages, Tuqiri perfectly weighting his nudge for Cross’ try when he could have easily knocked it dead etc etc.
I was also conscious that the Wallabies defence is good enough to hold out most teams, so it didn’t seem totally unfeasible that they might outscore the AB’s by 2 tries, and if Giteau had his kicking boots on…well anything could happen….
As it happened….that stuff all came off. But I make no claim to having any ability as a soothsayer….for once, my reasoning proved sound, that’s about it.
See you at The Oaks!
Cheers…
Cros said | July 28th 2008 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
Simple game really. Momentum and what Dingo talks about a lot….belief. Trick is to maintain it. Stay tuned.
Blinky Bill - Bellingen said | July 28th 2008 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
On the Wallaby progress - For me it’s all about what to feel versus what to say.
For the record I feel frigging fantastic about how the Wallabies are travelling. I love the boys & I love Robbie Deans and no I don’t carry a photo of him in my wallet but if this keeps up I just might. So there’s the heart side.
The brain says ‘Keep calm. Keep it in perspective. How could they possibly be this good this soon?’
So it’s the brain that gets me through the week and the heart that wills them on to bigger and better things.
Robbie will you sign your photo “to Blinky with love”?
Worlds Biggest said | July 28th 2008 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
Benelong, I did er on the side of caution in my praise for the resurgent Wallabies, I just don’t want to break out the bubbly just yet. Surely the All Blacks wont make that many handling errors again and I do fear somewhat of a backlash in Auckland, McCaw will make a huge difference. Braid went MIA on Saturday. No doubt the way we are playing is vey encouraging and light years ahead of the durge we watched when Jones and Knuckles were in charge. In the Perth Test I couldn’t beleive it when Barnes cut out Mortlock to Ashley-Cooper. A simple cut 2 which I haven’t seen by the Wallabies in years !. Dingo has the team beleiving and backing themselves which is crucial. If they can jag a couple of away wins in the Tri Nations then I will be getting the bubbly on ice.
mungo said | July 28th 2008 @ 2:36pm | Report comment
Andrew, whatever you were on last week to make that absurd prediction needs to be shared, un bloody believable…
Homer said | July 28th 2008 @ 2:44pm | Report comment
Good to see the front row getting some chops for their great effort over the last few weeks. The scrum is completely new, even from the French tests. The all blacks even ignored some crum opportunities from free kicks to avoid the confrontation, which is amazing considering the Aussie dominance at the breakdown. Come the world Cup Ben Robinson could be a world class prop in the Blades shape. Polota -Nau’s impact off the bench is almost as good as Phil Waugh’s as well.
ohtani's jacket said | July 28th 2008 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
lol, I don’t think they were avoiding the scrum.
sheek said | July 28th 2008 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
Andrew,
Love the M7 analogy. One of the greatest westerns. A favourite.
Many posters (here & elsewhere) have commented how lucky the Aussies were. Or more precisely how inept the ABs were, with so many unforced errors. But how many of these errors can we attribute to the intense pressure applied by the Wallas?
In any case, here’s a thought. Sport is played mainly between the ears. It’s incalcuble how much confidence & belief the Wallas have drawn from this win. Maybe, this time, they were a bit lucky. Maybe, next time, they will be coldly efficient & clinical.
Andrew Logan said | July 28th 2008 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
Sheek - you better come to the Oaks on Thursday. If you’re an M7 man, it’s time we met.
Photon said | July 28th 2008 @ 4:01pm | Report comment
I said it would not happen, in fact I said it was a pipe dream. I was wrong and it came to pass, and for that I take my hat off to you Andrew. The Wallabies looked real classy on Saturday, and they may well go all the way, but the beauty of the Tri-Nations, is that was the easy part. Auckland, Durban then JOHANNESBURG, it will be interesting that’s for sure!!
Photon said | July 28th 2008 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
Oh and by the way BOOKKKE
sheek said | July 28th 2008 @ 5:43pm | Report comment
Andrew,
We will meet in due course, I’m sure. I’m a south harbour man myself, although my dear mum’s residence is not that far from the Oaks.
I used to run trivia nights, & on one occasion one of my movie sections involved naming 20 movies from 20 x 20 sec film clips. It was mostly a fun thing, & I usually ran each clip for longer than 20 seconds (yeah, it took a while, but people enjoyed it).
I remember showing a clip from M7 when Chris & Vin go to recruit O’Reilly (Charles Bronson). The roar from the audience when they saw the young Bronson was extraordinary. I should clarify that - Bronson never looked young, merely young-ER!!!
Andrew Logan said | July 28th 2008 @ 5:55pm | Report comment
Bronson looks h-a-r-d in that scene when he is chopping wood. Love the bit where the axe gets stuck in this huge cord of wood, so he just picks up the whole lot, cord, axe and all and smashes it down on the block splitting it into about 4 bits.
There is a classic scene in The Simpsons where the family gets on the wrong bus, and instead of going to Branson, Missouri…they end up in Bronson, Missouri! Everyone looks and talks just like Charles Bronson. Classic dialogue between mother and squinty eyed small boy:
Boy: Hey Ma - how ’bout some cookies?
Mother: No dice.
Boy: This ain’t ovahhhh.
Sluggy said | July 28th 2008 @ 7:11pm | Report comment
Sheek:
Sorry to hear you won’t be at the Oaks… I’m planning an early escape on Thursday to introduce myself to the Roar crew. Last trivia I went to a third of the questions seemed to be sourced from New Idea. What do I care who Avril Lavigne is bonking? Yours sounds way superior.
Damo said | July 28th 2008 @ 9:55pm | Report comment
Andrew - agree with your appraisal of Berrick. He is growing in stature, maybe as a result of being given some rein against a formidable opponent that he has learned not to fear, but still not given the pressure of being ‘team linchpin’. In looking at NZ performances I wondered if Mils Muliaina was overlooked in your assessment. I thought he had some fine moments in attack and obviously created a classic Allblack try. Shame for him that not so many of his team wanted the prize as badly as he.
sheek said | July 29th 2008 @ 8:48am | Report comment
BTW Andrew,
Continuing on Bronson, it was a few years later filming ‘The Great Escape’ that Bronson wooed Jill Ireland away from her then husband David McCallum (The Man From UNCLE).
Bronson & Ireland were a contrasting but perfect pair.
Doctor Best said | July 29th 2008 @ 9:45am | Report comment
ANDREW AND SHEEK - M7 is pretty good for a Hollywood movie, but it pales besides Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai which it honorably ripped off. Some of the performances in M7 are no better than average. Robert Vaughn couldn’t act his way out of a paper bag. The director, John Sturges, made Bad Day at Black Rock, a far, far better movie, and one of the all time Hollwood greats. But I must admit that Bernstein’s score was better than the one for Samurai, but visually, nothing beats K’s horses in the rain.
However, this is a rugby site, so to keep it legit, here’s a rugby comment: the 1960 Wallabies were a great team, but they would have been better had Charles Bronson played I/C.
sheek said | July 29th 2008 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
Doctor Best,
Agree some of the acting in M7 was wooden. Nobody remembers the guy who played Harry Luck for example! Vaughn’s character was truly wooden. Have seen Seven Samarai & it is an awesome movie.
Also, Bad day At Black Rock is truly awesome. The way the tension is built up in the movie is truly a lost art today.
Finally, have to disagree the 1960 Wallabies were a great team. There were no tests in 1960, while the 1959 & 1961 Wallabies were both very ordinary! I kinda think of Bronson as an openside flanker meself…..