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Robbie Deans’ Wallabies bubble burst last night as the All Blacks handed the New Zealand-born coach his first defeat since taking the helm of the Australian side, 39-10, in his homecoming Test at Eden Park.
Wallabies lick wounds ahead of South Africa trip
Injury depleted New Zealand dominated Australia from the outset with a pinpoint kicking game, some smothering defence and enormous lineout pressure allowing them to score four tries to one in front of a jubilant sell-out crowd of 46,600.
Deans had taken Australia to five straight Test wins since assuming control in June, including a first up win over his homeland in Sydney last weekend.
But the All Blacks returned to their clinical ways tonight after two straight losses, stretching their winning streak over the Wallabies at Eden Park to 10 games.
The Wallabies now need to win the remaining two Tests against New Zealand this year to win the Bledisloe Cup.
“There’s still a long way to go,” Deans said.
“It won’t be the last time we lose and we’ll win another game at some point as well.
“The response is obviously going to be important.”
Deans said the All Blacks had managed to mirror what the Wallabies did during last week’s win at ANZ Stadium.
“The All Blacks built pressure and didn’t allow us to build any pressure,” he said.
“They were very effective on the tackle line, on the gain line, very effective around the breakdown and as a consequence we weren’t able to get into the game.
“They profited from some of that pressure that they built and it’s one of those days where you try and create momentum, sometimes you look outside the square to do that and you just have a sense that nothing’s going to work.”
The coach bemoaned Australia’s poor lineout, which lost several of its own throws.
“It’s not one we’ll look back on and reflect on with a lot of pride and that also probably reflected the way the game went,” he said.
Bullocking prop Tony Woodcock got a first half double for the All Blacks, while Ma’ a Nonu scored two in the second half and Dan Carter booted five penalties and two conversions.
For Australia, Adam Ashley-Cooper, who suffered a suspected broken hand, provided some hope with a first half try, which Matt Giteau converted after kicking an early penalty goal.
Leading 21-10 at halftime after scoring two tries to Australia’s one, the All Blacks went further ahead four minutes after the break when Luke Burgess fumbled from a lineout and rampaging centre Nonu handled twice before scoring his side’s third try.
Carter’s conversion made it 28-10 and the Wallabies’ winning streak under Deans was looking shaky.
The lead went out to 31-10 in the 57th minute when Carter slotted another penalty goal and, when George Smith was penalised, and roundly booed, for a 64th minute high shot on namesake Conrad Smith, the flyhalf’s three points made it 34-10.
Nonu completed his double controversially in the final minute when he streaked down the left and appeared to lose control when planting the ball, but the try was awarded by TV match official Shaun Veldsman.
The bonus point ensured his side went top of the Tri-Nations table.
The All Blacks led 6-3 early and the pressure from their kicking paid dividends for the home in the 20th minute when Woodcock got his first, barging through a Giteau tackle close to the line.
They extended their lead to 18-3 four minutes later when Woodcock grabbed a ball deliberately tapped to him from the lineout by Ali Williams and easily charged over.
The Wallabies briefly settled and executed a sublime backline move in the 32nd minute for fullback Ashley-Cooper to touch down under the posts, but they didn’t score another point after Giteau’s conversion.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.