By Darren Walton
November 3rd 2008 @ 5:34am
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We’re not far away, say frustrated Wallabies
The Wallabies left for Europe today convinced they are on the cusp of another special era in Australian rugby despite suffering more heartache at the hands of the All Blacks.
As in Brisbane seven weeks earlier, the world’s top-ranked team produced a second-half comeback to claim a hard-earned victory over Australia, winning 19-14 in Saturday night’s historic Bledisloe Cup Test in Hong Kong.
The result gave the All Blacks a 3-1 win in the annual trans-Tasman series.
Most neutrals, though - and even many New Zealand journalists - agreed Irish referee Alan Lewis may have had most influence in the All Blacks’ victory in the first-ever Bledisloe Cup Test played outside Australasia.
The general consensus was had the All Blacks not received 11 penalties to the Wallabies’ two in the opening hour, Australia would have converted a 14-6 advantage into a series-levelling triumph.
Ever-diplomatic Wallabies coach Robbie Deans even broke ranks from his players - who were careful not to upset northern-hemisphere match officials ahead of four further Tests against Italy, England, France and Wales - to subtly vent his frustration at Lewis.
Deans rejected skipper Stirling Mortlock’s notion that ill-discipline and not adjusting to the referee’s application of the northern hemisphere version of the ELVs “hurt” Australia after three Dan Carter penalty goals effectively cancelled out two beautifully constructed tries to winger Drew Mitchell.
“I thought the guys retained their composure pretty well, given that they were getting stung and it was stinging on the scoreboard,” Deans said.
“A couple of boys alluded to discipline (being a problem). In reality, the discipline under the circumstances was very good.
“It was more the fact that reasons to penalise were being found. And so to that end, we’ve got to take the hit.”
But the Wallabies will also keep rolling on in the belief they have closed the gap on the All Blacks, perhaps a lot quicker than they expected in Deans’s first season at the helm.
“I think we are definitely on level footing with them,” declared five-eighth Matt Giteau, who was again one of Australia’s best despite suffering neck and shoulder injuries in the first half which may prompt Deans to rest him from next Saturday’s Test in Italy.
“We had the opportunities to win this game and the game before. It’s just disappointing that we didn’t.
“The bounce of the ball. Little things. Certainly in that first half, it felt like things were clicking.
“We’re not far away. We’re only that little bit away from finishing.”
Even New Zealand coach Graham Henry, a fierce rival of his countryman Deans, heaped praise on the new-era Wallabies after their splendid first-half display which produced some brilliantly inventive and expansive rugby defying the slippery conditions in wet and humid Hong Kong.
“They attacked and attacked,” Henry said.
“Australia played particularly well in the first half, bringing in new some innovations which we hadn’t seen. Credit to them.”
Deans was equally enthused.
“There was some really good stuff,” he said. “And that’s what we’ve got to concentrate on.
“The skill level is getting better, but it’s not still not there. We’ve just got to keep going and get to the point where we get home.
“I think we were more deserving this week. The effort was more consistent, the energy levels were better. We’ve just got to keep building.”
Looking to the bigger picture of developing his new-look and largely inexperienced squad, Deans was unconcerned about finishing the Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations series trophy-less.
“It’s been a great series,” he said. “And I think the public’s responded to that. It was a great series in terms of spectacles.
“It was a great series on terms of the contest and we had uncertainty again.
“We had three very good sides - one being the world champion (South Africans) - and you couldn’t be sure on any given day or in any given match how things were going to unfold.
“That’s the sign of not only a good game, but good teams playing in a good competition.”
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ohtani's jacket said | November 3rd 2008 @ 8:17pm | Report comment
This is perhaps true, but we’ve been hearing this mantra since 2006.
If the two unions keep persisting with these four Test Bledisloe series, the Wallabies would have to produce one of their all-time great sides to win three of four. Perhaps it would spice things up if the fourth Test was a one-off defence.
Westy said | November 3rd 2008 @ 8:51pm | Report comment
obtani’s jacket…….remember for the ARU it is their participation in Sanzar and the Wallabies….thats it. They will play as many as they can……At present they have given themselves no other option.
Nick (KIA) said | November 4th 2008 @ 7:19am | Report comment
I think this journo is overcalling the influence of the ref in the eyes of NZ journos (and others).
The general (NZ) agreement I think was that the ref was poor and he missed several things. The NZ journos I’ve read concede that the pass to McCaw was forward for the decisive score. But the ABs were playing well in the second half and I think most think the Wallers loss would have occurred with or without the ref.
Jerry said | November 4th 2008 @ 7:34am | Report comment
Exactly Nick. While the ref was pedantic and headmaster like, he did make a few errors that benefitted the Wallabies too. Stirling Mortlock took out Carter with a shoulder charge off the ball in the first half. Richard Brown pilftered a ball that scooted out the back of an NZ ruck, which would have been legal but he’d never retired behind the last man’s foot. Both of those were in easily kickable positions. That’s 6 points to the 5 they gained from the try to McCaw (and on that subject, I’ve not been able to see a replay - I know the pass ended up in front of where it was passed, but that’s not actually the test for a forward pass. Did it drift forward or was it thrown forward).
A fair few 50/50 calls did go against the Walla’s - but by the same token, having conceded all those penalties they were lucky to keep Stephen Moore on the pitch (and I did notice that when given a final warning they started contesting a lot less in the ruck and stopped conceding so many penalties). The fact is that if a side is giving up a 2/1 ratio in possession and aggresively contesting rucks, they’re gonna concede a bunch of penalties more often than not. Some of those may be harsh, but that’s a fact of rugby.