Wallabies show more spine but lose Bledisloe again
By Darren Walton, 8 Aug 2010 Darren Walton is a Roar Guru
115 Have your say
All Blacks coach Graham Henry praised the Wallabies for showing “more backbone” despite conceding the Bledisloe Cup to New Zealand for the eighth successive year on Saturday night.
A week after piling on 49 points against Australia in Melbourne, the All Blacks had to pull out all stops to keep the Wallabies at bay in Christchurch.
With the Wallabies enjoying 56 per cent of possession and a clear territorial edge throughout the fast-paced encounter at AMI Stadium, the All Blacks produced a heroic defensive effort to spoil Robbie Deans’s homecoming with a hard-earned 20-10 victory.
“I think there was more backbone in the game than last week from the Australians,” Henry said.
“I thought the Australians played particularly well. They kept the ball a long time and were really good at the tackle, which meant we had to tackle a hell of a lot more and I think that took its toll in the end.
“So we’re very happy.”
Jubilant captain Richie McCaw hailed his side’s defensive effort as “right up there” with the best he’d been involved in with the All Blacks.
“We’ve won games by scoring tries but tonight it was the defence that won us the game,” McCaw said.
“We took our opportunities in the first half and then had to defend.
“There were some big hits out there and that summed up the character in the team.
“They were defending for each other and kept getting up and the boys are pretty happy with that.”
After leaving rugby fans breathless with some of their brilliant attacking displays during a 12-Test wining streak, Henry said he was happy to take a 13th straight victory however it came.
“From our point of view, it was about the Bledisloe Cup tonight,” he said. “It’s a big trophy for New Zealand rugby, something the boys value and play for.
“Half a dozen of the boys won it in 2003 and to continue to win that Cup is very important to the team, so they’re delighted.”
Centre Conrad Smith, who scored one of New Zealand’s two tries, said victory tasted sweeter after having to work so hard.
“In a lot of ways these are the ones to saviour,” Smith said.
“It showed in the lungs. Most of the boys were pretty tired, pretty spent by the end, but it’s another All Black win and you’ve got to enjoy them.
“It’s a credit to the Aussies, they hung in and fought really well for the whole game and we had to pull out a lot of defence to stay in it.
“There was a period for a while where we didn’t have (the Bledisloe Cup) and it hurt us Kiwis – and the players especially – so we’ll be pretty happy filling it up the first time (tonight).”
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- Graham Henry, New Zealand Rugby League, robbie deans, Rugby Union, wallabies
August 8th 2010 @ 6:59am
darwin stubby said | August 8th 2010 @ 6:59am | Report comment
Better performance from the Wallabies for sure – but they couldn’t have got much worse than they were in Melbourne – so some improvement was expected … but apart from the Beale try, which was fortunate, they never looked like scoring – they were clueless against a solid AB defensive effort, no invention and no sign they actually had systems in place to launch an innovative attack … their scrum was monstered and the AB’s were content to play field position – Henry will be a happy man this morning as he knows he’s building a formidable team that can grind out wins as well as one that can play open and attacking football …
at no time during the test was the result in the balance …all in all I was pleased I switched on early and got to watch the second half of the shield challenge that game had far more excitement and a genuine competition between 2 teams …
August 8th 2010 @ 10:06am
cookee said | August 8th 2010 @ 10:06am | Report comment
STUBBY,i did similar watched ex reds coach mooney continue his losing streak in the shield challenge before watching the purists game in the bledisloe.interesting to note the north korean soccer coach got “hard labour” for poor performance at world cup whereas deans gets a huge salary for coming second again.
the wallabies commitment was excellent but you would expect that of a national team;you would also expect the attack coach to get sacked with the amount of possession they had.
of course the wallabies had to get better the super14 results clearly point to improvement.but one close game might suggest god forbid that the abs arent the great team yet after their dismal bok performances last year
is it just possible that the abs are struggling for possession when kickoffs and esp lineouts go awry.carter ,the prince,gifted the wallabies a try which was a 14 pointer,;the game would have changed completely.
i believe the abs tactics were subpar in this game and those close to the action will be worried.
i look forward to wallabies victories iagst bok before i get too hopeful.
well done chaps
August 8th 2010 @ 10:29am
Red Rooster said | August 8th 2010 @ 10:29am | Report comment
Cookee – thats 0-2 for Mooney in NZ – didn’t see it was it more of the same???
August 8th 2010 @ 8:44pm
Sylvester said | August 8th 2010 @ 8:44pm | Report comment
“carter ,the prince,gifted the wallabies a try which was a 14 pointer”
Carter is an attacking player, it comes with risks. It’s the same reason the All Blacks 13-odd tries in four games and the Wallabies have, well, many fewer.
August 8th 2010 @ 7:06am
Billo said | August 8th 2010 @ 7:06am | Report comment
I watched the game in England on Sky, and I was a little surprised by how muted the atmosphere seemed in the stadium.
I’m not sure whether the crowd really was quiet, or whether the TV simply wasn’t picking up much of the crowd noise.
Maybe the All Blacks supporters are no longer excited by beating us.
The TV commentators also seemed unable to raise the excitement level, even though the Wallabies were in the game for much of the time.
August 8th 2010 @ 10:59am
Sammy22 said | August 8th 2010 @ 10:59am | Report comment
Billo
I noticed the same watching here in Aus, but it certainly sounded like the commentators box was sealed from the crowd noise. Had a similar atmosphere to the days they used to commentate the S African super games from Sydney. (I’m assuming you were watching with Aus commentators)
August 8th 2010 @ 8:47pm
Sylvester said | August 8th 2010 @ 8:47pm | Report comment
I was at the game. For a crowd of 39,000 people, it was very quiet. After years following the greatest professional rugby club/franchise, the Cantab crowds are used to action I guess…
August 8th 2010 @ 7:13am
ben said | August 8th 2010 @ 7:13am | Report comment
That was heartening……that was very evenly contested, and when we get more first choice players to return we will do the AB’s over. The world cup is looking very promising, especially since we have an easy run to the Semi’s. It was also another very enjoyable game to watch….pardon the cliche but RUgby was the winner…..i am looking forward very much to all teh games in SOuth Africa.
We really misssed Cooper……..Cooper could have turned that for us.
All in all an effort by the Wallabies to be applauded….now the goal should be to Roll South Africa in South Africa…that will have teh desired effect of dramatically improving confidence.
August 8th 2010 @ 7:31am
Rockin Rod said | August 8th 2010 @ 7:31am | Report comment
They miss that x factor that Cooper provides, didnt really look like scoring
August 8th 2010 @ 11:01am
Sammy22 said | August 8th 2010 @ 11:01am | Report comment
Agree
we had the possession and limited mistakes, nut missed the ideas man to make an instinctive decision rather than educated one
August 8th 2010 @ 8:14am
Peter said | August 8th 2010 @ 8:14am | Report comment
Just admit it, the Wallaby brand is dead!!! Thanks generation looser.
If any of you out there have had any association with representative rugby in Brisbane you will realise that the most talented kids don’t necessarily get picked for representative teams.
The current lack of talent and passion on the field stems from a generation of players who have been promoted by association not talent.
August 8th 2010 @ 8:26am
Moaman said | August 8th 2010 @ 8:26am | Report comment
Thats a bit harsh Peter! That performance last night would have been a winning one against most other sides currently trotting around.Australia are comfortably 3rd(2nd?)best team around at the moment.As to the selection of ‘favourites’-that sort of thing goes on everywhere in every sport.The coaches son/daughter always get in the team at grass roots level because otherwise the team wouldnt have a coach!
August 8th 2010 @ 9:10am
Peter said | August 8th 2010 @ 9:10am | Report comment
Why did Gasnier decide to go back to rugby league?
Why have we not seen more league players going to union in Australia following the collapse of the Storm?
Why have Folau and the like gone to Aussie Rules and not Rugby in Australia?
Why did Brad Thorn play for the Kangaroos but not the Wallabies?
The answer: The Wallaby brand doesn’t exist – it is associated with a loosing culture!!!
And before you say the money, the money, the money, can you imagine Folau choosing Aussie rules if he had grown up following the All Blacks? I think not!!!!!
August 8th 2010 @ 9:59am
Amateur Hour said | August 8th 2010 @ 9:59am | Report comment
Peter, I’m assuming you and Darwin Stubby watched the game from your caves. You should have gone and watched the game from the pub like I did and then you wouldn’t be making ludicrous comments like that.
Can we please leave the League v Union comments aside this morning when we should be focusing on a much improved Wallabies performance that saw us go down to easily the world’s best team by only 10 points in their own backyard, whilst our chief playmaker is still cooling his heals on the sideline.
Let’s get the ball rolling in the right direction. I thought A Faingaa had a great debut and can someone please explain why Woodcock was not yellow carded? Off the ball, cheap and cynical – 10 minutes.
August 8th 2010 @ 3:21pm
bennalong said | August 8th 2010 @ 3:21pm | Report comment
Good point AH, …about our chief playmaker I mean.
Giteau made Genia a man without options.
He just won’t play close to the gain line so it’s forewards one, two, three out (covered easily)or passing BACK to Giteau to get the backline moving.
When Coopers there they share the distribution which opens up options for both of them
August 8th 2010 @ 10:02am
stillmissit said | August 8th 2010 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Opps! Peter I think you are on the wrong thread. If you knew anything about rugby you would realise that one of the problems is that the Wallabies do too much one off runs a la rugby league. There are other similarities that affect us but as you are a leaguey you would know this.
August 8th 2010 @ 10:54am
BennO said | August 8th 2010 @ 10:54am | Report comment
And can we all remember that it’s losing, not loosing. I’m a pedant I know but it’s cropping up more and more these days and it bugs me. Sorry.
August 8th 2010 @ 12:48pm
Rockin Rod said | August 8th 2010 @ 12:48pm | Report comment
Peter , how do you think Quade Coopoer would go at league???
August 8th 2010 @ 3:40pm
Harry said | August 8th 2010 @ 3:40pm | Report comment
Can’t let that go unchallenged:
1. Gasnier – was average for his French club last year. The ARU decided not to give him a big topup to what the Rebels were offering. Good choice after the money that was wasted on Tuquiri.
2. The Storm players are all fundamentally league players.
3. “Folau and the like” – if the AFL want to spend a million a year on him thats their choice. He can’t kick so no good as a union back (or at least needs a lot of work).
4. Thorn is a kiwi and went with his Bronco’s mates. he also represented where he played his rugby (NZ) and League (Aus). I’d say the only thing it shows is what a joke international rugby league is.
August 8th 2010 @ 9:30am
ilikedahoodoogurusingha said | August 8th 2010 @ 9:30am | Report comment
“Why did Gasnier decide to go back to rugby league?”
Probably because he thought he wasn’t good enough to play regularly for the Wallabies, which is where most of his pay would come from
“Why have we not seen more league players going to union in Australia following the collapse of the Storm?”
The Storm haven’t collapsed and star players haven’t signed anywhere yet.
“Why have Folau and the like gone to Aussie Rules and not Rugby in Australia?”
Money
“Why did Brad Thorn play for the Kangaroos but not the Wallabies?”
Because if he wanted to play State of Origin he had to make himself available for the Kangaroos
“The answer: The Wallaby brand doesn’t exist – it is associated with a loosing culture!!!”
That is your opinion, but at least they can spell or use spellcheck
August 8th 2010 @ 10:00am
Amateur Hour said | August 8th 2010 @ 10:00am | Report comment
Brilliant!!
August 8th 2010 @ 10:07am
Peter said | August 8th 2010 @ 10:07am | Report comment
Have you any proof that they can spell or use spell check? Because they fail at most things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 8th 2010 @ 10:21am
Amateur Hour said | August 8th 2010 @ 10:21am | Report comment
Yes, Peter. David Pocock acutally writes articles for the Roar and they are flawless….
August 8th 2010 @ 10:55am
Peter said | August 8th 2010 @ 10:55am | Report comment
LOL!!! Whether David Pocock can spell or not is immaterial he is still a “loser”!!!!!!!
August 8th 2010 @ 1:25pm
Nerk said | August 8th 2010 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
Peter throw in the towel you just got rolled and we all saw it…
August 8th 2010 @ 10:47pm
Denby said | August 8th 2010 @ 10:47pm | Report comment
How anyone can call David Pocock a loser as beyond me. The guy is tough as nails and puts in the hard yards every minute he is on the field. He may play in a team that has lost allot recently, but he is certainly no loser.
August 8th 2010 @ 2:32pm
AussieWallaby said | August 8th 2010 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
ilikedahoodoogurusingha – Great reply!!!
Peter – you clearly don’t know much about rugby so please return back to the AFL thread.
As for the Wallabies, better performance but there is no such thing as a ‘good loss’ so again it doesn’t matter if we lost by 21 or 10…the fact is its 9 straight now.
Surely questions have to be asked of Deans now… any other coach would have been long gone but it is clear that O’Neill will only look like an idiot if he sacks him.
The one positive for next year is that ydays game showed we can hang around and all we need is one good game next year(assuming aus-nz final)…perhaps that one game will be the one where we topple the Kiwis with a full complement of players.
Here’s to hoping!!
August 8th 2010 @ 9:35am
Tui said | August 8th 2010 @ 9:35am | Report comment
It will be a long time before the wallabies get that amount of ball again at one stage, the tackle count was 118-65 by the All Blacks. It was a a very good effort but they just lacked a cutting edge.
August 8th 2010 @ 3:22pm
bennalong said | August 8th 2010 @ 3:22pm | Report comment
Cooper!
August 8th 2010 @ 9:44am
Seiran said | August 8th 2010 @ 9:44am | Report comment
The size deficiancy and lack of experience really shon through in this match. The Wallabies didn’t know how, or were to small, to break the AB’s defensive line, and made way to many rookie errors.
Beale and his fellow back line in particular got monstered throughout the match When they tried to form a ruck without forwards they kept getting smashed. Elsom, Pocock, and Brown seem to have no idea how to work as a unit and Pocock was left doing all the graft. The Wallabies won’t go anywhere if they keep on relying on Pocock too much. He can’t do everything by himself.
The vision shown by Carter was extraordinary. The Wallabies lack this in a 10. Giteau has some great moments in matches but he is no 10.
Faingaa was probably brought in a bit to early. He was to green and made way to many errors. He obviously has the talent to be a great 12 but he needs to be on the reserves for a few more matches to prove himself.
Genia had an ordinary game. Was that a Greegan two step I kept seeing throughout the match….when he wasn’t passing the ball at his forwards knee caps.
And finally, what on earth was Kaplan trying to prove with that scrum call? ‘Touch, Paaaaaaaauuuuuuuse, Engage’. how does he expect to get a good scrum when players have no idea how to judge the refs calls.
Kaplan is such a mullet.
August 8th 2010 @ 10:55am
Jerry said | August 8th 2010 @ 10:55am | Report comment
That’s the whole point of the pause – the players don’t get to anticipate the hit, meaning its impact is lessened. I’m yet to see any good argument that making the hit more of a factor improves a scrum’s stability. The scrums were fine for the most part last night. Certainly a lot better than in any AB v Wallabies in 08/08/09.
August 9th 2010 @ 12:26am
Jason said | August 9th 2010 @ 12:26am | Report comment
Probably because Baxter wasn’t doing his angry face prior to diving into the grass.
August 9th 2010 @ 2:08pm
Campbell Watts said | August 9th 2010 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
Nice one Jason!
Perhaps Victa should come out with a Baxter Model – “Big and mean and chews through grass”
Ha ha ha!!!
August 8th 2010 @ 10:15am
stillmissit said | August 8th 2010 @ 10:15am | Report comment
Guys as the article says nice try (only one) but no cigar.
I have been a great supporter of Deans but I am out of time with his replacement policy and some of his coaching ideas.
Genia looked like a wounded digger wandering back down the Kokoda track, why didn’t he bring on Burgess? Mumm played a totally ineffectual game and was kept there for 80 mins. Maa’fu was getting worked over by halfway through the first half and didnt do anything in the loose but Deans didn’t make a change until well into second half.
Then the method of play. How can a rugby guy have control of this team for so long and have them playing one off rugby league type runs? even my 3rd grade subbies know you have to work in pods (they don’t always do it but they do know it). At times after Genia had taken a rare quick ball there was chaos in the mid field and no structure at all. Giteau was totally out of his depth just to prove he ain’t a 5/8 and Rocky didn’t play well again. Pocock was outstanding again; is it time to make him captain? I think it is.
Still we were in the game for most of it and are missing some good players. The advantage is that the AB’s can’t improve their cattle but we can. So can we mold a team with returning injured players in time for the RWC?
August 8th 2010 @ 10:24am
cinematic said | August 8th 2010 @ 10:24am | Report comment
How do you figure the AB’s can’t improve their cattle?
Plenty of talented young guys waiting in the wings in NZ and several senior players out with injury (Hore, Sivivatu, Williams…). Plus Sonny Bill trying to earn his stripes.
Frankly the bulk of the injured Wallabies have fallen short on the international stage. I do look forward to seeing the Wallabies with their first choice pivot in Sydney however…