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Talk of a golden point to decide a rugby Test should be buried in the dust-bin.
Ok, a draw has to be broken in a Rugby World Cup, or Super Rugby final or semi, when there must be a result for obvious reasons.
Otherwise a draw stands in international rugby like last Saturday night’s 12-all result between the Wallabies and All Blacks at ANZ.
But there are questions to be asked why the Wallabies didn’t win that Test.
Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie must be applauded for being hell-bent on running the ball despite any conditions. That attitude will win more Tests than lose them.
When Pat McCabe was bundled into touch late in the game, flashes of James O’Connor touching down in the corner after the final hooter against the All Blacks in Hong Kong in 2010, then converting from touch for a fabulous 26-24 win, came to mind.
But there’s one question that hasn’t been asked of the Wallabies coach or captain Michael Hooper. Why wasn’t a drop goal attempted in the last 10 minutes?
There were at least half a dozen genuine chances in front of the sticks for an attempt, and a 15-12 success.
While the McKenzie influence and preference for scoring tries is admirable, a drop goal win like Steve Larkham’s 48-metre monster against the Boks in the 1999 Rugby World Cup semi that clinched a finals berth was just as thrilling.
Let’s face it, a win is the ultimate result, and it matters not whether it’s through tries, conversions, penalties or drop goals. Take whatever is on offer in the 80 minutes available.
The Wallabies ignored the drop goal alternative in a dedicated search for the only try of the game. I doubt they will ever do that again.
So next up are the men-in-black at their Eden Park fortress, where the Wallabies haven’t won since 1986 with a 22-9 success. The All Blacks haven’t been beaten there since France sprung a surprise 23-20 win in 1994.
Since then the All Blacks have won 30 Tests on the trot at their home fort, so next Saturday will be a good time to break the drought, and another win on October 18 at Suncorp to regain the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.
Providing of course the best Wallabies backline is selected, with Nick Phipps at half-back, Bernard Foley at 10 and Kurtley Beale at 12.
Or forget it.