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How much difference one week can make. The All Blacks demolished the Wallabies on Saturday, in the second Bledisloe Cup game, ending the battle for the covered trophy for yet another year.
It was one of those moments where everything went completely wrong for the Australians and it all went right for the Kiwis.
Things were looking promising heading into the second game following the 12-all draw the previous weekend. Confidence was high for the Aussies knowing they had made some significant steps in that match building on the positives of an impressive Super Rugby season, and the international season in 2013.
Perhaps their time had finally arrived – the hoodoo of Eden Park and Bledisloe Cup drought would be coming to an end.
Well, it didn’t. The Wallabies left the shores of New Zealand empty-handed once again, their tails firmly between their legs.
How did it go horribly wrong for them? Had the defensive effort become too costly to maintain? Were they simply relying on the All Blacks to show cracks and then jump on the mistakes as they did in game one?
The Wallabies lacked cohesion and attacking strength. While able to show glimpses of their capabilities, when push came to shove they fumbled and bumbled their way down the field.
Just as great opportunities to score points appeared, they choked. It started off on the right foot, a penalty goal was enough to settle the nerves but that was as far as positives went for the visitors.
It took almost 70 minutes before anything went right for them; and only poor play by the All Blacks did the Wallabies at last find some running rugby to put at least a little semblance of pride into an otherwise meek performance.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks showed no mercy. They went from being ill-disciplined in game one to their running free-flowing point-scoring best the next.
Even with captain Richie McCaw sitting on the sidelines in the sin bin, the defending champions didn’t miss a beat.
Knowing they had given too much to the Wallabies in game one, they returned to the form that saw them put on the 17-game winning streak. Unlike previous games this international season they played solid from start to finish, only letting the foot off the gas in the late stages
So its back to the drawing board for Australia? Where to next? Facing the All Blacks again knowing nothing is left to fight for might seem worthless, however all is not lost.
Pride is still there and if they can take any positives from these first two games, they are capable of playing just as well as the All Blacks. There is a gap, a chink they can expose.
If Wallabies have any hope of re-gaining their glory days it must start now.
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.