All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen fired back at his old sparring partner Robbie Deans on Sunday after the frustrated Wallabies coach accused their opponents of cynical play not befitting the occasion.
The All Blacks’ 32-19 win at Tokyo’s National Stadium on saturday night made it seven in a row against Deans’ Wallabies, equalling the trans-Tasman winning streak of the 1995-97 side and behind only the nine consecutive New Zealand wins between 1936-49.
Something had to give for Deans after his side’s much-improved effort, and he eyed up the All Blacks’ tactics at the breakdown.
“Can anyone tell me what the penalty count was?” he volunteered.
The answer was 13-9 to the Wallabies, which included five to the Australians in the first 10 minutes from referee Mark Lawrence.
“I know the first six penalties, four were in the red zone and there probably should have been a couple of others when balls were lifted out of rucks one metre short of the line.
“That’s frustrating from our perspective. Particularly when you’re playing a fixture in Tokyo when you’re trying to promote the game, I don’t think it contributed well to the game.
“Our discipline was pretty good, particularly under the circumstances.”
Former Canterbury teammates Deans and Hansen could hardly be described as close mates in recent years and Hansen was quick to counter today.
“Thirteen and nine is not a big amount of penalties, and I don’t think Rob can complain too much when we kicked six penalties ourselves,” Hansen said.
“It was a very contestable game at the breakdown and when you get games like that you’re going to get penalties, and get people off their feet.
“Both sides were guilty of it, as the penalties on the scoreboard showed.”
There were several scuffles as the Wallabies appeared frustrated.
The most serious was in the 80th minute when Tony Woodcock whacked George Smith, which later saw the All Blacks prop get a one-match ban.
CaughtOffside
Guest
the gate is not defined by who is on their feet..... its defined by the players on the ground, tackled player and tackler. Penalty was right.
reds fan
Guest
aw gee shucks Hermin... i sure did hey... guffaw guffaw...
Hermin
Guest
Redsfan you got served big time your own attempt at humour got smashed right back at you and it hit you right in the face. Time to breathe mate and start planning for next year
Ben C
Guest
Hi Dean I was referencing the Simpsons. The episode where Homer forms a vigilante gang and made a similar comment to Kent Brockman about statistics. Obviously you need to watch more Simpsons.
Dean Pantio
Guest
That was my point Ben.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Dean, thanks for that light shining out of Richie's backside, it's useful to read the rule book with my one eye. :) Yes, the ABs cheat. So do the Boks. Clearly systematically at times. You both beat us even at that!!!! We can't clean out properly, can't run back line moves properly, and can't cheat properly.
Ben C
Guest
Dean You can prove anything you want with statistics, 78% of all people know that.
Dean Pantio
Guest
Not hard in comparison admittedly.
reds fan
Guest
And once again you shine with your sparkling intellect.
Brett McKay
Guest
Terry, I have a strict One Snappy Comeback rule in play here - I've got nothing!! And actually, if I did have the answer, then I'd be in the stands hugging Aussie Rob while we sing the Anthem!!
Dean Pantio
Guest
Pleasing to see rugby is catering to your demographic reds fan.
reds fan
Guest
I think that the AB's ruck tactic should be officially known as spooning, and the AB's henceforth referred to as the Spooners.
Dean Pantio
Guest
Wallaby backs don't do it habitually. Obviously there must have been something said after their no show at the breakdowns in Wellington. BTW, I saw Wallabies and All Blacks commit penaliseable offences at 93.67% of rucks...
reds fan
Guest
yeah its hard to stay on your feet and cleanout when the person you want to cleanout is spooning the guy he just tackled.
Terry Kidd
Guest
Sorry Dean but that might explain about 5% of the occurrences, I certainly saw Wallaby backs clearing out, even Genia on a couple of occasions because he was one of the first there.
Terry Kidd
Guest
Yeah I was a little surprised that Thomson didn't get a short rest but I was even more amazed when I saw McCaw enter from the side and literally hang over Alexander's back impeding Genia from getting the ball out .... right in front of the ref and nothing was said .... even Alexander looked up at Lawrence and went WTF??? Having said that though it was generally Thomson and not McCaw who was the serial offender .... although everyone was doing it.
Terry Kidd
Guest
Lol .... nice come back Brett. Ok, I'll poke one back over the net ..... compete ... how?
Dean Pantio
Guest
See my response to Hoy on this issue here. Quite simply, often in a ruck you can be and are trapped, without the ability to move. I've no doubt that more often than not, the ability to be trapped and interfere with the free movement of the ball is not accidental. The difference between the All Blacks and the Wallabies is their effectiveness at clearing out opposition bodies at the ruck. That is why the All Blacks get faster ball from their own rucks. Every player clears out, whereas the Wallaby backs seem to believe it's the responsibility of their forwards only.
Brett McKay
Guest
Terry, I think you raise some fair questions, particularly when Adam Thompson was cautioned at least twice early on. It's a fair assumption that when repeated cautions are issued that further infringements would be dealt with. I'm with you though, the ABs thoroughly deserved the win, so I'll revert to type to answer one of your questions: What is it that the ABs are doing different to the Wallabies at the breakdown? Well, "compete" comes to mind....
Terry Kidd
Guest
Yeah I know Reds but thought I would ask anyway. I'm not one for just slinging crap around, I like a bit of analysis and thoughful discussion, and I really would like to see some answers to my question.