Australia blew a 13-point lead to suffer a record 10th straight Bledisloe Cup Test loss to New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday night.
The Wallabies appeared set for victory holding a 22-9 lead with 20 minutes to go but two All Black tries broke the hearts of the 70,288 fans at ANZ Stadium and secured a 23-22 win for the visitors.
The win means the All Blacks end the Tri-Nations with a 100 per cent record and haven’t lost a Test to their trans-Tasman rivals since 2008.
The first half’s only try came in the 15th minute when No.8 Ben McCalman broke clear from the back of a scrum to release young winger James O’Connor, who crashed over in the corner.
The All Blacks could only manage two penalty goals in a disjointed first-half display by the visitors as the Wallabies took a 14-6 lead into the sheds.
Recalled winger Lachie Turner also had an eventful return to Test rugby, nearly scoring in the game’s sixth minute only to be denied by a great last-ditch tackle by Cory Jane.
Just four minutes after that Turner turned defender, hauling down All Blacks’ fullback Mils Muliaina with the line beckoning.
Matt Giteau’s boot proved inaccurate on the night, the centre missing two conversion attempts and two penalty goals to cost the Wallabies 10 vital points.
But that didn’t look like it would matter when Adam Ashley-Cooper went over just seven minutes into the second half to extend the Wallabies lead to 13.
The teams traded penalties before All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw found space off the back of a scrum to give the visitors hope with a try in the 66th minute.
Piri Weepu’s pressure conversion brought the margin within a converted try and the Blacks scented blood against a tiring Wallabies outfit, who were playing their third Test in as many weeks.
And when No.8 Kieran Read crashed over next to the goalposts six minutes later, Weepu converted to put the All Blacks ahead for the first time in the second half – a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Following the match a disappointed Giteau admitted he may need to work on his goalkicking.
“We had every hope of winning, every chance, and we didn’t so everyone’s pretty disappointed,” he said.
“Some weeks you hit them (kicks) well, some weeks you don’t. Personally, it’s probably something I need to look at but it’s not really a team issue.”
Coach Robbie Deans refused to pinpoint the missed kicks as a reason for the loss, instead highlighting crafty play by the All Blacks that ensured McCaw’s try when the Kiwi skipper appeared to disengage early from a scrum.
“They’re clever, the way they stay a step ahead,” Deans said.
“You’ve only got to look at the numbers to see they’re smart, good luck to them.”
All Blacks coach Graham Henry praised his team’s spirit after their second come-from-behind win in as many Tri-Nations matches.
“The guys just showed huge character,” Henry said.
“They hung in there, got better as the game went on and pulled it out of the fire.”
The numbers still aren’t flattering, but Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is adamant Australia have definitely improved at the end of their 2010 Tri-Nations campaign.
Saturday night’s 23-22 loss to New Zealand at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium was Australia’s 10th straight defeat to the All Blacks and left them with just two wins in the six Tri-Nations matches this season.
It’s one more victory than last year, but New Zealand-born coach Deans again had to sit through another final quarter fadeout, something of a nasty habit when the Wallabies play the All Blacks.
The Australians preferred not to use the excuse of fatigue following a short turnaround and a long flight after Tests in the two previous weeks against the Springboks in South Africa.
While Australia finished a distant second to New Zealand on the Tri-Nations table, Deans was adamant his team was moving forward.
“There’s no doubt we’ve made progress but in the terms of the benchmark we are just under the brow.”
He pointed to the benefits gained by the increasing international experience of youngsters like backs Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor and Quade Cooper, the last of whom was playing his first Test against New Zealand.
“If we can all make little incremental gains then collectively that will be significant and clearly we are not that far away,” Deans said.
His New Zealand counterpart Graham Henry acknowledged Australia pushed his team hard in their last two encounters but was non-committal about whether the Wallabies had improved since this time last year.
“The game in Christchurch was a difficult game and tonight was a difficult game, the Wallabies have been playing some very good football,” Henry said.
Replacement All Blacks hooker Corey Flynn felt the Wallabies scrum was continuing to improve.
Howi
Roar Rookie
Grip yourself bayboy. That's the way I saw it. When you have something constructive to say then spit it out.
taylorbridge
Guest
Well written, Short Blind, Hayden is starting to hear the breathing of the runners behind as the gap closes.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
In the NZ Herald "One clever play by the All Blacks was the defining one," a chastened Deans said. "On the McCaw try, he detached early. That's fine, it is nothing new. They are smart and good luck to them." Lions Red - you are right. I watched Australia's front row incompetence protected by referees for quite some time. Bill Young was a pretty good exponent of the front rower's "dark art." If they're getting away with something don't whinge, get even better at getting away with the same thing, or lie in wait to thump it out of 'em next time.
Short-Blind.
Guest
Nice spin on what I said Hayden - no surprise there. Lets clarify my 'opinion' as stated above on this opinion website. 1. I said the based on this performance and the recent Wallaby improvement, the notion of a wide gulf between the two teams is nonsense - not that the Wallabies are 'better' at present (clearly not because they lost). Poor captaincy by Rocky was a significant contributor to our loss...this includes not pulling the kicker earlier and his poor relationship with Lawrence not helping our cause. Ritchie' leadership was the difference in the last 20 (as outlined today by J, Kaino in a separate article). In fact your greatest captain (IMHO) Buck Shelford came out today and said the Wallabies should have won as Ritchie's early break was illegal. Spin that one mate. 2. I actually acknowledged the great depth of NZ rugby but pointed out that the new troops used in this test match were a drop down in standard and that was clearly demonstrated by the AB performance. I also noted that without McCaw and Carter on deck the AB team would be a significantly poorer collective unit. This is widely recognised by most - even sensible kiwis. I have not seen replacements for either of these two that changes my opinion. 3. We actually agree on something (I've been saying this for years too fella). 4. Umm put words into my mouth bloke - I never said he walks on water rather outlined his two very good performances in his first two run on tests and at age 22 has the potential to be a long term No 8 option for this team. Did you think Read outplayed him on Sat night? Make some arguments rather than your usual loose BS. 5. Your opinion - respect that - my opinion is below. 6. Great so you agree that Pocock is in this class of field at age 22? What does that tell you he will be like at age 25? I remember being in a bar in the pacific full of NZers watching the 07 RWC quarter final against France. I rowed a boat through a storm half cut with two kiwis at 3am to get from the boat to the island that had the TV. After the loss I consoled them with a Bloody Mary or two and a hearty breakfast. You don't seem to be the type of bloke who would have got breakfast that morning - but I will send you commiserations when the Wallaby's beat your boys in the final.
Nick_KIA
Guest
Well I can't let that comment pass without a response SB. 1) I don't know what your definition of 'neutralised' is, nor how one player can do this to antoher in a team game, but McCaw played a better game than Pocock on Satruday to my eye. And on their last two meetings. 2) Richie at Age 22 was a year away from starting his career as best ever All Black captain and was the best 7 in NZ by a mile, and one of the best in the world. Sounds pretty similar to Pocock to me, except Richie has actually acheived this status, rather than it being mimagined by his fans who talk about 'trajectories' in careers. What a crock. 3) Rugby by it's nature is subjective. You see 'an illegal scrum break', I see Read detache hence scrum over so McCaw can break.
Short-Blind.
Guest
Pocock has 'neutralised' McCaw in several S14 games and on Sat night for 60 minutes until Ritchie got away with an illegal scrum early break to turn the game. If you read what I said I acknowledged Ritchie is without peer at present but on his current trajectory Pocock has the game to go beyond Ritchie. It may not happen next year but age is on his side and as Rockin Rod said above if he was Captain then Pocock may get a bit of the teflon treatment Ritchie does. The key parts of Pocock's game that are behind Ritchie are his link game (backing up and passing) and leadership. But remember Ritchie at age 22? Time will tell.
Lion Red
Guest
If McCaw is a cheat than I will say the Wallaby forward pack under Eddie Jones era were cheats by deliberately collasping the scrum when put under the pump and Gregan failing to put the ball into the scrum. There is little differences between the top 3 teams in the world today in terms of talent and skill so you have to find an edge over your opponents to get you over the line and if you have to push the boundaries of the law to get you over that edge on opponents than good on you. Old Man Emu says that there were 2 instances of McCaw breaking off early from the same scrum field position than I question why did the opposition not pick this up and notify the ref or combat this manoeuvre the 2nd time it was executed?
NZRugbyfan
Guest
GT75. I think you are fooling yourself. To say both teams played well would demonstrate you didn't even watch the game. Australia played well. NZ was average boarding on poor.
jeremy
Guest
'I cannot accept that I scored!'....Sharpie's actually talked himself out of a try with the Force - think it was in 07 or 08 against a high profile team, maybe the crusaders or hurricanes? Ground away at the tryline for four minutes, burrowed across, noone could see what happened. Gets up, Kaplan's asked for the TMO opinion but also asks 'Did you get it down Sharpie?', Sharpe shakes his head and walks off. It wouldn't have been ruled a try anyway but thought it was a nice touch by Sharpe.
jeremy
Guest
thank you for gracious comments, esp comparing the Eales era to the current ABs. That is high praise indeed.
Je Geniko
Guest
Then they will need John Donehue - Mr Grappling and Submission - of Melbourne Storm fame!
jeremy
Guest
Hey RedsNut, I was wondering when it would get to the fore here. It's not the ABs that have requested or expected it but the IRB. They've mandated that during competitions like the RWC (although not as far as I know tour games) that teams facing a challenge by a Pacific Island team or the NZ must be 10 metres behind the halfway line. The challenging team must start 10 metres from the halfway mark and can't advance past the halfway line either during the course of the challenge. Apparently there have been fights in matches before resulting from two teams doing challenges and getting a little carried away. The Matildas advanced upon the Black Ferns during the haka (the performance of which is...unusual, as traditionally women don't front the haka). It was an inadvertent crossing of the mandated distance but the IRB came down and thumped 'em. For what it's worth I think it's a stupid rule, if one team is issuing a challenge then the other team can do whatever the hell they want (within reason). A challenge is a challenge, respond to it as you will.
Je Geniko
Guest
Those Fox Sports guys are just as good as their counterparts at Fox News in the States.
jeremy
Guest
Fox Sports commentators said that it 'didn't disadvantage the attacking team' - not sure how that works when the ABs all slowed up in expectation of a stoppage.
jeremy
Guest
Faster & wider is ok. Fast, wide & reckless = intercepts. There's a LOT of reckless play happening... More impressive was the Wallabies line defence in the second half. That bodes better for the Wallabies than the attack does.
Nick_KIA
Guest
WWE = World Wrestling Entertainment? In which case I agree entirely, the Wallers have a good chane of picking up the cup, will just need to work on figure 4 leg locks.
Nick_KIA
Guest
Because there was so much pressure coming on from ABs that Moore couldn't lift his foot. Wallers need better tight 5, esp props.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Guys this is all BS. In my day (70's) cheating was not frowned upon and whinged about but acted upon. The biggest problem we had were with guys like the one called 'Head kicker' who a couple of you might have known. If we (and the Wallabies) are going to review every game in slow motion to reveal why we lost, we are never going to grow the balls to win these games.
Geoff Brisbane
Guest
He played well, would have been interesting had Kaino been on the field at the beginning I think he would have shut blind side down
Geoff Brisbane
Guest
The good thing is that there are viable options for many positions that have and are coming through the system as opposed to OZ overnight wonder/s with no solid grounding