Australia Wallabies players celebrate after they defeated New Zealand All Blacks in the DHL Hong Kong Bledisloe Cup rugby match in Hong Kong Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010. Australia won 26-24. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
The Hong Kong Bledilsoe Cup Test (surely the last for many years) was an enthralling match which could have had several different outcomes, other than the 26 Australia – 24 New Zealand result.
The Wallabies could have won with a cricket score.
They piled 12 points on the board, early on in the Test. Then missed four penalties, admittedly the ones taken by Kurtley Beale were from a long way out. As well, they bombed several tries in this period. One of them, a breakout by Beale (who was sensational once again at fullback) which the All Blacks somehow smothered and then snuffed out.
A try then and the All Blacks were gone.
They were being penalised by the referee Alain Rolland at scrum time, even though their scrum was dominant. They were making elementary handling mistakes. Their lineout, once again under the coaching of Steve Hansen, was a shambles.
But the Wallabies did not put the All Blacks away and after about 25 minutes they slowly and surely began to smash through the weak (especially Quade Cooper and Mark Chisholm) Wallaby defence. Before and after halftime they piled on 24 unanswered points.
A 40-point All Blacks scoreline was on the cards.
Then with the score line 24 – 12 and about 20 minutes of play left, Graham Henry pulled off Daniel Carter. Carter was playing within himself. He had tried only once to take the line on. But he seemed to have plenty of gas left in his tank. On came Stephen Donald to lose the game for the All Blacks.
There is a curious thing about coaches in that they have favourite players, even when these players fail to deliver. Donald is one of those players for Henry, as is Iaisa Toeava. Both these players made fateful mistakes which allowed the Wallabies to come back and score the two converted tries they needed to win the Test.
Toeava slipped over after misreading a brilliant back movement, which involved a spot-on long cut-out pass from Cooper and a number of runners off the ball. Once again Mils Miliaiana was out of position (he, too, surely can’t be retained in the starting XV next year?) and Drew Mitchell finished off in grand fashion.
Then Donald put in his ludicrous grubber kicks inside his own 22, missed a kickable penalty, and then kicked for distance rather than deep for touch with 79 minutes and 39 seconds on the clock! Richard Loe was right in the NZ Herald when he said all four number 10s in the ITM semi-finals in New Zealand (three of them teenagers and Slade) are better players right now than Donald.
While all this was happening, with the Wallabies storming back into the Test with Mitchell’s try, the All Blacks once again showed they have no idea (other than trying to score a try) on closing out games.
They were leading by 5 points with about six minutes to go when they moved the ball in a series of crunching runs from lineout drives from their own half to metres away from the Wallaby tryline.
Why didn’t they set up a drop goal? This would have closed out the Test and if it missed they would have got the ball back for another, and another, attempt.
If they had to lose a Test, this was a good Test for the All Blacks to lose.
They got the ‘peaking too soon’ monkey off their backs. If the selectors are smart they will know that next year the failed players in the backline will have to be discarded for the brilliant young talent. This is a big ‘if’, of course.
For the Wallabies, there was the satisfaction of actually finishing off a Test strongly and winning it by scoring more points in the second half than the All Blacks. This is only the third Test out of 83 the All Blacks have lost after being in front at halftime. The Test before was the semi-final at Cardiff in RWC 2007 when the drop kick option was left until it was too late.
The Wallabies have entrenched their position as number 2 side in world rugby, with justifiable pretensions for the number 1 position.
Robbie Deans is no longer under any pressure (in my view he never really was) to ‘get results’ while he was trying to build up a squad from the rubble of RWC 2007 and with a group of players, especially in the tight five, who aside from Benn Robinson, are not quality Test players.
So the scrum remains a worry.
The try Mitchell scored came from a Wallaby scrum that was re-set three times. Will another referee be as tolerant to the Wallaby scrumming problems as Rolland was on this occasion?
The lineout, too, disintegrated during the match to the extent that near the end of the Test the Wallabies opted to tap a penalty outside the All Blacks 22 rather than kick for a lineout near their tryline.
There has been talk about some of the injured players automatically coming back into the Wallaby pack next season. James Horwill will, probably.
But forget about Wycliff Palu. Ben McCalman is the find of the season. He reminds me a lot of Tim Gavin, of blessed memory.
With Rocky Elsom coming back into form and David Pocock’s fearless digging for turnovers, the Wallabies have a terrific back row, one that matches almost the All Blacks and the Springboks.
The small backline was brilliant on attack. It is not often you see two tries from about 50m out directly from scrums.
Cooper is a bit like a honey pot for defenders. They swarm all over him trying to shut down his tricks. But this leaves gaps for his outside backs when they run on to his pin-point passes. If the defenders try to cover the other runners Cooper has the speed to cut through as he did to score his try.
James O’Connor announced himself as the new Shane Williams. He is smallish and muscular. His defence is strong. And his broken field running makes him very dangerous when he gets mismatches.
Somehow on defence, Deans has to put in a system that puts O’Connor into Cooper’s position because the number 10 channel is virtually a sea-way for attackers to flood through. Of course, Cooper could learn how to tackle. But there has been no improvement this season even when this weakness in his play has been identified.
With his two conversions at the death, which effectively won the match, O’Connor showed that he rather than Matt Giteau should be the starting goal-kicker.
The position of Giteau, in fact, deserves some attention from Deans. It may be that if Berrick Barnes can get his Donald-like mania for kicking away possession out of his game, he is the best five-eighths partner to Cooper.
Having started the tour with a flourish, the Wallabies now have to show that they can put a series of Test wins together.
They have Wales on Saturday night. Will we see (as I expect) the new Wallabies putting together another strong performance? Or will we see … but let’s not go there while the euphoria of Hong Kong still remains a strong memory.
the oracle
Guest
Again I do not believe the AB's have real depth. You cannot include Ranger (was dropped to the bench for auckland this year, he is awesome runner, but his passing is poor and does not look for support) Kahui (was dropped to bench for super 14, why? because he cannot tackle) As I said Vito and Dagg were the only new players that impressed me this year. SBW is untested and for anyone to think he is the next big might be sorely dissappointed. Okay so your 2 centres are injuryed (nonu and smith) who to replace them? SBW (again untested) and Mcalister? Has been not great great since returning from NH. Sam Whitelock, again a good bread and butter lock, but world class? I do not think so. I believe that if the AB's had a few injuries the players that replaced them are a fair disntance behind them. This is where Henry should have been blooding more guys and giving them more game time.
Forcefan
Guest
Agreed Paul. While Giteau was relatively quiet, his runs and play without the ball certainly helped the team. Just because you don't get your hands on the ball as a back does not mean you don't make a contribution.
Ben S
Roar Guru
'Actually as far as I could tell it was Pocock’s promotion that caused Smith to retire. Other than that I can’t agree that he been reluctant to pick new players… sure he’s kept some old ones, but to me that’s simply a reflection of Australia’s lack of depth. The wallabies aren’t the kangaroos and so there’s not a string of alternatives that better than the incumbents. He’s changed the look of the team quite a bit since he’s come in. I honestly don’t think Cooper would have been given a go under Eddie or Connolley.' Smith was still starting when he retired. There is always an alternative, and that is the entire point Further, Deans has basically picked the same packs that Connolly did, literally the same packs. Most of his changes have been forced - Baxter, Burgess, Giteau at 10, Beale at 15. Reactive rather than proactive. Jones and Connolly picked a lot of young players, just flick through their various squads and starting XVs.
Tragic
Guest
Agreed on your final paragraph - I believe, optimal trajectories accomplished in the RWC for Aus and NZ, that we both meet our bogey teams: Eng and France respectively... before we even think about the semis/final.
Mudskipper
Guest
Really gents.... All this player must go that player must go rubbish.... Is claptrap... The team just achieved one of their key goals for 2010... Bring down the All Blacks... And as a team they did... And that's the only way they could neat the worlds best team in 2010... -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Jason
Guest
This wasn't the RWC final, where it wouldn't matter if Carter was injured for the next three months.
cinematic
Guest
Of course it was a dead rubber. Carter's substitution is proof beyond doubt of the games dead rubber status. Had anything meaningful been riding on the game Carter would have stayed on the park. Carter's substitution is not an excuse for the loss however. The AB's came through with two rookie five-eigths in Sydney and should have gone on to win this one more comfortably.
cinematic
Guest
Frankly I'm still amazed and bemused the AB's managed to lose. Spiro your cricket score quip must surely be fueled by recreational drugs. It was like watching the Eales days when the Wallabies were totally ruthless and frequently won games in the final minutes. Except this Wallaby side has incompetent kickers, a feeble scrum, a turnstile at first-five and an absentee captain. Which doesn't say much for this AB performance. Well done to the Wallabies.
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
KPM - Yes Palu was good - but that was because his Mother had given him a serve - becasue previously he was soft. Now he is the goods and could be as good as Kefu - but osem way to go as yet. Mc Calamn - a good apprentice. Ben S does not agree on McCalman - see above - as only 3 tests - and criticises my comment that he was doing Chisholm's work . Mc Calaman had to - Chisholm was not doing his job. Yes 3 tests - but I think he is in the mould of a good Number 8 and so we will see - He is young and tougher and smarter than brown. Remember the old saying - if they are good enough - they are old enough. But in this professional era we have to tread slowly - but this Tour we must see what they can do ina Teast and therefore Deans needs to start blooding them; bench, 20 to 30 min inputs and then a full game. We will see
Dan
Guest
Actually as far as I could tell it was Pocock's promotion that caused Smith to retire. Other than that I can't agree that he been reluctant to pick new players... sure he's kept some old ones, but to me that's simply a reflection of Australia's lack of depth. The wallabies aren't the kangaroos and so there's not a string of alternatives that better than the incumbents. He's changed the look of the team quite a bit since he's come in. I honestly don't think Cooper would have been given a go under Eddie or Connolley.
Red Rooster
Guest
OJ - its a circus - the logic, as you clearly point out, is the real casualty. As long as you dont blame Deans you will be OK
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Henry and Co didn't prepare well for the Sydney Test either. I think they should have more set plays in mind for the replacement first five.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
It wasn't a big enough game to go against medical advice just as Sydney wasn't a big enough game for Carter to opt out of surgery. Henry did the same thing when Tom Donnelly came back from injury earlier in the season. Besides, having Carter on the field wouldn't have stopped Australia from scoring from set piece. The most likely outcome would've been Donald coming on for ten minutes at the end and Carter switching to scone five. We might have won but it would've been more of the same. Cruden struggled in Sydney so there's no indication that he would've done a better job other than tailoring it to your youth policy idea, but really, it's paid off for the Wallabies?
Taniwha
Guest
First off, well played to the Wallabies. The used the time after the Sydney test well, and prepared meticulously, build on the pain and got the reward. As when the AB's lose, there has been a fair reaction with a few extreme reactions from both sides supporters. For those that say it was a dead rubber, the number of comments on various articles on here as well as nz hereald and stuff nz reinforce it was anything but a dead rubber. I tend to agree with KPM. The content of the AB squad did tend seem to be very conservative. I think the loss of Weepu the night before the squad was announced changed things significantly. They were worried about goal kickers, obviously Cruden is still a work in progress and Donald had been kicking well in the ITM cup. Ranger was injured in the ITM cup but had made a came back and had been involved in the squad and played consistently throughout the year (unlike Toeva who had a long injury lay off). While the ITM cup is good preparation for the super 14, it is a big step down from the speed and intensity of test football, and in this regards maybe the AB coaches got shown to be a bit behind the 8 ball in their preparations (though I do agree with Henry that the key players need a rest at some time - given once the end of year tour concludes it is just a matter of weeks till super 15 starts). AB does have good depth, but one area we clearly don't is first five. Australia has probably three first fives (and yes I am including Giteu in this) that are better than our number two, and unfortunately this is a key position being the play maker one. Things have changed from the days of Merhtens/Spencer and Carter/Evans and Larkham was the sole choice for the Wallabies. There are number of promising first fives in ITM cup, but as already alluded to this does not necessarily translate to success at the next level. Henry & co. in the past have reacted well to adversity, and will need to do so again. I can see their summer being consumed with analysis and tactics, hopefully this loss serves as a rod to focus their energies.
Sam
Guest
The Wallabies scrum is still under too much pressure, Ma'afu, and Robinson are not fit enough and need to drop a huge amount of weight to de seriously considered test props. Both have been smashed by all nations this year and are not up to it. Daley is a joke and I can not believe that he is even there, Slipper will be good in 5 or so years and Alexander although he gets found out at tighthead is a very good loosehead prop and is good around the field. If the wallabies are to win the WC they need Tim Fairbrother, he was the best Aussie tighthead throughout the Super 14, the best tighthead in the Sydney club comp and the fittest they have. You need to be realistic the game is fast, you need to be outstanding at set piece and contribute fully around the field, not coming in and out of the game. Why have the AB's got rid of Tialata, same reason that the Wallabies need to get rid of Robinson and Ma'afu. This win is awesome but Australia will not win the WC with these two as main props in the squad.
Bayboy
Guest
The most important match before next season you are kidding me right. Is this because Australia won? If anything the most important mact for Australia was in Christchurch where they had the chance to keep the Bledisloe alive and the chance to prove they can win in NZ. They have proven they can beat a bumbling ABs however the real test is yet to come. They must be able to back this win up and do it well against the supposed inferior Northern opponents. England will be an almighty challenge for both the ABs and Australia and IMO this is by far the most important match on tour for both teams
Moaman
Guest
well said Kate! ( I was wondering the same thing)
Winston
Guest
"The All Blacks just don’t get it. To win matches you have to..............................." The Abs were on the brink of a world record winning streak and you're lecturing them on how to win matches. Come on... Well done though to the Wallabies though. They played for 80. That fitness sure came through in the end Cooper was good on attack but to say he shredded every time he got the ball is a bit much, His defence was absolutely woeful. He's got to be up there with the worst tacklers in international rugby. I can't actually remember him making a tackle. Its a major weakness and smart teams will run at him constantly now. I thought Conrad played pretty well, Toeava shouldn't have been there. He's just come back from a long lay off. I would have liked to see Fruean in the squad instead. He would have caused havoc to that defence. But then Kahui will be back next season and take his rightful place. I thought Jane was playing awesome till he got injured Can't understand why Giteau is on the field, he is surely the Steven Donald of Australian rugby now. When Barnes came on he made a huge difference, especially in defence. AAC's try was awesome. Some selection headaches when Digby comes back. Vito, Ranger and Cruden have a lot of potential but none have really shown much at international level. And they've had a few chances, Cruden to me seems to small to be an effective 10 international level Its bad one for the ABs to lose cause Aus will take a lot of confidence in this win. However Aus may make the same mistake as the ABs in that "if it aint broken don't fix it" attitude The Abs have started badly in a lot of games and have been really fortunate in a couple to come through with a win. Anyway it makes for the ultimate build up for the World Cup, particularly with the transtasman rivalry on this site
Moaman
Guest
How can Spiro claim that "once again the ABs showed they don't know how to close a game out" and two breaths later"they have only lost 3 Tests of 83 after leading at halftime"(paraphrasing here)??? Seems a mite contradictory to me although I was also appalled at the tactics during those final frantic minutes.That turnover-THAT turnover,with 30 secs left on the clock...any self-respecting ITM side would have piled a couple more forwards into the ruck,run the clock down and then hoofed it direct into touch by the shortest route;End of story.Then the articles on the Roar today would be more lamentation about goal-kicking and appalling australian tactics in the 2nd half!
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Sylvester of course the All Blacks have huge depth, just think for example that at centre there is Nonu, Smith, Kahui, Mcalister, Toaeva, SBW and who knows how many more. They have no end of depth. But I don't think they have introduced their new players as much as they could. The absence of Cruden, Vito and Ranger from this tour is a golden opportunity to further their development lost. What if Ranger turned out to be a better test match wing than Jane or the Rokocoko of 2010? Henry will not know and Ranger could have turned big matches in the World Cup next year. I'm not saying he is better than those two, but he could be and Henry will not have fully explored the possibility.