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The Wallabies’ first half last night, showed that the 2011 All Blacks are not invincible. They can be rattled and the Wallabies showed how.
The Wallabies played the All Blacks at their own game. They played an up-tempo game in both attack and defence.
The Wallabies made offensive tackles that drove the All Blacks back and closed down their space and time. Dan Carter, the best 10 in the game, made three errors in the first five minutes.
When the All Black errors came, the Wallabies struck hard and quickly. The initial fray saw Read injured and Thomson incapacitated. Vito replaced Read and Williams, a lock, replaced Thomson.
By half-time, it was 20-3, the same points difference has in Eden Park. The score reflected the game and the Wallabies were clearly the better team.
The possession began to even out in the second half as the All Blacks found some solace in a 26-phase passage of play. It was right out of the All Blacks’ playbook.
Before long, they evened up the scoreboard with a try to Nonu, which Carter converted.
But the All Blacks had nothing left for the final 20 minutes. The Wallabies struck back three minutes later, after a Genia break around a floundering Mealamu.
Ioane loomed up in support and then unselfishly passed to an unmarked Beale for the Wallabies’ third try.
Sport rarely provides clear-cut moments or outcomes. Tonight was not a clear-cut expose of the All Blacks’ tired legs.
It was evidence however, that they were hurried by the Wallabies initially, and after a brave comeback, ran out of that traditional resolve around the 65-minute mark.
Losing two starting backrowers did not help. But, the usual fluency was not apparent. They appeared disjointed for most of the game other than the period in which they played patient, possession-based, centre field rugby.
All the Wallabies played well. Rugby games are won by teams, all of whose players do their respective jobs.
My old favourite, AAC, regained his form and work ethic. Genia was irresistible. Cooper was clever as was Beale.
The Wallabies can still score tries with two workhorse centres.
Samo was a revelation in attack and defence. Elsom worked away. Horwill led from the front. Vickerman was brutal, although the line out was off-colour on occasions.
Graham Henry, in pronouncing that this game would not affect the Rugby World Cup, inadvertently, confirmed his concerns about the Wallabies’ competitiveness when the World Cup comes around.
This match mattered a lot to both teams. To the winner, came silverware and invaluable momentum leading into the Rugby World Cup. If only it could be played in Brisbane.
This was not the decisive win I wrote about in my previous article. But, it will have confirmed to the youngsters in the Wallabies and other teams that the best chance of beating this great All Blacks team is to take it to them.
As Corporal Jones of Dad’s Army said, “They don’t like the cold steel up ‘em!”
Other than start better, I am not sure what the All Blacks can do. Its not that they played poorly, the Wallabies didn’t let them play well, except for that 20-minute period after half-time.
The All Blacks can be beaten and if the opposition plays the right, up tempo game, I am not convinced that this All Blacks team can absorb it and bounce back to a win late in the game.
The All Blacks can be beaten and the Wallabies can beat them. The question is whether anyone will, when they have the home team advantage.
Graham Henry needs to find Sonny Bill Williams some lengthy game-time and a place on the bench. His X-factor was sorely needed in Brisbane.
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.