The All Blacks were sublime in defeating the Wallabies two weeks ago at Eden Park. In that match they played as close to the perfect game of rugby as I have seen.
Right from their haka through to the fierceness at the breakdown, with Carter as the orchestra conductor, the All Blacks demolished an over-confident, almost smug young Wallaby outfit.
It was men giving boys a lesson in how to play rugby. I thought at the time that All Blacks could not play any better than they did that night.
Two weeks later, a chastened opposition side chose, in the lead-up to the match, not to talk themselves up. There was no talk about “ripping sides apart’ instead a quiet resolve emanated from a team that had a resolve to get the job done. A team prepared to let their actions speak for them.
So as the All Blacks finished another superb and fierce haka, the Wallabies remained stationary and continued to stare the All Blacks down.
Stirring stuff – hmmm – the Wallabies were there to play.
And so they set about it and took the game to the All Blacks. After 30 minutes the All Blacks backrow was decimated with Read and Thomson replaced through injury. The Wallaby back three, lead superbly by Samo, were dominating in way that has not been seen by Wallaby supporters for a long time. By halftime there was a handsome 17-point lead.
As always, the All Blacks were resurgent in the second half. They adjusted their tactics and with the confidence that they have always been able to run down any Wallaby halftime lead in the past, especially if they put the heat on these boys as they did at Eden Park, they would prevail.
They got to 20-all, exerting great pressure, but the boys had now grown into men. The challenge was met, and Will Genia – who said during the week “It’s easy to come out and say things but you’ve got to go out there and do it” – went out and did it. He sniped once more, breaking the defensive line for Beale to score. The Wallabies then closed out the match to win.
The All Blacks are now very nervous. At Eden Park they could not have played any better, so have they peaked to soon?
This Wallaby side is still getting better, and providing they continue to “go out and do it” and maintain respectful humility for all, they can only get better.
Go the Wallabies.
Mike
Guest
It really is a pinnacle, at least by default. 3N mostly only play each other (and with a very limited pool of referees), same for 6N. Island nations don't have their full team most of the time, for economic reasons. RWC is serious silverware and every team will be desperate to win it. Notice was served in 2007 that no-one is guaranteed a place in the final, and a second-tier team like Argentina can make it to the semis. Its like a soccer world cup - you can't make any mistakes and the pressure is on.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
The last time Vickerman played against the All Blacks before coming off the bench at Eden Park was 2008, and Samo 2004. I don't think they were expecting them to have that sort of impact.
Johnno
Guest
Good point about taking the emotion out of the game and letting the dust settle. For me in my time watching rugby the best and most complete wallaby match outside of a RWC, i have seen in watching rugby for about 20 years as i am 30, was the 1998 bledisloe/tri nations at the old Lancaster park 1998. Man Rod Mcqueen was a good coach then, as opposed to the out of touch sad decline of an old Rod mcqueen in his short time at the rebels. That match the intensity was as perfect as you could get for 80 minutes in a game of rugby. Still love Buhdda handy getting excited when the boy form Barriba Tom Bowman ran as fast as he could to score in the corner, and Jason Little's try pure class. Good Wallaby gold memories. And the 1st half of both the Johberg and Blomfentien tests last year were modern rugby at it's best. But for me the bledilsloe win (when the beledisloe actually meant something) at the old Lancaster Park christurch was for me the best win i have seen outside a RWC or a wallaby grand slam(1984 under Alan jones). Go you good thing Buddha handy, and good luck in the RWC wallabies the assignment for all contenders is someone has to beat NZ IN NZ in a finals match that is the unavoidable reality and a ALL BLACK team with no jet lag issues. The ultimate test but it can be done, go you good thing as THE LEGEND OF BUDDHA Handy would say
happychap
Roar Rookie
So even though Samo and Vickerman were named in the starting team a few days before the game, NZ were still expecting to play the powderpuff forwards? C'mon. NZ were aware of the calibre of these new inclusions and would have prepared as such, but is this instance they couldn't match it.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
They've beaten South Africa on the last three occasions. They lost at Pretoria last year.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Firstly, all *rugby fans* know that rugby games are won and lost up front. Secondly, the NZ backs made as many clean breaks as the Australian backs did. Either watch a game or at least peruse the match statistics before you do this.
methysticum
Guest
Roddo You say that the Wallabies have only won their last two games against their biggest rivals - NZ and SA. In fact they have beaten SA on the last four occasions they have played each other and have defeated NZ twice in their last three enounters. Peter K I love your rugby analysis but 'would of' instead of 'would have' is not a good look for an aspiring writer.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
The AB backline put in perhaps the worst attacking performance in memory, producing almost no line breaks between them. That is the fault of the players described who did zero, nothing in attack and thereby lost the ABs the game.
Ben S
Roar Guru
'just that they are one of the oldest AB teams around.' Really? I have doubts about that.
Ben S
Roar Guru
I was wrong about Vickerman too, Jiggles. This WC being played on a moist surface might really be to his advantage.
Vic
Guest
Yes, in short. The sheer weight of expectation on NZ and the complete lack of pressure on Australia suggests Oz is right in the box seat and NZ may well even choke in the 1/4s. They have the talent NZ, but I doubt they have the bottle. They were completely rattled by Australia. Worrying signs for NZ.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Two years ago was one of their worst seasons in the modern era.
PeterK
Guest
sure did. I said they were at their best 2 years ago with a slow decline. Since they were the best 2 years ago of course they would keep winning games.
Sylvester
Guest
Dagg will be left wing, I'm pretty sure.
Sylvester
Guest
PeterK, didn't this same aged team beat up the Wallabies in Auckland?
Jack Petro
Guest
Laws ... not Rules ... do you know Kearnsey went to an Assistant Referees course I went to this year ... at least they make an effort; the Kiwi commentators are biased but not as bad as the saffas. Anyway, RK - good post - and some very thoughtful discussion. I remember saying a long time agao that the Wallabies would be playing the ABs in the Final of the RWC - if this proves correct, I think it will be a cracker of a game.
dwc
Guest
Thanks Handles i was in a crowded oi oi oi pub.....congrats on the win!
defunkt
Guest
The World Cup is a frikken lottery, just look at who SA had to beat (or not beat) to get the last one. Any of 5-6 teams could win it and each is more or less as likely as the other. Bragging rights (and not much else) is all it's good for, people should stop seeing it as a pinnacle, it's much more a sideshow. Better officiating (incl. a more involved TMO), less one-sided games and a round robin format between two or more tiers would vastly improve the event and its worth.
Ralph
Guest
Best game from the Wallabies in a long time, so they have clearly peaked.
Mike
Guest
Interesting points Stilmatic1. I wasn't focussing particularly on the wallabies, but just on whether the ABs may have peaked last year, in a context where they have not only been acknowledged as the best team in the world (which is a no-brainer) since RWC 2007 but also as the team that DOMINATES every other. Their losses have seemed like aberations. Like the West Indian cricket team in the 1980s, or Australia in more recent years. I certainly don't think the ABs "have suddenly lost the plot". This last game may signify nothing more than that some old hands like Vickerman and Samo have put a bit of mongrel into our team. In other words, more to do with development of the wallabies, and no implications for the ABs except that they had an off night. And the RWC is a different situation. 3N can be a hothouse - each team knows each other like the back of their hands, they have mostly played each other in S15 not long before, and they even know the referees pretty well. That all changes with RWC and therein lies the danger. But the 6N nations will have the same problem - they cannot help but view Rugby through the lens of their recent 6N experience. Yet now they not only have to face 3N, but others like Argentina and islander nations who are full-strength just once every four years. And the referee mix is much wider, for everyone. "all the talk of a wb v ab final makes me cringe" - yes, same talk was going on in 2007. I guess we all thought that maybe one of AB and Wallabies might not make it to the final, but both knocked out in quarter-finals? I doubt anyone saw that coming. Should have brought us back to earth.