The All Blacks have chalked up their 100th Test win over the Wallabies – a commanding 47-29 triumph – to leave Australia’s Bledisloe Cup hopes in tatters for yet another year.
It was a sorry case of new coach, same old Wallabies as the All Blacks piled on six tries to two at ANZ Stadium in an ominous opening to the world champions’ Rugby Championship campaign.
No Dan Carter, no problems for the All Blacks, with Ewen McKenzie unable to replicate the feat of his coaching predecessor Robbie Deans and mastermind a victory over Australia’s trans-Tasman rivals in his first Test at the helm.
After entering the McKenzie era full of hope and excitement, the Wallabies now face the grim prospect of watching the All Blacks hoist the Bledisloe Cup for a 12th straight year next Saturday in Wellington.
The Wallabies haven’t beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand in 14 Tests since 2001 and, even if they find a way to break the long drought, the series will be decided at Dunedin’s House of Pain on October 19.
Not since 1949 have the Wallabies won back-to-back Tests in New Zealand in the same year.
On Saturday night’s showing, the Wallabies can kiss the Cup goodbye with the All Blacks outclassing McKenzie’s men across the park.
Rookie fullback Jesse Mogg had a shocker, playmaker-cum-winger James O’Connor went missing and Israel Folau barely touched the ball as Australia’s grand plan to run the world champions ragged proved fanciful.
Australia had conjured just one try in their four previous Bledisloe clashes under Deans and, if not for a 70-metre solo effort from halfback Will Genia and a last-minute consolation five-pointer to O’Connor, they would have gone tryless once again.
Mogg was hooked after All Blacks centre Conrad Smith brushed him off to secure victory with New Zealand’s fourth try in the 58th minute.
While he couldn’t be blamed for the defeat, uncapped five-eighth Matt Toomua followed suit shortly after as McKenzie threw mercurial playmaker Quade Cooper into the fray for his first Test after 11 months in exile under Deans.
But trailing by 18 points with as many minutes remaining, Cooper’s task was mission impossible and it was the All Blacks, in fact, who continued their tryscoring avalanche upon his introduction.
Winger Ben Smith, who opened the scoring in just the third minute and then nabbed a second early in the second half, completed his hat-trick eight minutes before fulltime.
With centre Christian Lealiifano landing four penalty goals, Australia actually led 12-10 after 28 minutes.
But their advantage lasted but a minute, with five-eighth and man-of-the-match Aaron Cruden charging down a sloppy kick from Lealiifano to score the softest of tries and then slotting the conversion.
The All Blacks were in again three minutes later when O’Connor was caught off his wing and skipper Richie McCaw – playing his first Test in almost nine months after a sabbatical – dived over in the corner.
Genia’s long-range effort, after flanker Michael Hooper pounced a lost All Blacks lineout throw, kept the Wallabies within striking distance at just 25-19 down at the break.
But three tries to the two Smiths put the Wallabies to the sword before O’Connor crossed in the dying seconds.
[roargal]
Tricky Dick
Roar Rookie
I am no one of gravitas in these parts, but I can personally admit to being totally wrong on this Hooper coming out of the S15 season. Hooper still does not bring much authority in clearouts or in line defense, but when you combine his trademark pace and nose for breaks and half breaks with this weekend's newfound frequency in getting his hands on the pill in the rucks and he's now a no-brainer start on openside until proven otherwise. That being said, MMM, despite having the 2nd best nickname in Oz, must yield to Gill. I haven't seen much Fardy tape, so I can't recommend or denigrate him. in a slightly related matter, Mowen was even more useless than Palu. How is that possible?
Jerry
Guest
Like the one where Kieran Read was pinged from a 22 restart? Or the one where McCaw was pinged when the Wallabies were on first phase possession outside the 40m mark? Yeah, really desperate cynical penalties those ones.
Sage
Guest
Comprehension is not your strong suit hey Hori.
Maori sidestep
Guest
Aussie were doing ok for 60 then all them old fella's decided it was time to start classes for the kiddies.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Ra
Guest
So how apparent?
dezzy10
Guest
May be the mid field blunder in letting Ashley-Cooper make the break?
CrusABS
Guest
Kia Ora and Talofa, Wardad and hakwa...lol Kahn Forever!!! :)
Machiavelli
Guest
+1000
Jerry
Guest
Not all of them - the Read one (which was harsh) was chasing a restart and the AB's weren't under any real pressure for McCaw's first penalty either (2nd phase possession, 40 metres out after the Wallabies made no real ground off first phase). The 4th penalty was a bit weird for me - McCaw got penalised for entry, but it wasn't a tackle or a ruck - it was a loose ball (after it had come out of the ruck) on the ground that two players went down on. Looked dodgy on first viewing, but if you look again I'm not actually sure it was illegal.
Wal the Hooker
Guest
I dont why some posters on here gives Higgers so much credit, how many tests has he played? This isn't super rugby, come on get real, you don't place that credence on a guy who hasn't even played more than a hand full of hard test rugby. Higgers iisn't a proven test player. There's just not enough steel in the WBs pack full stop! You cant go wide without going forward that simple. Certainly some good touches for the WBs in this game, but gee you have to think the ABs have some improvement in the works to come and on last night's evidence it won't be a very comforting feeling for the WBs.
dcnz
Guest
....classic response from a wallaby fan who has just seen his team let in 88 points in the last two games.
GotHim Yeah
Guest
Mace22... Not my opinion really... The fact is Richie got penalized by the Ref for flopping onto the ball in a ruck whilst we were 10 metres out. If he had of done that a couple more times he would have been marched ! But yes, I agree he is the great one. One of his many abilities is to analyze each Ref and play to their interpretations of the rules. He pushes the boundaries every game, with every Ref. He also gives away ruck penalties ( last night). But, I also witnessed Link turn the Reds Pack into brilliant ruck-men in the last 3 years. Reds forwards like Radike Samo, Liam Gill and Beau Robinson became first class pilferers and they secured the ball in attack. Robinson, being one of the most under-rated flankers in Super Rugby. He only has the 1 Wallaby cap coz of the class in front of him - Pocock, Smith etc, but he deserves a go. So, the future is bright for the Wlbys, IF Link can repeat his Reds coaching efforts at the Breakdown...
Joab
Guest
Well said Sheek everyone seems to be looking at individual games and not the deep seated problems with the ARU over the past 8 or 9 years that have led us to the problems we have now. We have a wealth of natural talent, more that enough to match the All Blacks, but after such a long succession of poorly prepared teams with underdeveloped players it is well past time that the ARU sack all involved in our elite program and high performance units as they are proven perennial failures at their jobs! They have not developed our players individual or team skills to the level required to beat the best. Every Wallaby coach for the past 8 or 9 years has been saddled with players in every position with undeveloped or not properly developed skill sets and after the millions of dollars spent that is an absolute disgrace!
fredstone
Guest
I think this scoreline flatters the AB's. This was a first hit out for a new coach with a vastly different style to the previous. As far as the AB's been scrappy and below par, well the last year and a half has been from them. In every match they've played the penalty count against them has been more than the for and I think they're verging on the most negative side on defense (apart from maybe Argentina) and could have been yellowed a couple of times more. The wallaby forwards are on an upward curve and there's on or two good prospects except for at prop that will be introduced in the next year or two. Many of the AB forwards are close to their expiry date.
flying hori
Guest
Sage, does'nt the truth hurt lol
nudge
Guest
Not so sure Cattledog, there may not have been phase after phase of pressure but the blow torch was applied at certain times and it coughed up a try or three. Not a bad hit out for the AB's last night (as a kiwi i can say that!) but i believe the AB's will be disappointed they gave away circa 15 (or was it 19??) points in penalties. Particularly with a class kicker like CL to bang them over. That is something i imagine they will work on this week - as well as nulifying one Mr Hooper. Yes it should be closer but to be honest i am struggling to see the WB's keeping pace with the AB's once they iron out their issues - be it having the right cattle, or the right cattle with the right head space, Wellington is looking decidely BLACK if you are a WB fan. Time will tell.
Joab
Guest
The preparation, tactics and some selections were rubbish. How on earth did we go into a first up test against the All Blacks without any trial games, without any of our best performed locks this season in the starting team and using the toughest and most important match of the year to use so many inexperienced players? I could go into the whys and wherefores of the game but frankly I have had enough of Australian rugby after 8 or 9 years of this rubbish. A wealth of natural talent but a after such a long succession of poorly prepared teams with underdeveloped players it is well past time that the ARU sack all involved in our elite program and high performance units as they are proven perennial failures at their jobs! After over 50 years of supporting the Wallabies through thick and thin, I have had enough and will start looking for tickets to the next Tiddlywinks test. For all those professional commentators, please tell us again about the "real deal", why McKenzie was the best choice and the number of Wallabies you have labelled the best in the World over the past 5 or so years? If you still stand by your comments I will gladly buy you all a new white cane. "Completely Fed Up".
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Yeah i wonder why he apologising tho? he had a good game.
Justin3
Guest
Just back from golf Sage but this caught my funny - Did anyone else expect to hear Sonny & Cher when they woke up this morning. I love a bit of Bill Murray, and he likes golf too. Classi mate..