The All Blacks weren’t as slick as they were last week, but last night in wet Wellington they had too much in the tank for the Wallabies, retain the Bledisloe Cup for the 11th successive year.
They won 27-16 to chalk up their 27th win on the trot at home.
Not awesome, as the men-in-black can be, but very effective, making the Wallabies pay for their mistakes.
And there were plenty of those. The questions that must be asked:
What’s happened to Will Genia? Where has that domination and inspiration gone as the recognised world’s best 9?
For the second Test in a row he was clearly outpointed by his live-wire opposite number Aaron Smith.
Genia’s clearance last night was ponderous, his passing sloppy, bringing back bad memories of George Gregan’s four-year long over-stay.
And what is it about his almost manic obsession to go the short side where there were usually four to five gold jerseys, with no room to move, and going nowhere?
Let’s face it, if Will Genia doesn’t fire, there’s no spark in the Wallabies.
But he had plenty of mates in the poor passing department. Most were too high, or poorly directed, the no-look pass not acceptable. Other passes were bounced along the ground.
Come on, these are the elite of Australian rugby, passing is elementary, and you can throw in handling, and tacking as well.
Missed tackles, Wallabies 17, All Blacks 15 – even the winners were slack.
Slack lowlights Stephen Moore’s lineout feeding. To find the target regularly is a must, Moore doesn’t. He hasn’t ball sense, a vital ingredient.
So Ewen McKenzie, find one who can hit the mark.There ere 14 other choices, Michael Hooper immediately springs to mind, chockful with ball sense. Adam Ashley-Cooper is another.
And how can the Wallabies dominate the rucks and mauls 84-48, and run the ball 83 times to 47, but never look like scoring a try apart from Moore’s near miss, until Israel Folau intercepts late in the game and burns off the defenders?
Part of that is rock-like All Black defence, but the bigger problem for the Wallabies are the lack of options, it’s either take the ball up hard, or pick-and-go.
And the All Blacks have them covered – easily.
The pluses?
A vastly-improved performance from James O’Connor, Folau went looking for work, but neither were fed enough quick possession – and Matt Toomua was more involved.
That’s what the Wallabies are lacking – decisive play from the play-maker.
Whether Toomua is the answer still has a question mark against it, or is it Quade Cooper, or Bernard Foley?
That’s where the All Blacks have no problems. If Dan Carter is out, there’s Aaron Cruden, or Beauden Barrett, then Tom Taylor, or Colin Slade – and all consistent goal-kickers.
An embarrassment of riches.
So where to now for Ewen McKenzie?
Like Robbie Deans, McKenzie can’t be blamed for lack of basics, but his pick and stick faithful policy didn’t work.
Biggest decision – Toomua, Cooper, or give Foley his first cap?
Folau must return to full-back where he made his mark with the Waratahs that earned him a gold jersey.
Jesse Mogg and Tevita Kuridrani are clearly not internationals at the moment, and no-nonsense winger Nick Cummins must be in the starting line-up.
Genia, plus locks James Horwill, and Rob Simmons, must lift their game, and Ben Mowen become more consistent.
Mowen is an 80-minute goer, but he’s been mixing some great positive rugby, with the elementary mistakes of poor handling, poor passing, and missed tackles.
So Ewen McKenzie has a lot of work to do. One thing for sure, he won’t shirk the issue.
The next few Wallaby training sessions loom as brutal.
Campbell Watts
Guest
Rea???
Mike
Guest
I said I doubted it was a try - not quite the same thing! Anyway, everyone's welcome to view it and form their own opinion.
Frisky
Guest
I have just been informed by Mike that the NZ footage is on YouTube which does show different angles and that "regretably it was no try" . Looks like the ref gets it right occasionally.
Mike
Guest
frisky, the NZ coverage is on youtube. It shows some replays. I regret to say that I doubt whether he grounded the ball over the tryline.
frisky
Guest
Many comments have been made about Moore’s non-“try”. There were no replays or angle views when I watched teh replays. Does anybody have access to video-ref footage?
Ben.S
Roar Guru
'Rubbish. If their core skills aren’t up to standard they go back to club footy with an action plan, see ya later.' So why do national sides have scrummaging coaches, kicking coaches and skills coaches?
Chan Wee
Guest
true ma8, but my post was in general about the center combo of smith and nonu over 47 tests and not just BTI. actually aac contributed to that tackle as much as savea. when he broke the line there was dagg and smith on the wing on his left, but savea moved in from the right wing cutting down the space so aac had to go left and avoid dagg savea defence. also if u watch it again , notice how far away joc the winger is and no mogg to be seen. how will the OZ ever score a break away try withot support. and t was not once but many breaks ended becoz of no support. best was the lealifano break where read did a nice foul :)
Garth
Guest
I hope you don't suggest they do what Australian cricket did when the Black Caps swept them 3 - 0 in the very short-lived Chappell-Hadlee series. Which was spit the dummy and refuse to play again while claiming it was uneconomic, talk about bad sportsmanship! I don't think NZ has played Australia outside of international tournaments since. Wales has not beaten the AB's for nearly 60 years, they still front up. Ireland, Scotland and God alone knows who else have NEVER beaten the AB's in 110 years of trying and THEY still front up. Australia beat the AB's in 2011, two years ago, and claimed the Tri Nations in the process.
Garth
Guest
Didn't the Rebels then proceed to sack him?
Max Power
Guest
Johnno Greg Inglis is 2cm (195cm to 193cm) taller than Savea but Savea is 3kg heavier (105kg to 108kg) so I would venture a guess that Inglis wouldn't walk all over Savea. And as for Savea not making first grade, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck left union because he couldn't crack the Blues team so he signed with the Roosters and is now killing in the NRL, which kind of contradicts your point.
Max Power
Guest
And McCaw is more skillful and far, far, far more intelligent/game savvy
Max Power
Guest
That's essentially my point, league players are picked are younger and their physical development starts earlier. It's not that they're genetically anymore gifted, it's that league does a better job of developing the players physically. If union became more professional and started the physical development of its players earlier the physical difference between the players would narrow even further.
dsat24
and in other news apparently theres an election coming up.... yeah so anyway this writer is looking forward to the Reds boys well firing up for the Boks in Brissie. Genia (all going well) having a blinder and getting some back plays racheting up...
Rugby is Life
Guest
500+ comments shows we are passionate about our game.
Johnny Howard
Guest
500 comments jaysus!
Mike
Guest
Not his problem anymore Dsat. We'll have to find our own excuses now.
Rugby Observer
Guest
"Convicts" Now is that Xenophobic or what.
Chan Wee
Guest
Genia needs a committed team. Me thinks the weight of carrying the Wobblies is too much for him and it showed on his face (and of Howill). In case ur a cricket fan this same strain was evident on Michael Clarke (and Leahmann also); losing constanlt is hard on leaders ! Mogg shud notbe dropped; i would pt him on the wing opposite smith (or any light winger) and pur JOC at fullback. one reason for oz bad show was Mogg's kicking game , which was aimless. Having a big boot does ot mean it is a contest to see who kick the ball further. joc is a much better kicker. Folau is a good wng , only he needs ball to play ; so cooper has to play at 10 and i would play CL at 13. I m an admirer of all blacks' back play; all of them can kick but only if necessary. first instinc is to run , then to pass and last to kick. I'm with u on Mowen, no doubt hes a 6 and not an 8 (he struggled in the super final against a virtually unknown.) HIgginbotham is also a good 6. and so is peter kimlin. problem for oz is finding a good 8 like Palu in form. (sadly he is injured and a yard slow now). Hooper is a good replacement for Pocock so 7 is covered (with Gill also).
Chan Wee
Guest
Is it only the supporters and media ma8? after all they dont pick the xv (or 23). maybe one needs to look at the selection policy and Wallaby setup also it maybe that the well s too shallow to sustain the needs due to injuries. When the NZ squad was announced there was opposite reaction , that the S15 winning chiefs had only a handful in the 30. Even after 2 wins many still question what Nonu is doing in the12 jersey instead of Crotty. people wondered how slade could not start after having played more than 10 tests? look at the case of frank Halai; despite being a leading try scorer in S15 AND being a member of world's best 7s team for a couple of seasons, he is just an invitee for training. any other country will lay the red carpet for him to play or their team. imo mybe the AUSSY selectors are also not so sure who shud be in the squad and who the best players for international tests. but then this is nothing new it seems; look at the oz cricket team. according to the coach only 3 players were sure of a place in the team (rogers, clarke and harris). Is that a good sign ??? The rugger team is trying to keepcontinuity but the guys are not good enough at the world stage. imo the reason for MIB domiance is the selection policy to suit ther gameplan. and a no-nonsense attitude to players' commitment. best example is Piri Weepu, who despite a very good S15 season was ditched for young blood and Victor Veto who after a few years as the backup for Read has been told to step up. True the brumbies had many good players but one needs to look at them realistically and say if theyare world class or not. Mogg for example looked like a schoolboy in the second half, kicking aimlessly and doing nothing else. I read somewhere he can run 100m in 11 seconds! then wth is he doing kicking the ball out everytime ? i also read that tomooa is a strong tackler and all that cooper is not. but cooper can make things happen and that is what u need from ur fly half. one seaon in a good team does not make u a great player; he is still work in progress. Cooper must play. IMO Mowen is not an international 8. a good capable 6 but definitely he cannot match someone like Read (or even the Saffer 8). too bad palu is injured and a yard slow now. Cant think of a good 8 from OZ (or for that matter from NZ). Kuridrani is a disappointment definitely. He did play well in S15 but seems to be lost at test level. I just wonder if he could play at 12 like NONU and move CL to 13. Or maybe CL can play 10 and JOC can play13 ? O Moggto play 11 and JOC 15?
atlas
Guest
a comment on the bench from Ewe in today's SMH - he's unhappy with them as well: ''Twenty-five per cent of our missed tackles came from the bench and that was disappointing. They were only on for the last 15 to 20 minutes. I expect more. We'll talk about that. I know we've got young players, new players, whatever, but I expect them to make a difference. Otherwise there's no point putting them on the field.''