MATCH RESULT:
The Wallabies and All Blacks have played out a tense 12-all draw in the first match of the 2014 Bledisloe Cup.
The only points from both sides coming courtesy of penalty goals.
The draw seeing the All Blacks denied a record 18th consecutive victory.
The two sides will meet again at Eden Park in a weeks time.
FINAL SCORE:
Wallabies 12
All Blacks 12
MATCH PREVIEW:
The Wallabies play the All Blacks in the first Test of the 2014 Bledisloe Cup at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Saturday night. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8:00pm (AEST).
Tonight marks the 150th match between these two fierce rivals and while the All Blacks will be looking to continue on with their recent domination and set a new record for themselves as they attempt to reach an unprecedented eighteenth straight test victory.
But we can not discount the the Wallabies, who enter this match with new found energy and form.
Most of the pre-game talk has centred on Ewen McKenzie’s surprise selection of Kurtley Beale at flyhalf over his inform Waratahs teammate Bernard Foley. How Beale will fare against the world champions has been a topic of great discussion.
Watch live on TEN with expert commentators Gordon Bray and Matt Burke
Many reactions have seen a rather pessimistic view on Beale’s selection and ability to control a game at the highest level. But what Beale does undeniably provides is attacking creativity and flair – which may just be the tonic for the Wallabies to counter the numerous threats the All Blacks possess.
Both teams have exciting and attacking backlines with plenty of flair, skill and power but neither will be effective unless their packs can provide a decent platform to operate from and this will be the real test for this Wallabies team.
The loose forward contest promises to be a cracking affair. The inform Waratah pair of Captain Michael Hooper and Wyclif Palu are in tremendous form and beat there revered opposites Richie McCaw and Kieran Read only two weeks earlier in the Super Rugby final.
With Scott Fardy’s work rate and aggression complimenting them they will fancy their chances again in the loose however, their opposites will not be happy with their last outing, and with the powerful and in-form Jerome Kaino in tow, the All Blacks backrow will be a real force to deal with.
The locking pair of Rob Simmons and rookie Sam Carter will have their work cut out for them up against the dynamic pairing of Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick, arguably the best locking pair in the world at the moment. Their work in tight will be vital to the Wallaby cause.
The inspirational Nathan Charles makes his run on debut tonight after the Wallabies have suffered several injuries at hooker and will need a strong performance tonight, particularly at set piece along with his fellow frontrow partners in James Slipper and Sekope Kepu up against Wyatt Crockett, Dane Coles and Owen Franks.
How the Wallabies forward pack will fare tonight will go a long way to determining whether Beale is afforded the quality ball to run his dangerous backline and set the likes of Adam Ashley Cooper and Israel Folau loose.
If not, it could prove to be a long night for the men in gold as the strike power the All Blacks possess is second to none and led by the dynamic Ben Smith and powerful Julian Savea.
Regardless we are in for an absolutely cracking match here tonight so log on and have your say as we cover all the action here on The Roar!
Tip: All Blacks by 12.
[roargal]
abnutta
Roar Guru
51-20
markjohnconley
Guest
AAC for McCabe, Kuridrani at 13. Phipps and Foley. Still backing NZ next match, especially if CONRAD SMITH (what a player!) is back
Mike
Guest
You "deal with that" by not giving away so many penalties. Since you asked...
44bottles
Roar Guru
I can quote you the comments or I can say it is pathetic for either side to sledge each other over a draw. At the time I posted it I had only seen a lot of NZ aimed comments. I hadn't read all of the comments but now there are comments aimed at Aus as well. Also, ever heard of play the ball rather than the man in an argument. Your entire reply consists of: Insult. I know you are but what am I. I know you are but what am I with insult. Suck it up. Ridiculous over assertion that has no basis in fact. Insult. If you read my comment I say, "A was meant to be bad for both teams." That means that anyone sledging anyone isn't thinking straight.
niwdeyaj
Guest
you drew too and its actually a worse result for you as a record was on the line and your All Blacks FAILED despite favorable conditions (wet weather more suited to your gameplan) and only missing x3 regular starters in Carter, Woodcock and C.Smith. Wallabies were missing Moore, Genia, Quade, JOC and Speight from the starting XV and TPN and Sio from the bench which is incrementally a large increase in firepower. Not saying we should count the result as a win, but i wasn't predicting a win anyway. i was just proud that we showed the character to stay in the game after being down at half time with so many mistakes and to get away with a draw was a better result than a loss!
Jerry
Guest
The laws say it has to be the attacking player touching first for it to be a try. Doesn't mention anything specifically about simultaneous touching but if there's doubt about whether an attacking or defending player touched it down first the result is a 5m attacking scrum. I'd imagine this would apply when it's a simultaneous touch.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
I agree wtth Moondawwg, he had a crack early but less after Kaino straighten out his spine in the first half. I felt it in the stand but to his credit, Beale got up ad back into the fray. He also could have been the hero if Folaus pass wasn't over his head in the 2nd half though the cover was coming across. Also agree about needing more space, I recall Beale smockin' Dan Carter in Christchurch in 2010 from fullback for a 60-65 metre try. I also think he needs a dry ground underfoot!
Rugby Tragic
Guest
To be fair to Barrett, his yellow card was a 'team card', the guy was not on the park long enough for any sort of warning - was not 2 or 3 strikes and he was out. Penalty for sure but the ref saw it as a card offence, so he had to cop it ... as they say, 'read about it in the papers in the morning'
Rugby Tragic
Guest
A Smith agree, Kaino IMO was not up to his well know lofty standards. Chosing 2 I would go A Smith and Cruden. The latter turned Folau inside out several times (that might be due also to some extent of Folau still to come to grips with the positional play of fullback. Cruden didn't distribute a lot last night but the conditions were not conducive for that. Horne for his defence and covering for Beale, very solid game, then Hooper. Michael Hooper grows in stature every year, a bit small but talk about a guy who punches above his weight and Hoppers name will keep popping up. He was my MOTM
Starchild
Guest
Australia love dead rubbers. They also like to be flat track bullys. (A 3 test series against Lithuania they would love) but they also excel as the party pooper role too. That motivates them. A draw against the All Blacks when they are going for consecutive wins...they thrive. Australia will get thrashed at Eden park...but on a positive, the following game against the Blacks will be a dead rubber and Aussi will perform as they love the dead rubbers.
Jokerman
Guest
Tim, Really? I did wonder about that. Jane was definitely in the dead ball area and was only one foot ahead of the kicker who was right on his dead ball line. Aussi blow their chance of a try there, so Peyper acts accordingly and gives them a helping hand. Dodgy second half. The penalty count was something like 1-8 to Australia in the second half playing with 14 men for half of it, how do you deal with that? Manufactured result.
Gavin Gavin
Roar Rookie
Try to remove the chip of your shoulder. Its the Kiwis that are doing the pathetic sledging, harping on about how the wallabies couldnt beat them even though they were robbed by the ref. The amount of wailing coming from the Hobbit Isles is astounding. Get over it you kiwis, rugby is a game, the AIG's are a sports team, winning or losing a rugby game doesnt define you as a nation, except in perhaps a negative way.
TahDan
Roar Guru
Some really good attacking play from both teams, but the defence was also utterly immense. Sadly the spectacle was ruined quite a bit by Peyper, who has to be the most inconsistent and pedantic referee in the world right now.
Banana Bob
Guest
Rugby was the winner last night...
Tatah
Guest
I made a few calls. The good news is that all the material from the temporary counseling centers that were put up to help you deal with the 2007 World Cup is still there. I reckon that you'll hear the construction trucks start to roar again pretty soon. The writing has been on the wall for some time. You were helped out against Ireland. Your series against England was hardly convincing. We've never been able to play wet weather rugby (whereas you live in perpetual rain), and yet you couldn't put us away last night. Let's take a step back - not looking too good is it really?
Tim
Guest
Was that a gross error by Jaco penalizing Cory Jane for being in front of the kicker? rules state not offside if kicker and player are in goal at the time of the kick
Mike
Guest
"How is it oz fans are carrying on like a draw is a defeat for NZ and a win for oz." The situation is the reverse - Roar has been flooded with a bunch of kiwi fans who are very sore that their team didn't win, blaming the weather, the ref etc. It was a nasty grinding rain-fest, but I found it absorbing, and Wallabies should take a lot of heart from that one.
Turnover
Roar Guru
Creativity, did you see the conditions? He followed a set game plan and chopped Hooper to ground more than once.
WQ
Guest
I think your right soapit as good as could be expected in the conditions
WQ
Guest
My thoughts are soapit that they get reffed on reputation as opposed to reality. That is to be expected so they need to practice dealing with it.