In my previous article I said the All Blacks were going to produce ‘more of the same’, because they thought they would win the first Bledisloe in 2014. There was a hint of lack of respect for the Wallabies in that approach, with a serving of overconfidence on top.
Steve Hansen tried his familiar pre-match psychology lesson with his comments about Kurtley Beale’s selection at fly-half, but surprisingly this balloon deflated, and looked more like the All Blacks lacked confidence instead.
Were they actually worried that the McKenzie masterstroke might pay off?
That set the scene for a wet confrontation at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Saturday night. It was a try-less draw, with four penalties apiece, so it doesn’t sound exciting. There was a fair bit of dropped ball, but the defence from both teams was unrelenting.
The Kiwis’ wet-weather instincts had them slipping a number of grubbers and shallow chips behind, which the Wallabies were prepared for and managed to defuse without too much trouble. The All Blacks backline assaults were well shut down, and Wallaby defence was offensive, causing gain-line pressure and a deterioration of confidence in their prospects of success out wide.
Only one turnover to the Wallabies occurred out wide, but the Wallabies defended all theirs. The All Blacks tried to go up the middle and off the fringes, but no luck there either as the Wallabies offensive defence gave them no leeway. Threats like Jerome Kaino and Aaron Smith never looked likely to create anything, though Smith nearly orchestrated a try early due to a Beale turnover from an up-an-under take.
The Wallabies were nervous at the start, and that was compounded by two aimless kicks, one each by Matt Toomua and Nic White, when ball-in-hand was essential to take it to the All Blacks early.
Fortunately, they must have been slipped the word that they would be killed if they did it again. If Dan Coles hadn’t knocked on near the Wallabies tryline, an All Blacks try was very likely, and that would have probably altered the way the match played out, with a definite edge to New Zealand.
As the match continued, though, it became clear that the Wallabies set-piece was pretty good, the Wallabies defence was very good, and the All Blacks attack was not particularly threatening. The Ben Smith weapon was defused with punishing defence, Julian Savea didn’t really feature at all, and Ma’a Nonu’s crash ball crashed.
So, what of the Wallabies attack? How did the masterstroke go? The backline’s passing swiftness and precision looked good. Better than the All Blacks anyway. But, the All Blacks’ sliding defence had no trouble handling what was offered.
Beale was doing his cross-field crabbing runs that do not commit the defence, allowing the slide to continue, and the attack to be stopped. It works outside Bernard Foley for the Waratahs, and there was the clue. No Foley.
The Wallabies attack immediately looked more threatening when he came on, but the 70th minute was too late for him to be able to deliver the coup-de-grace. And he replaced Beale, not Toomua, so the Wallabies did not get the chance to see if the Waratahs magic could be unleashed. Perhaps Beale was injured, and Nick Phipps gave the side a lift as well. More food for thought for next week.
Beale kicked his penalty goals as well as Cruden did for the All Blacks, so that was another stalemate there.
Overall, the McKenzie masterstroke failed, and the match was not won. The Wallabies showed they have more to offer, though, and like the Waratahs in the Crusaders match, showed greater threat across the park. McKenzie got it wrong. Nevertheless, the Wallabies can take heart from the draw as they were marginally the better team.
So, what about next week? Both teams will improve, but the All Blacks will probably change a few players to try to get something happening. The result, even though the match will be played at Eden Park, looks to be in McKenzie’s hands. Will he or won’t he?
Graeme
Guest
Alien, your getting a bit emotional about this whole thing. Beale didn't have a terrible game but he didn't have a good game either. Some of that can be put down to uncharacteristically poor service from White, horrible weather conditions and playing the best team in the world. Over 80 minutes I suspect Foley would have struggled also, and he's not going to turn out to be the Messiah. But I don't think Beale played well enough to say that Foley shouldn't be picked for the second Bled. It's probably to short a turn around to the the Bled to do this, so it won't happen, but having Beale as a ball playing wing in place of McCabe might have been a good call for Eden.
Xenomorph
Guest
Yes everything he did was wrong. He passed too early, too much and too little, ran accross field, cramped his backline, defended poorly, didnt do this, did too much of that, stood wrong, talked with his mouth full, was too deep, made bad decisions and wore his hat at the table. And crab!? He was sooo crab -like, I though he was a crab. Drop him for that saint Foley, such an amazing perfect talent.
Armchair sportsfan
Guest
Fair enough, but he did stand too deep and pass too early most of the night
Xenomorph
Guest
He started 4 games at flyhalf for the Rebels in 2012 before injury and aved around 9 runs per game and 51 metres gained whilst crabbing, standing too deep and just shovelling the ball on. So the last season he played mostly flyhalf, 1 & 1/2 seasons ago, he aved around 8 runs per game and about 38 metres gained. You watch, somebody will say he runs it too much. I know this because he can do no right and people are determined to cut him down. Its a bizzare cultural phenomenon.
Xenomorph
Guest
Yes it is preconcieved bias and you are an example. He ran the ball 8 times. No flyhalf from NZ, SA or Arg ran more times. You based that on a preconcieved idea obviously Markus because you CLEARLY didnt base it on the game or his flyhalf games for Aus in the past. He averages 7 runs per game and 33 metres gained and around a 75% tackle success as starter For Australia at flyhalf. Foley averages 10 runs per game for 22 metres gained and around a 65% tackle success as a starter. So Foley Aves less metres per game but more runs? Must have been running sideways and been too deep but I will admit that 2014s French defense is much stronger than the 2012 ABs, SA, Fra, Eng, Wal and Ital and NZ in the wet this year in mostly away games.
Xenomorph
Guest
I gathered you didnt like Beale at 10 because he was OK but you chose to see things that didnt happen so you could justify your opinion. He did not crab at all let alone "all night".
Markus
Guest
Right before halftime, Palu went to ground 5 metres in from touch and still slid well over the sideline. McCabe diving for the corner would have ended exactly the same way.
Markus
Guest
Crabbing is not an accurate assessment of Beale's performance, because he rarely actually ran with the ball. Instead he stood very deep and shovelled the ball along without committing a defender. The problem is that this wasn't an off night, this is how Beale plays at flyhalf. The one thing he does do well is the short ball to the blindside winger (used Ioane in 2012, this time Horne performed well here), other than that he either crabs across field or gives the pass way too early. You mention Beale playing flyhalf in 2012. That was considered an experiment too, and one that did not work, for the same reasons listed above. Criticism of Beale's performance is not preconceived bias. His greatest skill is his ability to threaten in attack when play opens up, and this is not properly utilised when he is directing play from first receiver.
Prince Symbol
Roar Pro
no he should've dived for the corner... he ran straight at savea which was not smart.
Lewis
Guest
wasn't McCabe's fault he didn't score, Charles needed to hold off on that pass to draw the defender in
AlsBoyce
Roar Guru
Guess you're a Beale fan, Xenomorph. I am too, but not at 10. I've said before that Beale has a hint of the Campese about him, and a comment on the Spiro article mentioned that too, and suggested Beale on the wing, and like Campo, pop up at 1st receiver, or anywhere else he could see the attacking opportunity. For the Waratahs, Beale at 12 worked well. Same could work for the Wallabies. A settled backline straight from the Waratahs playbook. Just by the way, do you wonder why Cheika played Foley at 10? I'll agree, that preferences for players/positions etc are very individual, and the coach of the moment has the call. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But, there are subtilties of movement, and the delivery of the pass that can commit the defence and hinder the slide. Kurtley is more obvious in the delivery of the pass, I think, so the receiver in turn is more obvious. These are nuances, but significant. But, if we didn't have Foley, Kurtley is probably next best with Quade injured. McKenzie wants to do his thing, and the Wallabies are not the Waratahs. But on the other hand, if it ain't broke, do we need to try and fix it? This stuff is pure opinion of course, and the good thing is that everbody can have their own.
Chris
Guest
we were out coached. We weren't prepared for the grubbers and the chip kicks. The WBs admitted that they made that adjustment at half-time. It should not have been necessary. Foloau is unbeatable under the high ball and the conditions did not suit elaborate passing so it should have been fairly obvious that the Abs would use the chip/grubber tactic. ABs will use it again, which is one of the reasons why Phipps should be starting: he is fit enough and fast enough to cover that stuff. Skelton should also start,with Simmons moving to the backrow. He is a point of difference - the WBs should try to bludgeon them in the first 60 mins and then bring fardy on and move simmons back into the second row with carter. Big concern for me is the lack of depth in props. Even with Carter in the backrow the ABs scrum was stronger than ours at the end of the game indicating that their reserve props are better. If something happens to Kepu we are in trouble. The fact that our franchises haven't developed alternatives tightheads is a cause for concern - for the WBs it remains the most important position.
Xenomorph
Guest
Beale did not crab accross the field at all! I cant belive this! People are amazing. Watch the game again, Foley ran the ball twice, once accross field. Beale ran accross field once too. Beale 70 mins, Foley 10 mins. Toomua ran accross field to get on the outside many times. Pehaps you are confused or perhaps you are going on reputation and bias against Beale. I must say that I knew this would happen and people do tend to see what they want to and if there is a selection in Aus of a player or coach that the media and fans turn on then the circus starts and he can do no right and everything he does wrong is exaggerated and shouted from the rooftops but the thing that really annoys me is when people just make stuff up to get at who they want to and create myths based on absolutely nothing because it suits the bias they might hold. Beale did not run accross field with the ball and not engage defenders, thats completely false and completely made up, a lie. I am shocked as much as I expected this. Mistakes that were made during the draw with the worlds best. -Not taking a shot first up with a minute to half time. -Folau being too deep. -No protection for Whites box kicks. Mistakes McKenzie wont make. Judging Beale on a 40% success rate with the boot and only 2 metres gained with the ball in his 2nd test as a starter...oh sorry THAT WAS FOLEY, the guy that must start after Beales OK performance in a heavily rain effected match. Next week the same team imo. Thats because Ewen wont make up reasons to hold against Beale abd will probably look at the game with an open mind. Pollard turned the ball over 5 times and made heaps of errors of judgement in the rain. Beales performance in similar conditions against a superior opponent were OK and not bad like people who didnt want him selected there in the first place say. This idea that its new or an experiment is ridiculous. Beale played flyhalf for Aus for most of 2012 and yet its an experiment that backfired now after a rain effected game? This has to be a joke.
Redsfan1
Guest
I'm pleased that the Kiwis have continued their air of over confidence and have already written that Eden Park is a done deal. That plays into McKenzie's hands. All we need is Hansen to open his big mouth again to really fire the Wallabies up.
MJB
Guest
Hard to argue about that McCabe try, he's not big enough to barrel through two defenders on the inside. I suspect Link is just keeping him there until Speight is available.
Hoqni
Guest
1. McCabe/Horne were reasons for quite night for Savea Jane. 2. Vs the Allblacks, Beale is right. 3. Phipps should start
Mental
Guest
3 mistakes made: 1. McCabe at wing. Did nothing and bombed a try most wingers would score. Easy to see why he has had 2 neck fractures as his technique is dangerous and ineffective. 2. Beale at starting 10. Beale is a strike weapon who should be brought on at the 50min Mark. 3. White as starting 9. Box kicking when we are in phase play and attacking into scoring half shows he is not up to international level tactically.
WallaTah
Guest
Hi AlsBoyce, good article overall. Thank you for your first paragraph and highlighting this fact. I think the Wallabies, like the Tahs in the SR final, were heavily underestimated by certain fans indeed. It's nice to see these teams prove some people wrong. Heres to a great game this weekend, to both teams and their respective fans. This Aussie is hoping the Wallabies can keep improving and perform that 'miracle' win at EP!
Graeme
Guest
I have to completely disagree with you about the Wallabies easily defusing their grabbers and short kicks. They'd obviously gone into the game with that as an area they thought they could attack, and the weather played on their chances. We had a horrendous time trying to contain their short grabbers and kicks, smith placed them almost perfectly.