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Firstly, regardless of the result, congratulations to the Wallabies for fronting up to this Test match after weeks of off-field distractions. That is the intensity and hunger you need when you play Test matches.
Steve Hansen warned that the Wallabies’ side would be galvanised and that is exactly what happened. In the first ten minutes they were under the pump and found themselves on their own line defending.
My player of the Wallaby pack was Scott Fardy. He was immense on line defence getting over the ball and stealing possession when it was needed most.
The Wallabies soaked up that early pressure and struck first. Christian Lealiifano has been patient, waiting to get his chance and he made an early key play. It shows how much more dangerous the Wallaby back line can be if they stand all flat in the line. Leilifano made a great step back inside, the All Blacks were spread too thin to react and Malakai Fekitoa could not grab his man.
Not only did they make the decisive break, but unlike the All Blacks they converted that pressure into points. It was recycled and there were a number of All Blacks at the bottom of the ruck and Sam Whitelock could not keep out Nic Phipps ducking back in on the inside.
The All Blacks were defending quite poorly. Their missed tackle count was woefully big. They seemed quite content to hang off rucks and so the Wallabies were allowed too much ball. The New Zealand line speed was sluggish and the Wallabies were allowed to get a roll on and build their confidence.
Although the All Blacks came back stronger in the second half, I think it is time to re-think this and tweak it because you cannot keep chasing these games and hope to come away with the result they did tonight.
New Zealand struck back as they so often do from the restart. Kieran Read ranging wide is always a threat and Corey Jane finished well in the right corner.
Wallaby fans would be upset that Richie McCaw did not receive a yellow card but Foley knocked over a penalty. It was an important kick and it was important that Hooper gave him the opportunity to do it. Often when you go for seven points you feel obliged to keep pressing for the try. Thankfully, Mike Hooper saw sense and twenty-something minutes in, you always take the points.
New Zealand has a habit of scoring just before half time and like in Ellis Park they did with Dane Coles taking advantage of a defence holding off and using his surprising pace to cut inside.
However, like in Ellis Park the Wallabies made a crucial move. They were making all too easy yards, with Joe Tomane looking very handy and was able to link up well with the men inside. The Wallabies were able to work their way up to the line and Foley jumped over the ruck and scored in the corner.
New Zealand prides itself on defence and in the last two games it has been sadly lacking. That comes from the opposition playing well and applying pressure, but it has been all too easy to make the yards. Leilifano and Tevita Kuridrani were constant threats.
I should point out that I did not have an issue with Craig Joubert. When things do not go your way, you start to feel frustrated and that can lead to further mistakes. Joubert allows a free contest at the rucks and that helped both sides. McCaw was immense making a few well-timed steals, but the Wallaby back-row also had some important steals or got penalties.
This is where I think New Zealand have to adjust and commit more players to rucks to get that clean-out because often our continuity struggled.
The final quarter is where Australia has to improve. They cannot do all the hard work like they did in Newlands and then make crucial errors or fall away and let their advantage slip. Ben Alexander spilled the ball hot on attack and New Zealand were able to not only withstand the pressure of having a man down in the pack but they were able to score a try.
Aaron Smith sensed the Wallaby line was not set and the quick tap was the right option with him stepping and ducking with all his momentum behind him. It was a crucial play.
Australia came back with Foley kicking a pressure kick and Australia were six ahead. Some people say Hooper should have gone for the kill then but it was the right option from him. Barrett had made an awful miss of a conversion and points were vital at that stage.
The problem was the Wallabies looked down on their feet on defence. Their bench just did not appear to have the impact the New Zealand bench did, which was completely emptied.
New Zealand was lucky to regather the ball after an average box kick from Perenara. The Wallabies were just as guilty of ill-advised kicks. Indeed, more so. While hot on attack, Folau put in a grubber kick that relieved all pressure for New Zealand. Foley inexplicably decided to put in an aerial kick when there were huge numbers outside him begging for the ball to be passed to them. Near the end, Slade failed to find touch from a penalty. These are inexcusable basic errors that need to be eliminated from both sides but based on tonight’s scoreline, these were the decisive plays that hurt the Wallabies in that final quarter.
That is not to say there were not other errors or factors involved but when the score is that close you need experienced hands to make the right decisions. That is what was missing from the Wallabies in that final quarter and where they need to improve because they have shown that they can compete with the two best sides. What is lacking is that clear thinking to be able to take the right options and cut down on errors or plays that cost your team dearly.
It was a comedy of errors at the end. Both sides seemed intent on giving the ball away. Slade did not make touch, turn over ball, Nic White kicking the ball into touch, slow plays from the Wallaby ruck that saw them being driven back in the tackle.
You cannot play it safe in the dying moments when you are on attack. Keep the ball by all means but when the opposition are hungry to get the ball back, you have to be just as hungry to retain it. This is where Australia shot themselves in the foot and New Zealand got the ball back with 90 seconds to play when they should not have been allowed to.
The numbers out wide were used wisely and Fekitoa cleverly ducked inside to score. Beauden Barrett was no doubt hoping that Colin Slade made the conversion because of his earlier miss. It never looked in doubt even though the Wallabies rushed him into the kick in the end so well done to him for kicking the winning goal.
Many New Zealand fans I imagine will be unhappy with that win and the Wallaby fans will feel they deserved that victory. I do not subscribe to that view. New Zealand played well enough and proved hungry enough to make the winning score.
However, this win does not mean New Zealand will come away thinking all is right with their play. There are clearly problems most of all in defence and tactics. Whether Hansen is holding back adjustments for next year is irrelevant. The opposition has shown that they have proven a way to combat the New Zealand game and the wise men need to go back to their whiteboards and think up something else to stay ahead.
Similarly, Australia will come away bitterly frustrated at the loss and rightly so but they know that they made a marked improvement on their last few games and now need to build on that for their November tour. Forget the result tonight. Build on the things that went well and shore up your weak points. Results do not need to motivate your side. Hunger and desire to improve on your last performance are what counts.
This was a thoroughly absorbing match much like the Ellis Park Test. The results were different from a New Zealand perspective but the same issues were evident. It was a huge improvement from Australia and so forget the result. You are back on track. You have to build on this performance now for November otherwise all the good work tonight will have counted for nothing.
New Zealand will not be satisfied with that win and Australia will equally be not satisfied with that loss. Tonight was about performance and both sides can be proud of their performance and both sides will know they were let down by their performance at various times. That should not detract from a compelling game of rugby but knowing how I felt after the Ellis Park Test, I know how the Wallaby fans are feeling right now.
Heads up. Your players did you proud. They will have drummed into them what let them down but the players let the drama of the last two weeks vanish and rugby became the focal point. I know a win would have been much preferred but maybe this result in a way will continue the progression we saw made tonight.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.