An outstanding effort from the Wallabies on Saturday night has given them the Rugby Championship and a 1-0 lead in the Bledisloe Cup.
In what was a very physical match, the Wallabies came out on top, scoring 27 points to 19.
The Wallabies started off shakily, with Sekope Kepu sin-binned in the 7th minute for being offside after a quick-tap was taken close to the Wallaby try line.
The penalty let Dan Carter put the first points on the board, comfortably converting just to the right of the posts, making it 3-0 to the All Blacks after eight minutes.
The Wallabies defended extremely well for the next ten minutes, only conceding three points during the time Kepu was off, which were just a result of the penalty.
Australia got the chance to put points on the board in the 27th minute, with prop Tony Woodcock penalised for illegally turning in the scrum right in front of the posts. Matt Giteau leveled the scores at 3-3.
Carter struck back three minutes later, converting a penalty goal 43 metres out after Stephen Moore was caught offside at the breakdown, putting the All Blacks ahead by three.
They went to half-time with the All Blacks leading by three, a testament to the Wallabies’ defensive work, with sloppy passes from the halves, in particular Nick Phipps, costing the Wallabies their chances to attack many times throughout the course of the first 40 minutes.
The start of the second half saw an early sin-bin for Aaron Smith, hitting Adam Ashley-Cooper with a nasty-looking high tackle as he made a break down the right side.
The Wallabies capitalised on the All Blacks being down one man, with Kepu busting through the line and going over for his first international try, converted with ease by Giteau, putting the score up to 10-6.
Dan Carter again dragged the lead down, converting a penalty from about 20 metres away.
Nick Phipps’ performance went from bad to worse, poor passes and poor work at the breakdown now a minor blemish.
After an obstruction penalty was conceded by Hooper, Conrad Smith took the ball from Phipps and took a quick penalty, Phipps coming after him while offside and getting sent off for his offence.
The All Blacks seized the chance with the loss of Phipps, an offload from Carter to Ben Smith put them through the Wallabies line and a pass to Milne-Skudder secured the All Blacks’ first try of the match, and Milne-Skudder’s first international try on debut.
This gave the All Blacks a lead of four points, Carter unusually missing the conversion of Milne-Skudder’s try.
Toomua was brought on to replace Foley, and Giteau had slotted into scrum-half while Phipps was in the bin, and they quickly started to have an impact on the flow of Australian ball, moving far smoother and faster.
More good work from the forwards put the backs into a good position inside the All Blacks half, a grubber kick from Toomua sent Ashley-Cooper over for his second try of the night in spectacular fashion.
Giteau converted the try, putting the score at 17-14 to Australia with 19 minutes left.
The All Blacks bounced back quickly, Milne-Skudder going over for his second try of the night off the back of a set play, New Zealand got their nose in front by two.
Another missed conversion from Carter helped boost the Australian supporters, and Nic White was brought on after the sin-bin period ended for Phipps, Giteau dropping back to the centres again.
The introduction of White onto the field had an immediate effect, his long-range kicking skills converting a penalty from 48 metres out, directly in front of the posts.
The Wallabies looked dangerous as they pushed into New Zealand’s 22, an 11-phase advance allowing White to slip through the All Blacks’ defence and score in the 72nd minute.
White added the two conversion points, putting the lead out to eight points with six minutes left on the clock.
Australia held on to the lead for the last six minutes, securing a great win from a hard-fought contest.
John Rugby
Guest
You need to plug belittling into google to get the definition. Also probably ease up on everybody, cause we won?
OB
Guest
Absolutely! Everyone on this forum bagged Genia for a terrible first half against the boks, and praised Phipps saying he should be the starting 9. Now Phipps has a bad day and Nick White shines in the last 20 - so they all say he should be starting. So fickle. Three months ago, these same people are saying Cheika should give up coaching both teams and Hooper's his favourite. All tripe. Amazing arm chair coaches. Cheika has done the job you were all hoping he'd fail at.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
I don't know if anyone can answer this question for me: When was the last time the ABs lost a test after leading at half-time?
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Jackson, that's a well written summary of the play. Well done.
RobC
Roar Guru
cheers mate. Go Wallabies! Yes your parents taste in naming their children, well at least one, is beyond question.
Rob9
Guest
Always love a bit of banter Rob. Good name by the way. Enjoy next Saturday night let's hope whether they take the ball wide or up the guts, they score more points than the bad guys
JMB
Guest
As much as I'm a die hard AB fan I'm grateful for a legitimate Bledisloe decider that NZ must win not draw. I can't even recall when it came down to the last match. Normally ABs secure it early. Good to see the Wallabies not getting to ahead of themselves with this win too. Many AB mistake were amateur and very much out of character and unlikely to repeat themselves too easily. Although take credit Australia, bench was used well - Hansen's use of bench was definitely questionable. I think NZ may be concerned re backrow and the breakdown. The speed and dynamism of A Savea (why did he not warrant selection!), Cane was badly missing. Kaino and C Smith look like spent forces since becoming fathers. But do expect a turnaround. I really didn't expect Australia's scrum to be so good. And if any team should be confident ahead of world cup surely it's Ireland, easily cleaning up Wales (although costly in injuries) and Argetnina, wow that was a complete performance. Exciting few months ahead.
RobC
Roar Guru
cheers rob. Hope you dont mind we continue the banter. No, not suggesting crabbing is the game plan. But they do move it sideways a lot to look for holes. Then they straighten the attack when they find it. If they dont, they hit it up, anyway to ensure they're not isolated. It also backfoots the defence. Thats why at first they got isolated when they straighten because the ruckers timing is off. It got a lot better yesterday. Youll notice the rush D against the WBs starts to creep back as the game progresses. The Kepu try was a really good example.
Rob9
Guest
The AB's we're well below what they've consistently produced for the last couple of years prior to this year. As a Wallabies fan, here's hoping this is their new standard- I fear not though
Rob9
Guest
No I wouldn't be taking help from someone that thinks an international level coach would employ a gameplan that involved running across the field with the ball sideways. And then suggesting it works! You'd struggle to find an under 7's coach that would agree with that line of thinking. Cheers Rob
Snobby Deans
Guest
whydoncha - I'd suggest Australia has more to lose than the All Blacks in this RWC. * No-one has ever defended the RWC, so while being the first would be great, it's not like there's a consistency there to be matched. * The long wait between drinks is finally over. The Wallabies, on the other hand, will hit Japan RC 2019 with a 20-year gap if they don't do the business in the UK this year * The All Blacks have a consistent winning record, and don't rely on a 4-yearly knockout tournament to try and make up for years of poor performances. The All Blacks are both the Worlds Best Team and the World Champions at the moment. There is a distinction between the two (just ask England post 2003 and Sth Africe in 2008, 2010 & 2011). The All Blacks will recognise the threat from the Wallabies and will play for the win at Eden Park. They won't be consciously trying to win by any particular margin. And once the games over, win or lose, they (along with the Wallabies and every other team capable of winning it) will prep for the RWC with little regard for what has happened previously. The All Blacks lost their two test prior to RWC2011 and went on to win, while the Boks weren't exactly on fire in 2007 before their RWC triumph. It's the same with South Africa. They've lost a few games on the trot now, but I wouldn't be writing them off. Once we hit the QF's in the UK, anything can happen (and it usually does) - and sometimes (like WBs v IRE in 2011), it happens in the pools.
RobC
Roar Guru
Just one thing I wanted to add. I didnt think WBs beat an out of form AB. They smashed the Pumas. Their 23 men won away against Springbok They flew back from SA. WBs flew back from Argentina. ABs were good and played well enough to win. But so did the WBs.
RobC
Roar Guru
np Rob. And I appreciate you're trying to help me... but I thought it was the other way around! :lol: My final points then. - As I mentioned before, this has nothing to do Toomua. Its about the gameplan. Almost every starting 10/12 is doing it - including Toomua - If you have time, watch him start the game vs Pumas. Despite him being a straight running 12. From him, it was sideways, sideways, sideways. Then sideways, sideways. Its the game plan - Wait til Eden Park. Its been happening three games in a row. Its likely to repeat. Until then, signing off
Jerry
Guest
Someone asked that question on Planet Rugby. On the same day - 9 November 2002 - NZ lost to England, SA to France. And to complete the hat trick, Aus lost to Ireland.
Tiger
Guest
Nope, from my perspective I think the ABs will win at EP by 20+, its just my opinion, nothing more nothing less. I think both teams will use Saturday as a new starting point and the outcome will be used as motivation for future matches. 'Nothing less will maintain the All Black aura'. Aura is normally created by people, opposition or followers. 'If it's only a close win or worse still a loss the danger is it will have a knock effect'. Yeah, it could do. That will apply to both teams IMO. 'A lot of the other countries will start to look on the All Blacks as flat track bullies who can't win the big prize on foreign soil'. I always thought the ABs played good, clean rugby for the most part. I wouldn't classify the ABs as bullies. Sure, they're not Angels either and have been involved in some unsavory incidents over the years and have also been known to push the boundaries of rugby laws. That's just life to me. As for winning the big prize on foreign soil, there's a first time for everything. I disagree, both teams have everything to play for come Saturday. The BC is up for grabs and confidence going forward to the big show.
atlas
Guest
RWC aside, they're hardly flat track bullies, given their 83.3% away win rate since 2007. The next best is SA with 54.6%. Then Wales 50%. Everyone else, under 50% Would suggest an awful lot of flat track losers based on your argument
Akari
Roar Rookie
Quite clearly the pup won the mind games and game against the master coach himself. Next week's test will tell us whether the pup has overtaken the master by winning the test. I look forward to next week's test.
Tiger
Guest
Yeah fair call Warren. No disrespect to the Wallbies, I picked that scoreline because I think the ABs will sneak in two tries at the death at EP which will inflate the final score to that margin. I could be wrong, it could be a close game going right down to the wire. I've seen the post interviews from both camps and like what I'm hearing. Both sides are positive and up beat. But what I've always likeed about the ABs (when they're in this situation) and we've heard it time and again from Hanson - we can't panic, address our issues and play with more intent and determination (or words to that affect). He's also touched on the general attitude of the lads after the game. Many were not happy with their personal performance. Combine all of the above and that is always a recipe for disaster for any team in the return game. IMO I think the ABs will move up a couple of gears, whether the Wabblies can match them remains to be scene, but they're more than capable as they've shown us in Sydney.
whydoncha
Guest
From a NZ perspective the All Blacks must record a resounding win by your 20+ margin at your Eden Park fortress to take a lot of confidence into the WC. Nothing less will maintain the All Black aura. If it's only a close win or worse still a loss the danger is it will have a knock on effect and a lot of other countries will start to look on the All Blacks as flat track bullies who can't win the big prize on foreign soil. Australia have nothing to lose. The All Blacks everything.
Rob9
Guest
I can't really help you if you think Toomua's squareness in attack is comparable to either Foley, Giteau or Cooper. It's not what's working with our gameplan right now and if we come up against a determined and well-rounded opposition, it will certainly contribute to our demise. Clearly we have different interpretations of it's effectiveness so I'm happy to agree to disagree.