Michael Cheika will regret telling the rugby world last week that Quade Cooper was definitely on the plane to the World Cup in September.
Cooper had a shocker last night, and the vast majority of the 48,457 crowd at Eden Park enjoyed the Wallaby pivot’s agony in the All Blacks’ 41-13 win to retain the Bledisloe for a record 13th season. It kept their unbeaten record intact against the Wallabies at the fortress since 1986.
They say a week is a long time in politics. The same can be said about the Wallabies after their superb 27-19 win at ANZ last week. The men in gold were but a shadow of themselves last night. Missing were the commitment, the fluency and the passion.
It was pretty much even stevens until the 21st minute when the All Blacks won possession in their right hand quarter and moved play to the left touchline. Dan Carter swerved around James Horwill and was in the clear to send a perfectly timed pass to hooker Dan Coles. Coles ran like a winger for 35 metres to touch down.
A brilliant try that Carter converted, and the All Blacks led 10-3.
Even at 13-6 at the break, the Wallabies were roughly in touch until Cooper head high tackled All Black halfback Aaron Smith 10 metres out. Welsh referee Nigel Owens had no hesitation awarding a penalty try and awarding Cooper a yellow card. The Queenslander was lucky it wasn’t red.
Those seven points, plus the Ma’a Nonu and Ben Smith tries that were converted by Carter, handed the All Blacks a precious 21 points while Cooper was binned.
That was game, set, and match by the 54th minute as the men in black piled on the points.
So there were no celebrations when Israel Folau scored the Wallabies’ only try four minutes from time. But there were lessons learnt last night.
The Wallabies must never go into any Test of importance in the future without David Pocock and Michael Hooper in the starting line-up.
That will especially apply to the vital World Cup clashes against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium on September 23, England at Twickenham on October 3, and the last pool game against Wales at Twickenham on October 10.
Only two of that ‘Kiss of Death’ pool will qualify with Uruguay for the quarters.
Another telling factor that emerged last night was that the scrum wasn’t nearly as effective as last week. Giant lock Will Skelton is an impact player off the bench, not a starter.
The return of Kane Douglas looms as a vital cog in the Wallaby scrum machinery, while Matt Toomua is a 10, not a 12. Importantly, there’s a glaring lack of size, talent, and speed at 12. Will Samu Kerevi make the Word Cup squad?
And Will Genia must be fit for the World Cup, or the Wallabies’ chances of reaching the business end will be severely dented.
So we await the Wallaby World Cup squad announcement on Friday.
Having recognised the Wallaby failings last night, a fitting way to end this piece would be to salute All Black captain Richie McCaw, champion goal-kicker Dan Carter, and their two legendary centres Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith, who all played their last Test last night on New Zealand soil.
All four have been a credit to rugby their entire careers, with McCaw the most capped international in history with 142, Carter the most prolific scorer with 1516 points, while Nonu and Smith have created midfield havoc all round the world.
Now for the World Cup, with the Wallabies having sufficient time to lick their wounds after a painful wake-up call.
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Is that you David Lord ?
Jibba Jabba
Guest
Feel better now David ?
David
Guest
Cliff, you didn't rate the ref? what do you think his report card from the Oz team will say? After 3 minutes Conrad Smith cynically took out Coopers legs high in the air as he ran past right in front of the ref, no action. Of course later he tipped AAC on his head and the ref said just mistimed. Rubbish..is that sort of thing ok now in the Northern hemisphere? I thought it was pretty much an automatic yellow. Nonu should have been penalised for dropping his knee into Moore. Twice Moore tried to speak to him and was told to go away. No such problem for the AB's to talk or argue or criticise as Aaron Smith did. Always been a very arrogant referee is the kindest thing I can say about him.. Does anybody still listen to David Lord's rants? I switched off about 40 years ago.
David
Guest
Took the words right outta my mouth..
David
Guest
Watched the NZ feed in Thailand. the commentators said we guess that Palu and Skelton have been told to give it everything till half time and then be replaced........ they were half right except that the two played as if they were conserving themselves for extra time! I really don't get the whole Skelton thing; can't even stick a hand up in the lineout, the scrum goes much better when he is not there, he stands next to too many rucks waving his arms around, he struggles to get off the ground sometimes to get to the next breakdown, makes very few first up tackles compared to what Horwill did, and carries the ball a few times, usually not very far. I guess Cheika is hoping for a line break one day and a miracle offload but SBW he ain't. I doubt anybody in the NZ, Wales or England pack is frightened of him.
David
Guest
First sensible comment I have heard about Cooper. he had a decent game until his sending off for a desperate last ditch tackle when I guess he attempted to dislodge the ball and mistimed. There were 4 or 5 missed tackles before that and how did it all start? A bad kick followed by a missed tackle from Toomua. Cooper had been off the filed about 3 minutes and all we needed to do was hold the ball. Toomua instead kicks a speculator towards the wing straight into the AB's hands and they scored. Toomua's general kicking was abysmal...Come on all you fans of his to play 10...open both eyes and watch the replay; he hasn't the vision or thinking to be a top class 10. Tough rooster yes and can take the ball up hard and tackle at 12 but that is about all. ref was hopelessly one sided; Conrad Smith should have been carded after 3minutes when he ran through and took out Cooper's legs while he was high in the air. Right in front of the ref who did nothing. Later Smith took out AAC in the air and the ref gave penalty and said just mistimed...nonsense...come on I though take out in the air landing on upper body was dangerous play and an automatic yellow? Nonu should have been penaiised for knee into Moore...ref said come on boys don't be naughty. Moore twice asked the ref a question and was told; go away and get back..NZ halfback allowed to question and of course Richie all day is ok. Very arrogant ref and always has been. Can't win the RWC without a solid 9,10,12 and at the moment 13 is having little impact on the game and there because of size only, Only chance is Genia, Cooper, Giteau, AAC to 13 and a couple of wingers. Need to sort out Folau's ball retention on the ground and defence a bit. Palu has been MIA for a couple of years now and did little. Skelton is useless in the lineout, a log in the scrum, doesn't make many first up tackles (about 1/3 of Horwill), stands on the side of too many rucks and is too slow around the paddock. Oz need to top the pool and it is a good road to the final.
Edward Pye
Roar Guru
Kurandrani is a big guy, but I dont think there needs to be more size at 12 - one of the wingers needs to be a power player to get the play moving from scrums close to touch
Edward Pye
Roar Guru
You forgot Tony Woodcock and Kevin Mealamu David
Ian Dawes
Guest
Another sport crystal range but your kiwi dockside supporters dwindled day by day as the Aust (6) crewed and helmed Oricle won the last 8 races of the Amercas cup when all NZ needed to do was win F.....G one !!!!!! You really are fair weather sailors you mob
Ian Dawes
Guest
I guess our nationality colours our view does it not ? Yours sure does.
ThugbyFan
Guest
I think you will find Dan Carter side-stepped James Horwell in that 1st try. I don't know where the 1st 5 and inside centre were but J.Horwell was there trying to cover a 10 metre gap. D.C. saw this, a quick step to a tired lumbering lock and he was through. All he had to do then was pass to D.Coles. Lots here blame Horwell, I am more prone to ask where was the #10 and/or the #12 ? :) S.Sio was where he should have been, covering up the middle of the pack.
Ken
Roar Rookie
I didn't see Speight do much. Is he a shoe in to your squad?
Ken
Roar Rookie
I think kiwidave called it like we both saw it. Proof iwas given unless blindness has you beat
Billy G
Guest
Has anyone ever seen QC effect a tackle below the hips? He singlehandedly turned the game hugely in favour of the ABs because of a massive lack of tackling ability. This ongoing weakness is telegraphed to every opposition through having to hide him at fullback when defending.
Ken
Roar Rookie
I was disappointed Palu was on the field. He is no longer up to it. Compare him and Read. Not even a contest
East coast aces
Guest
No mention of Sio letting a player go past for the first try and Mumm letting Milner-skudder go straight passed him to set Smith up for the penalty try. Roar "Experts" should write unbiased reports of matches. Instead of unfairly attacking players who's only offence was desperation. If other players such as Mumm and Sio (first try) showed that desperation the game might have turned out differently.
pick & go..!!
Guest
"They were average, made to look second rate and looked to kick rather than run the ball." Pretty much sums up the game to me..
Mozzy
Guest
Don't forget the veteran Hooker Kevin Mealamu who played his last game as well and made a great impact in dismantling the aussie maul from lineout deep in our half...and the ever dependable Tony "tea bag" Woodcock.
ThugbyFan
Guest
Agreed there Handles. I've been banging on about this for months. I have a wonderful photo of Rob Kearney of Ireland actually tackling Folau as he takes a high ball in last year's match against Ireland. Both of Kearney's legs are on the ground so he wasn't competing for the ball. The referee did squat while Folau landed almost on his head. Kearney tried it again later on another bomb to Folau and got penalised. It was a disgrace, in all cases a referee should give yellow for hands on a player in the air. Since last year's internationals the favourite ploy is to "accidently" crash into Folau rather than compete for the ball. I saw every game of the Tahs and WB this year and onrushing players either are "accidently" bumping into Folau as he comes down with the ball or stopping about a metre in front of where he catches the ball, knowing full well that Folau will fall into them. Likely is Folau will drop the ball as he lands from a huge height or they can then quickly ruck over him. Only rarely did a ref blow a penalty and no-one got a yellow all season. In this match, I thought N.Owens was pretty ok, apart from the AAC-C.Smith decision. Normally I cannot abide Owens, his interpretations seem to change for the home team and here is a classic case. On Saturday we saw C.Smith "accidently" bring down ACC. And what did N.Owens do? NOTHING yet Smith's positioning and light touch on AAC's leg ensured ACC was going to come down badly. Now how is that different to Q.Cooper's yellow, where Owens stated the head high was accidental but the fault laid with Q.Cooper? Owens was correct in showing Cooper the YC but once again he is consistent in showing his inconsistency. C.Smith should have seen yellow for the same reason. Be it accidental or deliberate, it put a player in peril. But back to protection to catchers, knowing the tactics from NH teams is bomb, bomb and more bombs so must remove good catchers. Odds are we will see NOTHING from the IRB (WR) and its platoon of referees unless a NH fullback is taken out.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Fully agree with all your comments Cliff. The Wallabies as a team did not turn up in the 2nd half and did not rise to the challenge of having a man off as they did in Sydney. The ABs played at another level and once they got on a roll it was all over.