There’s now no doubt whatsoever, Richie McCaw’s All Blacks are the best rugby team on the planet following their 34-17 World Cup final defeat of the Wallabies at Twickenham early this morning.
There’s also no doubt Dan Carter is the best rugby international and must be voted the best footballer of the year.
More:
>> Five talking points from the Rugby World Cup
>> The Roar‘s live blog of the final
>> The Roar‘s match report of the Rugby World Cup final
>> What legacy to the All Blacks leave?
And while salutes are being handed out, All Black coach Steve Hansen deserves special mention for his tactics that kept the Wallabies under enormous pressure from the kick-off, and kept play as far away as possible from the crack Wallaby backrow of David Pocock, Michael Hooper, and Scott Fardy.
In short, the All Blacks were clinical, ruthless, and relentless as they threw everything bar the kitchen sink at the men in gold.
To the Wallabies credit there was no white towel thrown into the ring.
Leading 16-3 at the break, Ma’a Nonu did one of his brilliant searching runs that led to a superb individual try and a 21-3 All Black lead, after The All Blacks had dominated first half possession with 70 per cent.
Wallabies in the past would have turned it up.
But this Wallaby squad is made of much sterner stuff. They replied with 14 unanswered points thanks to converted tries to Pocock and Tevita Kuridrani to have a sniff at 21-17 with 17 minutes to go.
Step up to the plate that man Dan Carter.
From 45 metres out in centre field Carter calmly slotted a drop goal for a 24-17 lead, then landed a 49-metre penalty for 27-17.
That would have been a fairly accurate scoreline the way the game was played, but the All Blacks put the knife in when Drew Mitchell lost possession in the All Black half.
Within six seconds Beauden Barrett had followed through an All Black clearance, and won the race for the ball to dive over on the hooter for a converted try.
So 34-17 was the final score, and the All Blacks had set two records – the first to win three Rugby World Cups, and the first to safely defend.
Class of their depth was the key to the All Blacks success, with two bench moves in the second half best proving the point.
No more obvious than when Sonny Bill Williams came on for Conrad Smith after the break. Smith and Nonu were playing their 62nd international as a centre combination, but the All Blacks lost nothing by bringing on Williams and his brilliant off-loading,
Same with Barrett replacing fullback Ben Smith, who was lucky to stay on the field after lifting Mitchell’s leg above the horizontal.
It should have been an automatic red, but referee Nigel Owens decided otherwise. To even the score, Sekope Kepu could also have been red carded for two head highs, but was only penalised.
There were many other Owens decisions that defied description, especially three that were critical in the four minutes leading into the break.
Missing a blatant forward pass, an offside, and a knock on led to 10 precious points being scored by the All Blacks when it looked as though they were going to lead 6-3.
But as no Wallabies, nor Michael Cheika, have lodged a public complaint, those errors had to be mentioned as they had a dramatic impact on the result.
The reason why there was no complaints from the Wallabies was best explained by Cheika.
“We have a no excuse mentality, that’s the way we play.”
So Dan Carter was rightfully man of the match, Richie McCaw dodged the question of retirement with a smile, and what was the best possible advertisement for the 15-man code, both camps mingled freely shaking hands after the presentation, showing what mutual respect for one another really means.
It was left to goal-kicking flyhalf Bernard Foley to best describe how the Wallabies felt.
“We are gutted”.
Gregory
Guest
It's a bit late to mention foul play on carter and mccaw. Seem to me kepu were on instructions to hurt mccaw or carter.you could see by the high tackles, late tackles and one incident where Australia scored with a driving maul, kepu had other thoughts. He went for mccaw on the ground with shoulder charge. If that incident were shown on bigscreen he was of to the showers. Because of him and some other players targeting the nz players aus were of their game. That's one of the reasons they lost in the final.Cheika must stop using those kind of tactics to try and intimidate the opposition. Against allblacks it won't help only spurring them on to smash the inept ausies. Cheika is a dirty coach. One day his actions may come back to bite him. He's coaching over aggressiveness which in my view can be called playing dirty.
Dannyray
Guest
Spot on Coconut
Dannyray
Guest
Spot on Mick - shall we launch a change.com petition for him?
Dannyray
Guest
TM - those comments are fairly accurate. Do they change the out come or would they ? Probably not, but noting ref inconsistencies is something all fans do, even the purest of AB diehards..... McCaw was allowed to lie on the ground with the ball in his hands and not get penalised - in full view. Pocock was penalised for putting his hands on the ground, whilst maintaining his feet. These are points of interest in a game everyone wants to win. WBs were not good enough on the day but Owens has some form concerning these two teams and how he communicates to them.
Dannyray
Guest
SK should not have been close to a yellow card. If that's where the game is heading for slight indiscretion foul play then we'll be seeing lots of players heading to the bin I think. On the same basis you would have seen Kaino head to the bin as well. Penalties for that sort of behaviour, yes, but not a YC. If a player keeps committing them, then yeah perhaps a yellow. Kepu's hit on Carter was a penalty at best, and the ref got it right, particularly as he stayed down. Perhaps Pocock should have stayed down after Kaino hit him? The game certainly does not need diving to milk a penalty. As far as Ben Smiths, it was harsh, but right given the laws. Just a bit careless from him.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Aaaarggghhh! ;)
TP12
Roar Rookie
Seconded. Further, I'd like to propose that all further contributions on this subject be read to yourself in the voice of David Attenborough.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Whilst there is variant opinion on this stomp being, in fact, a stomp I do believe the direction the discussion is going demands - screams out for - an earnest examination of "stomp", definitions, etymology, its place in modern culture vis-à-vis folk lore, an ethical perspective - that sort of thing. Contributors contributing contributions might then "break out" into sub committees to examine the efficacy of a retaliatory stomp in an increasingly violent human interface; and its juxtaposition with the gratuitous stomp. I would like to convene the Sustainability Sub Committee given the alarming loss of habitat inadvertently caused by the revised laws of rugby and the now fragile status of the stomp as a threatened species.
MH01
Guest
"Measure Pocock against the minnows if you will. Against a side that knows what they’re doing he is strictly second rate. Please don’t mention him in Mccaws presence in the next few months at least." Was the comment Taylorman left. arrogsnt and insulting.
RT
Guest
Look Sheek, disagreement with people on an opinion site is normal I would've thought. My view is that the vast majority of material I've read that you've written is and has been negative. That's your prerogative, it certainly endears you to our kiwi contributors. That's the point I was making.
ebop
Guest
Yeah you're right haste, I definitely overcooked it.
Homer
Guest
aaaand ...that's why he's a Guru. Cheers.
Dave_S
Guest
I saw it as the type of tackle that looks worse than it really was. It was definitely a yellow because it pretty much has to be if they land on their head, but I agree there was not enough malice or recklessness in it for a red. Kepu was lucky to stay on.
sheek
Roar Guru
RT, I've been on the The roar for eight years & made plenty of suggestions. it helps to know your history. I'm guessing you just don't like what you're hearing. Being a supporter is not a competition. And pretending everything is hunky-dory, achieves only self-delusion.
TP12
Roar Rookie
I didn't say that Richie's actions allowed Pocock to stomp. But then Pocock didn't stomp him ... I think you've misunderstood my point. He's getting his leg free from being held - it's not a stomp. It barely brushes his head at best. There's absolutely nothing in it. So many words wasted on nothing..
Beezlebub
Guest
Please, please, please stop "blaming" others, you lost to a far better team, yes far better in every respect. That's the takeaway from your loss, not the ref or cheating Kiwi's and as the writer suggests you were very lucky not to lose Mr Kepu for his TWO cheap shots on Carter!
RT
Guest
Super tough Briwi. Go for your life pal but don't make your teams success give you a false sense of your own ability. I'm sure in the forces they taught you to assess the enemy before engaging. Of one thing I'm certain, you don't know me so don't come the confected outrage with me champ.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
My mistake Wardad, I thought that your comment was directed at me. To Soapit - that's obtuse, I do not understand what you mean.
JB
Guest
NZ have arguably the best lineout to ever take the field, Australia coming up short was an inevitability it was just a case of how much. Really harsh to call our line out rubbishy doesn't give any credit to a very good nz line out.
soapit
Guest
yep ur so much better than that mick.