In a remarkable match where the Wallabies completed a run of scoring 45 unanswered points across two Tests – surely this is a first in Tier One rugby, especially against the All Blacks – I thought a comment on the main players might be appropriate.
The referee
Either Nigel Owens is lucky, or he has a knack of refereeing classic matches. He has a human touch, a sure touch that seems to inspire players to give it a go. He is consultative then firm in his decision-making and is prepared to explain this to the captains.
Surely the best in the world at present, he should have done the Super Rugby final, and with Wales no show of making the World Cup Final he should be a cert for the refereeing responsibility.
The All Blacks
They are seeming to be going through a crisis of confidence, where the Lions shook them up and managed to draw a series they should never have got close in. Now the Wallabies have uncovered frailties that we haven’t seen for some time.
Intercept passes being thrown, clumsy knock-ons, wafer thin defence near the line. Yet the resilience to come back at the death knell and win in Dunedin shows that there is still some of the magic there.
The Wallabies
When the hour is darkest it means that dawn is around the corner. The fightback in Sydney and the fight to stay in the game at Dunedin shows that the Wallaby flame is still burning, despite all the background noise.
(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
There was a bit of luck, just like the Lions enjoyed, but what you do with that is the measure of a team’s quality. The tries by Will Genia and Kurtley Beale were statements that the Wallabies were not going to go away, and the irony of Beauden Barrett’s goal kicking being more reliable than Bernard ‘Ice Man’ Foley must hurt.
The coaches
The histrionics that go on in the Wallaby coach’s box contrast markedly with what happens in the All Black one. Most events on the field have Michael Cheika wildly gesticulating, even before the referee has ruled on the piece of play. Steve Hansen looks on with equanimity and saves his fire for when it will have most effect, at half time or the training paddock.
A great Test for the public, great hope for the Wallabies, great lessons for the All Blacks. A win, win, win.
Upfromdown
Guest
Yes it is easy. NZ got 3/4 in the first test and 2/3 on the weekend
Jacko
Guest
Upfromdown...With that name confusion is understandable....All teams get the odd lucky try dont they? Aus got 2 maybe 3 on Sat night ...easy really
cuw
Guest
am not sure i saw Joubert in super rugger this year . but then its hard to remember with all the things i watch - rugger is just one game. :) Kubo i saw reffing this week one game. i think it was on saturday - but again after watching a lot of cricket , am not sure :)
Upfromdown
Guest
I don't think anyone in Australia regards the problems in rugby as fixed. It just provides hope that we can put in some decent performances and that it may lead to something better.
Upfromdown
Guest
I am confused. If the AB's score they are brilliant. If Australia score it is luck, or good fortune or in spite of what was happening e.g.. ".. trying to keep up with the backpeddling Oz scrum..".
Upfromdown
Guest
You know it is all about the test series. To state otherwise is ridiculous. No one really cares how many super rugby teams beat the Lions, apart from fans of those teams and the players themselves.
Upfromdown
Guest
It happens all the time though. So if it is the law no referee ever penalises it.
Upfromdown
Guest
It's really not that hard to understand.
Muzzo
Guest
cuw, did not Joubert, ref one of the SA super rugby, final series games? I'm pretty sure he did, but I'm not sure what game it was. Along with that, we have also had a Japanese ref refereeing in our Mitre 10, comp.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
You’ve got to love the persuasive power of the contention that Nigel Owens is a dunce when it is based on:
I can and I can add how Owens compares with Lawrence, Dickinson, Watson, Barnes and Kaplan when officiating in matches for the top five or ten unions, however I am disinclined to pass that on when I see the nature and extent of your research: You can too but first you will need a blank Excel spreadsheet, ESPN, a discernible level of interest in knowing what you are writing about and an appreciation for the determined efforts of those who strive for excellence in their contribution to rugby.cuw
Guest
given a choice i think many would opt for Reiko Ioane and either Nemani nandolo (Fiji) or Virimi Vakata ( France) on the wings. Juan imoff will be also close but then due to policies he does not play for Argies. but he is great in 7S and in France. but at the end of the day the choice will depend on game plan. for eg. after losing to Ierland with 2 quick and big wingers , NZ have opted for the 2 fullbacks in back 3 . so in that sense Folau does stand a chance at 14 and his biggest threat is Dagg , who has a better all round game than just catching up-and-unders.
cuw
Guest
not sure about the XVs , but that is what he said - act as ref trainer and ref in 7S. if he is reffing XVs , have not seen him in currie cup match. KUBO is reffing in NZ miter 10.
cuw
Guest
as i said on another post - Owens is old school. he likes to make decisions rather than engage the technology . reminds me of the old school umpires like Steve Bucknor David Sheppard Steve Dunn Venkat... they would rather give a runout on field than go upstairs. for example in the 1996 cricket world cup final between Sri lanka n Australia , Sanath jayasuriya was given runout by on field ump. the commentary that included Ian Chapple said " i would hate be hanged on that evidence" , becoz it was so close even on replay. at least in this match Owens used the TM O quite a lot. but his first instincts are to give it by himself. this is not the case with new generation of refs and cricket umpires. they go to TV , even for the bloody obvios !!!
Fionn
Guest
Really mate? I had heard he was quitting to train the next generation of referees? It'd be nice to get him a few more times though if he's still refereeing. I love him as a ref.
ClarkeG
Guest
Agree - the process surrounding the Retallick non try was odd. Owen's attempt to have us believe he was signalling a penalty against Haylett - Petty was all part of it.
taylorman
Guest
Look the 17 point lead is a bit of a red herring. The first try was a good one but was a typically opportunist Folau try, the second came when Genia ran past the AB backs going the other way trying to keep up with the backpeddling Oz scrum. This was not the kind of dominating play one can be confident of with that sort of lead. If it was 17-0 over sixty minutes, that would have been much more impressive. But it was all inside the first quarter when most haven't even got started fully yet. So it's unfair to say the nature of that lead is something that should be defendable against a side like the ABs.in fact it's going to serve to be the reason they score more in return, having to add urgency to the fold. The final lead at 77'minutes though was definitely defendable but to their credit that took a sublime 34 seconds of test match rugby at its best to rip that one back off them.
One Eye
Roar Rookie
AB's lost an early Owens match, 2009. Helps to start with accurate facts before embarking on a panty rant...
One Eye
Roar Rookie
No, McMahon attached and the ball still in front of the locks feet (hard to prevent when turbo reverse is engaged).
One Eye
Roar Rookie
At what position would he be a dead cert in a world 15? Certainly not 15 as there is a certain Ben Smith who would be everyone's first choice (can tackle for starters). Not sure he would make the wing slot either as Ioane must have one sewn up (and showed up Folau on defence), a few decent wingers in the NH going around now too. Possibly he would get the 14 jersey, but that would be dependent on teh form of Nehe Milner-Skudder, Israel Dagg and a few up north. Hardly a dead cert selection though.
cuw
Guest
or a reverse logic is - when auzzy win any ref is good. :) i can think of someone else who feels the same , and he is quite vocal about it :P