Losing is a rare experience for the All Blacks and coach Steve Hansen has challenged his team to make the most of it after their Bledisloe Cup streak of dominance came to an end.
New Zealand fell 23-18 in Saturday’s dead rubber third Test at Suncorp Stadium, ending a run of seven straight wins over Australia.
It marks the first time since 2011 that New Zealand have lost two Tests in a calendar year.
It played out like the sequel to the second trans-Tasman clash in Dunedin, but this time the Wallabies were able to hold onto their lead and repelled an intense late rally from the world champions to score the breakthrough victory.
Hansen was philosophical about the result, noting the absence of key players like Beauden Barrett and Brodie Retallick and acknowledging there was no absence of effort from the team he rolled out.
“We’ll go back and review our game and look at the things we need to work on and we’ll fix them. The sun will come up tomorrow,” Hansen said.
“When you look at the people that aren’t here and the people that are, what a great opportunity for this team to grow and learn.
“The wheels on the bus keep going around, in two weeks’ time we have to play another game and we’ll take those learnings and we’ll use the hurt that’s here to grow.
“For a lot of guys, that’s probably the first loss they’ve had in the All Black jersey. It’s a feeling you don’t just wash away, it’ll take time to absorb it and you learn a lesson from it.
“There’ll be some real good lessons to be learned.”
Hansen conceded the Wallabies deserved the win, and rued handing the home side what he said was a seven-point head start through Reece Hodge’s 70m intercept try early in the contest.
“They didn’t blow any of the opportunities they had, they worked hard and put us under pressure as well and prevented us taking ours,” he said.
“Australia played well. They’ll be happy with themselves. Hopefully they kick on and have a great northern tour.”
Shaun
Guest
Love Hansen! He hasn't been made to properly sweat yet... would be interesting to see how he would react to another loss up north.
lassitude
Guest
Maybe. But I understand Drummond is one of a handful of Canterbury players told to be on standby for the coming All Back tour north. Bird and Moúnga being 2 others (wouldn't be surprised if Moúnga gets a promotion).
The Sheriff
Guest
Hansen magnanimous in defeat; no blaming the ref or any of that crap. A champion coach! Good to see Barnes ping the ABs for scragging players off the ball not adjacent to the ruck. They have made a habit of it and the practice has been spreading unfortunately. Someone deserved a yellow card for nailing Polotu-Nau off the ball.
cuw
Guest
i think one issue with SBW is his physique. Maa Nonu was kind of short and stocky - which made it difficult to go high-low. with Sonny they are just doing that - 2 guys going high -low and stopping him making ground. so even if he offloads it will be in traffic , with the defensive line under their nose. the other issue is both Barrett and Sopoaga are not creative 10s in the Carter Cruden mould. one shud not forget, even cruden took time to align with SBW at chiefs. also at the time it was a novelty. with so much analysis of every little detail , it is not easy be one-up against good sides. who knows , just maybe they will try to get him back for next world cup.
Highlander
Guest
Peter, I am far from a midfield expert but to me it appears we are, 1. Over running plays a lot, so the ball arrives behind the man 2. Doing a really poor job of getting the ball wide quickly. If you pick Ioane and Naholo who both looked good the few times they had the ball, then you find ways to get the ball there. Now all of Sopoanga, SBW, and Crotty didn’t have great distribution games last night so which combination it is, is a guess, but it’s seems other than Cruden, most are having issues with timing with SBW around.
cuw
Guest
not the first time that intercept came - Folau also did a simillar. the attack is looking same-same. imo nz is missing Dagg. people dont rate him or give him the credit but he is the vision in that line. he and Ben feed off each other. go back to like 2013 ( i think) when Ben scored a lot of trys and see who the 15 was. also the constant change in the line is not helping. there is a chance Savea will be called in as Ioane is injured. lets see if it changes something.
cuw
Guest
so did DMac . but that was a silly decision. Mounga did not have a bad game - the whole Crusaders game collapsed with the way monsieur Raynal reffed it.
cuw
Guest
Eri Enari - still too raw and error prone. Canterbury play with Drummond a lot. i would say from the younger lot 3T is better.
Peter Robinson
Roar Rookie
Highlander, I too, can't quite put my finger on the problem, but its there. Maybe, Hansen is letting Foster have more control now? That intercept try last nite was a prime example of why you don't try to be too tricky at Test level, it was a poorly designed move and only had a chance if the Wallabies backline on that side went completely asleep...and Sopoanga should have taken contact when he was aware how fast the Wallabies were racing up. Example of how trying to be too cute bites you in the behind, paired with a poor decision by Sopoanga to try to move the ball on.
Peter Robinson
Roar Rookie
Sopoanga certainly had a poor game, but I won't write him off yet. If he doesn't perform next chance he gets, then I might be concerned. I thought he was a lot better player than he showed last nite...we shall see. I DO NOT see McKenzie as a first five, at least nowhere near 3rd in the AB pecking order...lets see what he can do for the Chiefs next year, first. Mounga should be ahead of McKenzie, he shows promise although he had a poor game against the Lions for the Crusaders and that may have counted against him.
Peter Robinson
Roar Rookie
The half-back for NZ under 20's looks very very good, think Canterbury might have signed him. Watch him, he looks special.
rebel
Guest
He said some for some players and he is correct. So I guess that is ok also.
cuw
Guest
Charlie Ngatai - if he can be ok . Crotty is the best defensive center in NZ , but Chralie is the best tactician. And he is still faster than Crotty, despite all the injuries to his legs. it was bad timing that when CN was at his peak , NZ already had two fine centers , who managed to stay injury free. not forgetting the current concussion protocols - only God knows how many knocks Nonu ans Smith would have suffered in their 60 odd partnership.
cuw
Guest
in the midst of all that WAYNE SMITH retired!! there was no mention of him in the test match , BUT in the match between Canterbury and North Harbor they put up his stats and paid respect. i think he has coached like 212 games and played 20 odd for all blacks.
Fionn
Guest
12. Crotty or Laumape, 13. ALB/Goodhue?
cuw
Guest
Hall may be injured , didnt play for NH v Canterbury. if only Gus Pulu could pass a little faster - coz he is the most physical guy out there :)
lassitude
Guest
Foster gives me the squirts. And to think he's, supposedly, first in line after Hansen goes. But I'm not sure the attack plan was all his. Hansen has form in getting too cute from time to time.
Fionn
Guest
Haha, I don't know much about him. I stumbled upon him when he wrote an article that was critical of Cheika after the bloodbath of Bledisloe 1, and I found it cathartic after that horror show. Have to swallow my pride though. The team is playing much better than I imagined possible while sitting in the stands of Bled 1.
Highlander
Guest
Rattue is the same category as Reason, @pillock
Fionn
Guest
Yeah, I can't see how the centre partnership isn't Crotty-ALB or Crotty-Goodhue to be honest. Chris Rattue wrote an interesting article in the NZ Herald today that was quite critical of Hansen.