The score of 27-7 in the Wallabies’ loss to the All Blacks on the weekend does not represent the competitiveness of what was another good match.
Regardless of rankings or who holds the World Cup, the All Blacks are the best team in the world. They were the bookies’ favourites to win the Rugby Championship before South Africa pulled out and the bookies are rarely wrong.
New Zealand are unbeaten in 42 games at Eden Park since 1994, so playing them at the venue is the toughest task in rugby and the new Wallabies did not disgrace themselves.
Having done some analysis on the ruck from the game, Australia had nine different players who made a good attempt to steal the ball (i.e. hands on the ball and a strong clean our required). Of their 14 attempts made in total, three steals or penalties were won.
As for New Zealand, they had nine players make a good attempt to steal the ball, with 14 attempts made in total for four steals or penalties.
Not surprisingly, the score was just 10-7 at halftime. But in the second half, the men in gold fell away, with only five players making a good attempt to steal the ball for eight attempts made in total and just two steals or penalties.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks had nine different players make a good attempt to steal the ball from 12 attempts made and two steals or penalties won.
Although in the second half the Aussies still forced as many turnovers, there were fewer players competing for the ball and fewer attempts. The more different players consistently competing for the ball, the more All Blacks players are drawn to the ruck, as every player is a threat.
Also, attempting a pilfer and not winning the ball slows down the opposition’s ball.
James O’Connor. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
If you look at each try conceded, the attacking team got quick ball and there were little attempts to slow the ball in the lead-up.
In the Ardie Savea try, three Wallabies were at the ruck and none made an attempt on the ball. The pill was passed out wide quickly against an unset line and Filipo Daugunu couldn’t make the tackle on Savea because he was trying to cover multiple players.
The same was true with the Australian try – no All Blacks slowed the ball and the Aussie ruck speed was so fast they could not adjust.
In these situations, even giving away a penalty to slow the ball is worth it.
Michael Hooper has coped a lot of flak over the years, however on the weekend he made the most attempts at ruck turnovers of any player on the park, six, and got the equal most turnovers, two.
With Fraser McReight in the wings, the Aussie openside future looks good. But it is not just the opensides’ job to win turnovers – it is the whole team! The Kiwis have known this for years and finally it looks like the Wallabies are starting to catch on.
There are green shoots with this new team. Although I do not agree with all of Dave Rennie’s selections, his tactics have been far superior to his predecessor.
If the Wallabies up their intensity in the ruck, in the second half in particular, the Bledisloe is not out of reach, as we have the advantage of two home games to come.
Although we must win both, this is the best chance we have had in years.
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Thats exactly what i’m saying
Are you saying they "chose" to lose that game? Thats a big claim to say they threw a match. Even from SA..
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Only because SA were smarter about the pool games
Gun Dog
Roar Rookie
Impossible :silly:
Bobby
Roar Rookie
KEEP POLITICS OUT OF SPORT !
IB I see that coming more from a reporter than a player perspective but just hope they dont do it.
I took it to mean the best side in the world based on history not a day to day ranking
yeah but Wilson has never lost to the ABs so surely he had to get in didnt he?
Bobby with Cheika being his coach for the past 5 years he got used to hanging round with nuts...
Tooly NZ had no trouble beating SA at the WC...
LOL I found the humour in that...He has a great point when you consider that after week 1 Rennie was the Messiah so I guess after 2 weeks he no longer is the Messiah...More like "just a naughty boy"
MO
Guest
Sinclair, the All Black backline with ALB and Goodhue in the centres and Clarke on the wing is good. I am not sold on Barrett as a winger. If they can't give that spot to a real winger (and they should) then they should stick DMac there. I like BBBB at 15 and Mounga at 10 but am happy for BBBB to play 10. Cane and Ardie as dual 7s is fine but they need a third loosie to really step up. A big unit. The locks are okay. Patrick T and Scott Barrett are good. But the Boks, Irish, England are at least as good. Retallick is a real point of difference and the Retallick and young Whitelock combo was as good or better than any as a unit. They need at least a young Whitelock to come on the scene. Hodgeman and Nepo Luaulua are good. But the Boks have lots of props and the Irish have Furlong and we have AAA and Tupou. Lots of competition. Locks and a 6/8. Same problem we have. Now that locks need to be 2 metres tall and some fool puts a potential test 6 on the wing or they play rugby league they are in short supply.
MO
Guest
Ranking only matters in regard to the pool selections at the World Cup and these days it matters less since not only Japan is a threat but so is England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and France. Add back Australia, NZ, South Africa and Argentina and you can have a tough time getting out of a pool and progressing to and through a semi.
Not indefinitely, no. Q. What happens if a country does not play for a number of years? Their rating may be deemed to be 'dormant', in which case they will be removed from current ranking lists. However, when they are active again they will pick up their rating from where they left off. Don’t fret, eventually we will be kicked off the system :silly:
Bigmac
Guest
Sides can protect their world rankings by playing zero games.
In brief
Guest
I just read in news.com that several wackjobs in the team are considering taking a knee during the anthem- how stupid can you be?
Dave from Mt Druitt
Guest
Looks to me that the ABs have some improvements in their game to convert those advantages into points. Next week will determine which team have improved the best.
Ex force fan
Guest
Regardless of rankings or who holds the World Cup, the All Blacks are the best team in the world. They were the bookies’ favourites to win the Rugby Championship before South Africa pulled out and the bookies are rarely wrong. The bookies are more often wrong than correct....the AB starts every RWC as favourites but have a strike rate of only 3 out of 9 and two of the 3 were won in NZ. RWC are more unpredictable as you play at a neutral venue. The All Blacks went through a purple patch and sure WERE the best side in the past decade. I am not sure anyone can with any confidence state that they still ARE the best side unless the beat the current #1 team. There is not much between the top 3 teams in the world at the moment.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the article Bentnuc, a good read. I am not sure the team is actually playing to its strengths and its opponent's (relative) weaknesses, but I guess time will tell. I rate Rennie very highly but have long thought someone like Jake the Snake White might come with a game sense closer to Oz players' capacities than is the case with a Kiwi. I think Rennie may find it hard to find players with the rugby smarts, skills and instincts that are developed through the age and grade levels in NZ and which he could harness when he had his success at the Waikato based franchise. Jake doesn't come without some baggage either, of course.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
PM, my view is that the inability to convert attacking opportunities and the defensive lapses are very much connected to the type of game the side is playing, which I think plays directly to NZ strengths and really exposes a lot of Australian weaknesses. I would like to see the side play much narrower channels, a lot of them close to the ruck - essentially a Brumby method. However, this was an improvement on past capitulations. Q, though whether this is a particularly strong All Black side, particularly in the forwards? Rugby Pass and Stuff have had articles by New Zealand writers saying the win papered over some significant issues in the forwards. I also wonder how many Wallabies would secure a starting gig in the NZ Super franchises? At least the side is playing endeavour and more sense of purpose than in recent years