Blacks within reach of rugby heaven
16 Oct 2011
RYAN VREDE watched the All Blacks take a step closer to ending their World Cup misery with a 20-6 victory over Australia at Eden Park.
Surely now. Surely the suffering will end. Surely the team that has so often betrayed the faithfulness of their long-suffering fans, nay, disciples, will claim the one prize they most covet.
France lie in wait in the final. On the evidence of their woeful performance in victory over Wales last night they will not live with this flawed but formidable team and its superlative players – Israel Dagg chief among those.
On current form Dagg is without peer in the game, possessing every technical gift on offer, and, more pertinently, the temperament for the biggest occasions. All those qualities were on show as he crafted their only try, beating three would-be tacklers then defying the laws of physics to offload a pass to Ma’a Nonu while plummeting into touch. Breathtaking is a word too liberally used to describe mediocre feats. It is inadequate for that inspired action.
Dagg was the headline act in a play with a range of compelling sub-plots, none more so than the vendetta against a son of New Zealand’s soil, Quade Cooper. It took 32 minutes for the flyhalf to do something right (a drop-goal), the preceding period being spent chastising himself for errors or peeling himself off the canvas from statement hits.
While Cooper’s star waned, his counterpart Aaron Cruden’s shone brightly. In the context of his Test career – its genesis seeing coach Graham Henry hailing him as the natural successor to Daniel Carter, and its nadir coming when he was unceremoniously dumped shortly thereafter, before being recently recalled – his was a mature effort, particularly in light of the magnitude of the occasion and the quality of the opposition.
But in a game shaped by the principle of cause and effect, Cruden’s ability to rock rested heavily on the shift put in by his roadies in shirts one through eight. Immovable at the gainline on defence and irresistible on attack, the Blacks’ heavies were mighty. Their spirit was encapsulated in the superb performance of Richie McCaw, who excelled despite his foot being held together by hope and some items found in a mechanic’s toolbox. ‘I know he will try to be modest and give credit to the tight five [for laying the platform], but he was just outstanding,’ coach Graham Henry said of McCaw.
Australia boast a player of Dagg’s calibre in openside flank David Pocock, who appears to possess the supernatural gift of omnipresence. But he was rendered a non-factor at the breakdown thanks to the efficiency of the Blacks’ strike runners and cleaners.
It would be remiss not to acknowledge the Wallabies’ unkillable spirit in the face of incessant pressure. It was the outstanding feature of their game against the Springboks last week, and they exhibited that again tonight. To restrict the Blacks to one try is a notable achievement given the hosts’ surfeit of territory and possession. However, they lacked a clinical edge in the 22m, which was decisive to their fortunes.
That they were in touch at half-time – trailing 14-6 – bore testament to their resolve as much as it did the Blacks’ frequent impatience on attack. But they did little more than survive, when reopening the psychological wounds the Blacks sport from previous failures in this tournament required considerably more.
Just after the restart Piri Weepu kicked his third penalty to go with a Cruden drop goal, extending the lead to 11 points. There was a observable change in focus from the Blacks thereafter, with panache giving way to pragmatism on attack and granitic defence being the bedrock of their resistance.
Australia succumbed, albeit not meekly, to a team who have no equal in the game. France are vastly inferior opponents. For the Blacks, ending their suffering will be more a test of exorcising their own demons than it will be about vanquishing Lievremont’s mad mob.
By Ryan Vrede, at Eden Park
Follow Ryan’s World Cup coverage on Twitter
1,170 Comments
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16 Oct 2011, 08:03 am
aussies to pip this
16 Oct 2011, 08:12 am
good luck to both teams….
kia kaha Black..
@grant10(grant10)-1: care to explain your reasoning?
16 Oct 2011, 08:13 am
No idea even who I want to win, part of me says AB’s part of me wants the team the beat us to go through
16 Oct 2011, 08:17 am
This is going to be a great game.
16 Oct 2011, 08:19 am
All black nerves? surely both teams recognise that this is really the final, whoever wins today strolls to glory next week, the pretenders on the other of the draw are a joke of a team! this will be the biggest one sided final in rugby world cup history!
16 Oct 2011, 08:21 am
@chch(chch)-4: this and the third place game are the only 2 games left, the final i am afraid to say is going to massively anticlimactic, just like ’99 the last time the frogs made it.
16 Oct 2011, 08:26 am
well i suppose about being a neutral , and i mean a true neutral, i won’t be upset at the end of the game, and that seems like a first for this world cup, unless the refree injustice campaign continues!
16 Oct 2011, 08:26 am
Good luck to both teams, may the ref have a good one too.
16 Oct 2011, 08:26 am
Good luck ABs…
whatever the result…
let’s just hope the better team wins by playing better rugby and the ref is not the topic of discussion afterwards…
16 Oct 2011, 08:28 am
@ufo(ufo)-9: Agreed mate.
This is basically the final IMO.
Whichever team wins this will have the French for breakfast…..
16 Oct 2011, 08:32 am
@ufo(ufo)-9: man i hope you a right!
16 Oct 2011, 08:32 am
S-boy, I hear a lot of stories today about how the Frogs will be no match for the AB next weekend…people should beware not to play the final a week early.
16 Oct 2011, 08:33 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-10: I would not discount the french challenge just yet… getting to the final is the first step… anything can and usually does happen on the day..
16 Oct 2011, 08:33 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-2:
lol no reasoning at all.
@ufo(ufo)-9:
Thanks UFO but we all know the ref well be on topic whatever team loses.
16 Oct 2011, 08:34 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-14: hehehe yeah, I think the ABs are second on his list, only behind you know who
16 Oct 2011, 08:36 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-13: Sure and it is the French after all……..But I don’t see it this time.
Stranger things have happened in the comp so far though I guess….
16 Oct 2011, 08:37 am
History Dragons..
16 Oct 2011, 08:38 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-16: they only need barnes or Rolland to control the final and its advantage France
lol
16 Oct 2011, 08:39 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-14:
Grant has said on here that he hates Kiwis. He is probably just going with his prejudice.
16 Oct 2011, 08:39 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-10:
hey bud… yip… can’t see the french beating either…
@surreyshark4(surreyshark4)-11:
let’s hope…
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-14:
you’re welcome…
so you’re saying both NZ and Aus are bad losers…?
surely if the ref does nothing controversial and not tries are allowed or disallowed by foul play the ref need not become a talking point… unless it’s accepted that both teams are inherently bad losers and will blame the ref no matter how good he is…?
16 Oct 2011, 08:41 am
This can turn out to be a great Oz sporting weekend.
Casey Stoner crowned MotoGP champ already.
Webber can win the Korea GP.
We can get klapped again in the 2nd T20 and of course they can progress to the RWC final here today.
16 Oct 2011, 08:41 am
@chch(chch)-19:
Yeah its a shame really, to be hated by someone of Grant10s stature really cuts deep.
16 Oct 2011, 08:42 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-2: mc caw struggling….no Carter….
Beale will be missed and I would have played O connor at 15 ……
But I feel if Aussies match Kiwis up front they may have the better game breakers….
16 Oct 2011, 08:44 am
Ian Jones losing the plot in the pre-match chat. I have always found him far too tense as a sports host (vanes standing out in neck as he struggles to talk). The guy needs to relax.
The argument on TV was not a good look.
16 Oct 2011, 08:44 am
Yeah. Can you imagine?
16 Oct 2011, 08:44 am
@ufo(ufo)-20:
UFO, come on.
HOw many times had NZ played against another team only for the Keo hounds to rip apart the ref.
As stated, no ref in no matter what game he is refing will be labeled a cheat if some of these guys dont like the outcome. I am glad you are not like that.
16 Oct 2011, 08:44 am
I dont hate Kiwis …..
Sorry if I gave that impression
16 Oct 2011, 08:45 am
@grant10(grant10)-23: your last sentence is the big question, if they CAN match the Ab tight five then anythings possible… I dont expect NZ to be as poor as they were in the first half at Brissy…
16 Oct 2011, 08:46 am
I think this will be the game of the tournament. Unless of course New Zealand win and France bring that special performance they normally have to the final! First sentence was said with meaning 2nd in hope and jest!
16 Oct 2011, 08:46 am
dont write off the French
They have limped into the final and are yet to play there top game
It may come in the final
16 Oct 2011, 08:47 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-28: yes…
exactly right…
It depends on aussies matching in tight 5….
16 Oct 2011, 08:49 am
@grant10(grant10)-27:
Well as i said, if you said that, it still cuts deep
16 Oct 2011, 08:50 am
@grant10(grant10)-31: I do think the game last weekend may be a hindrance to them, and think they may tire late in the game… Aus dont have the depth like Nz and Sa, and these guys have played quite a lot of rugby considering..
as an AB fan I am nervous as hell though..
16 Oct 2011, 08:50 am
I expect the Kiwis to really target Pocock, because its his turnovers that will create the opportunities for the Wallabies. Could be a plan in place like they had for O’Driscoll in the 2005 Lions. Its Henry’s style.
16 Oct 2011, 08:50 am
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-29: how many finals france been to, this is there 3rd if i am not mistaken, and i don’t remember anything fantastic about the other two, semi’s on the other hand are france at their best!
16 Oct 2011, 08:50 am
@grant10(grant10)-30: I think the French are confused as to which players make up their strongest team.
Against NZ and yesterday the team was very similar, and the performance was dissapointing.
Against England they played well.
I’d pick that team really,
16 Oct 2011, 08:50 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-26:
well… if the fans can’t blame him for any game-changing or game winning/losing blunders that will be good enough…
and BTW… i don’t blame lawrence for the bok loss… we still had our chances to win it… but never took them…
same for wales…. they still had their chances and blew them… could’ve been one of the great world cup wins for them… but they missed how many kicks…? one which would have won the game for them…
16 Oct 2011, 08:50 am
@grant10(grant10)-30:
lol
NOw wouldnt that be great.
French have looked average at best in most of the games they have played but some how scraped through to final.
16 Oct 2011, 08:51 am
Kiwis to win by 15 points.
Easy as taking candy from a child.
Poppa and Huricane, do you need a reason? Or will my word be good enough?
16 Oct 2011, 08:51 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-32: if i did….i apologise
16 Oct 2011, 08:51 am
Warburton gets 3 game ban.
16 Oct 2011, 08:51 am
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-34: nah, joubert just received his gold watch, it arrived in time thank goodness..
no need for illegal play with 16 on the field? POB to be knighted in the NZ honours list for services to the “spiritual guardians” of rugby
16 Oct 2011, 08:52 am
Can’t understand why Higgenbotham isn’t in the team, let alone the squad? He must have fallen out with Deans somehow?
16 Oct 2011, 08:52 am
can’t believe deans dropped sharpe… again…
16 Oct 2011, 08:52 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-33: may the best team win poppa….and may the ref be totally fair
16 Oct 2011, 08:53 am
Not forgetting the league lesson the Kiwis are getting just this minute
16 Oct 2011, 08:54 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-36: yes….gotta luv them strange french…
16 Oct 2011, 08:54 am
@chch(chch)-24:
What happened?
16 Oct 2011, 08:54 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-42: There may be time for Lievermont, P-Divvy and Deans to be added to the list too!
16 Oct 2011, 08:54 am
@ufo(ufo)-44:
I thought he was injured.
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