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, 17:58 pm
@ET.(ET.)-900:
I agree. I was just commenting that with defences as solid as they are nowadays, it’s become far more difficult to penetrate them, other than by pieces of pure magic, like Daggs, or a serious defensive error by one player.
Keeping a team pinned in their own half with tactical kicks, obviously puts them under more pressure to try and break out, which leads to mistakes.
16 Oct 2011, 18:01 pm
If ever a joint Man of the Match award needed to be made it was in this particular case.
Without Parnell’s 29no at strike rate 264 and his bowling the Proteas would not have won this game.
Stupid, stupid and stupid again.
16 Oct 2011, 18:02 pm
What I found interesting though, is how the Aussie forwards tried to bully their way over when they were on the ABs line. A few years ago, Gregan would be picking out forwards standing a bit off the ruck, running at different angles until they found a weak point.
16 Oct 2011, 18:03 pm
Well done to the kiwis, they played out of their skin, the aussies disappointed, i expected a lot more out of them. Really thought the kiwis would choke and the aussies just beat them.
As for the reffing, absolutely outstanding.
Its actually very sad about how our game was reffed, am still angry, but the Kiwi and Aussie players cannot be blamed for that.
I spit on you twew!!!!! bryce lawrence.
16 Oct 2011, 18:06 pm
@David(David)-901:
Even the magic is subjected to over-caution and safety first tactics and strategy and that is why the RWC in this format cannot be appreciated by me.
I prefer mostly the top 8-10 teams in 2 sections and each play each other over an extented period and not in one country. The two sections give you semi-finalists or maybe
just finalist for the trophy match.
16 Oct 2011, 18:07 pm
John mitchell looks like action movie star
16 Oct 2011, 18:08 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-904:
The last person here who wanted to spit on other people was the blogger G13 Gerber. He wanted to spit on WP (Stormer) supporters.
You are surely not as hardcore as him?
16 Oct 2011, 18:09 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-906:
True, like a Stevan Segal without hair.
16 Oct 2011, 18:12 pm
Was thinking more Van Damme!
Segal is suddenly portly!
16 Oct 2011, 18:12 pm
John mitchell looks like a po3s when the Boks return! same with the Lions – farking big mouths! shocking how kak the std of rugby is without the boks
16 Oct 2011, 18:12 pm
@ET.(ET.)-905:
The main problem with that would be travelling costs and time off work for the fans. At the moment, the pools are basically 2 tournaments in one, where the tier 2 and 3 nations are fighting for 3rd place to prequalify for the next RWC.
16 Oct 2011, 18:14 pm
Our kiwi bloggers all asleep?
Lekker slaap!
16 Oct 2011, 18:16 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-909:
Lol, but van Damme is about 5 feet 4 inches tall while John and Steven are both over 6 feet 3.
But I get your point
16 Oct 2011, 18:18 pm
I have loved every minute of this world cup I don’t care who says what.
Even bryce had his moment of fame!
16 Oct 2011, 18:19 pm
Kiwi bloggers not asleep… nZ won! They are WITH Sheep!!!
16 Oct 2011, 18:20 pm
Shut up troll
16 Oct 2011, 18:23 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-914:
Same here, but let’s spare a moment for the sour one’s- prozac sales will be booming on our shores (and even ashore for HG etc..)
16 Oct 2011, 18:25 pm
Modder Prwan Emmer – watch your words … LMAO!
16 Oct 2011, 18:27 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-907: lol, when it comes to that reffing display i am, it just wasnt kosher, i this was an experienced ref, i am still astounded. This wasnt the odd call here and there or missing a few things, this was no way to lose, can you imagine the feeling of helplessness and frustration for the players, normally i would say chit happens but this was beyond that, and i am not taking anything away from the aussies, none of it is there fault.
Am a biekie bitter
16 Oct 2011, 18:30 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-914: Howzat Dawn , you seem to be the movie buff, have you seen the movie thats on m net tonight with Richard Gear and the dog. Reason i am asking, i dont watch sad animal movies and need to know ???
16 Oct 2011, 18:35 pm
treehugger … go watch the review @ rottentomatoes.com …. the dog dies at the end! some f*cknut shoots the dog with a arrow — sad thing is that they show it! heavy critism & petitions against the movie…. but yes! if you can watch the lions play, you can watch the movie aswell!
16 Oct 2011, 18:36 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-919:
Yeah, well, thats how it goes in rugby- the ref (human factor) plays a huge role, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose I guess.
I do not believe any professional ref at the top level will deliberately cheat-Pocock was just a far quicker learner than any of the Boks.
Anyway, I hope you get over “biekie bitterness” soon.
Maybe it will help if the Sharks beat the WP in the currie cuo final-
Then I might become the “more than only a bietjie bitter” one
16 Oct 2011, 18:39 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-906: He looks like Agent 47 from Hitman series.
16 Oct 2011, 18:40 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-922:
Ref = umpire= = skytsregter= farkin hard to remember what goes where, lol.
16 Oct 2011, 18:40 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-920: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachiko
That Dog.
16 Oct 2011, 18:42 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-922:
I felt the same way about Pocock playing the ref better than us, but realised, as I mentioned in an earlier post, that the Wobblies didn’t have any ball for us to slow down. The problem wasn’t with his turnovers, it was the slow ball when we were on the front foot that nailed us and allowed the Aussies to gather their defences.
Our lack of imagination didn’t help either.
16 Oct 2011, 18:45 pm
TREEEEEEE
It is the saddest movie you will ever ever ever see !!!!!!!
Don’t!
16 Oct 2011, 18:50 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-927: pocahontas, hi
16 Oct 2011, 18:51 pm
Yaysis I would rather spend an hour blog with greatest13gerber than this maggot.
16 Oct 2011, 18:52 pm
@Richie_7(p0ppa69)-921: oh feck !!!!! why do they make such sad depressing stuff, who wants to watch animals die, thanks so much, will watch Flag of the Fathers again rather. Lol the Lions game.
@Robzim(Robzim)-922:
@Nils(Nils)-925: Thank you Nils, night all.
16 Oct 2011, 18:53 pm
Good day trans excellent game this AM
16 Oct 2011, 18:58 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-930: You’re welcome. It should be a very touching movie.
16 Oct 2011, 18:58 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-927: Jeez i am a bright spark for asking, thanks so much people, last sad animal movie i saw was Born Free, and thats when we came to SA when i was little and that movie influenced who iam today , night night again lololol.
16 Oct 2011, 19:11 pm
Tree it’s a troll
He’s talking rubbish
16 Oct 2011, 19:12 pm
It is sad but quite sweet too
16 Oct 2011, 19:13 pm
@David(David)-926:
Agreed, with all the posession we had we should have scored- I know modern defences are tough to beat but if we wanted to be “world champions” we should have scored at least once- so , I have no sympathy and do not blame the ref- we were just not good enough on the day.
At least we are now entering the “post Div and John era” – it can only get better – we have more than enough talent to regain the world crown and to win consistently instead of just “waiting for the wc”.
16 Oct 2011, 19:28 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-936:
It’s the choice of coaches and their vision that will define how we progress, though.
16 Oct 2011, 19:43 pm
Ahh, poor old David Pocock felt frustrated tonight …
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oct/16/rugby-world-cup-david-pocock?newsfeed=true
16 Oct 2011, 19:44 pm
I said Blacks by 11 or more and guess what it was 14
Tainted RWC by Paddy and his mates
16 Oct 2011, 19:45 pm
It was wonderful to see a game take its natural course with a ref allwoing the players to play within the laws of the game.
Well done NZ players and Craig Joubert. I actually hope that Wayne Barnes gets to ref the final.
16 Oct 2011, 19:48 pm
@BULLET(BULLET)-940: Please no, lol
16 Oct 2011, 19:50 pm
Danuk, you have to admit, it would be amusing?
16 Oct 2011, 19:52 pm
@BULLET(BULLET)-942: The NZers would go farkin apeshite
16 Oct 2011, 19:55 pm
I wonder who would be eligble … I think the ABs would be very happy with Joubert again. Not Bryce (obviously), the french guy, doubt Rolland, unlikely Barnes, not Steve Walsh (probably, due to previously being a NZer).
Maybe Kaplan or Owen?
16 Oct 2011, 19:57 pm
Think its Kaplan.
That said, Joubert may have reffed himself into the final. He kept the game flowing and the breakdowns honest. I would be happy with him if I was a Kiwi.
16 Oct 2011, 20:01 pm
@BULLET(BULLET)-945: Yeah agree, personally find Kaplan a little pedantic
16 Oct 2011, 20:08 pm
its between Rolland and Joubert the 2 semi’s refs, Paddy ‘O will review their respective performances and declare a winner as to who will ref the final.
Should be Joubert because Rolland has French connections
16 Oct 2011, 20:08 pm
The New World of Rugby Dictionary:
Shi.t = Bryce
Fck = Bryce
Cheat = Bryce
Cnt = Bryce
Fixer = Bryce
Rigger = Bryce
Shagger = bryce (as in sheepbrycer)
Arsehole = Paddy (actually Bryce is quite interchangeable with Paddy, but Bryce is just more convenient)
Po3s = Bryce (No more po3sdom chaps, its brycedom)
And a Kiwi will forever be known as an “honest” brycie
16 Oct 2011, 20:10 pm
Article in the Sunday Times reckons Rolland is Paddy’s favourite and will blow the final…
There you have it.
AB’s have won the RWC (Rigged World Cup) already.
16 Oct 2011, 20:13 pm
Zulu / Kiwi Dictionary part 1
msunu = Bryce
bhosha = Bryce
ithuvi = Bryce
golo = Bryce
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