Blacks within reach of rugby heaven

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

Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 24 » Show All

  • 201.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:12 am

    The 1st penalty against Aus that was missing in the QF

  • 202.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:12 am

    Joubert gets pocock!

  • 203.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:12 am

    joubert not taking that kak…

  • 204.Mills_is_kak: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:13 am

    thats my SA refs are so much better than NZ refs!!! you see Bryce you po3s!

  • 205.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:13 am

    @Andre_WP(Andre_WP)-197: My place. But you have to put up with 2 young boys playing with each otherand running in and out of the TV room.

  • 206.Mills_is_kak: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:13 am

    NZ looking great without banggat Mills! – the nZ quota!

  • 207.danuk: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:14 am

    Trouble for Aussies, there’s a ref playing

  • 208.umad: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:14 am

    Pocock punished, like he should’ve been last week, f uck you Bryce!

  • 209.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:14 am

    2nd penalty against Pocock that wasn’t forthcoming in the QF

  • 210.Peter Mkata: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:14 am

    To think that Sonny Bill is not on the field yet and Carter on the injured.

  • 211.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:14 am

    Craig doing what Bryce should’ve done last week.

  • 212.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:15 am

    Again!

  • 213.Andre_WP: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:15 am

    All Blacks playing to win , no need for bonus points.

  • 214.ET.: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:15 am

    Cruden magic now.

  • 215.JEZ: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:15 am

    Penalty against Pocock. Hmmm don’t understand it last week that was allowed. Very odd! Oh another pocock penalty. He must be so confused last week he got MOTM for doing that

  • 216.puff: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:15 am

    Anyone know of an easy access free live stream link?

  • 217.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:15 am

    pocock pinged again

  • 218.David: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:15 am

    Cruden prepared to back himself. The kid isn’t scared or overawed.

  • 219.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:15 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-209: @umad(umad)-208:

    snap

  • 220.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:15 am

    Do you chaps now see how rigged last weeks game was. **** this.

  • 221.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:15 am

    AB’s get a second penalty off Pocock’s infringing and Weepu slots it to stretch it out to 8-0… Cruden is excellent in decision-making!

  • 222.ET.: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:15 am

    @Peter Mkata(Peter Mkata)-210:

    Great display by ABs thusfar?

  • 223.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:16 am

    @I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-219: I am nearly crying with frustration

  • 224.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:17 am

    Oh my lower hutt what a game!

  • 225.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:17 am

    cynical from mccaw

  • 226.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:18 am

    Ioane busts 4 feeble tackles and nearly scores — McCaw pinged in the ruck and James O’Connor slots it to make it 8-3

  • 227.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:18 am

    Lovely stuff.

  • 228.David: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:18 am

    Wobblies messed that up after Digbys brilliance.

  • 229.Peter Mkata: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:18 am

    This is magical rugby. Are the DONKEYS(Springboks) watching? This is how rugby should be played. Ball in hand at high pace. Oh it is BEAUTIFUL.

  • 230.RL: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:18 am

    Joubert is a good ref, nailing Pockock for cheating … and McCheat is getting the same treatment.

  • 231.danuk: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:19 am

    Good game though

  • 232.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:19 am

    joubert got both sevens in check

  • 233.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:20 am

    Tackler save the commentary we all watching

  • 234.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:20 am

    @Peter Mkata(Peter Mkata)-229: Fuckyouverymuch. Last weeks game was rigged clearly, when you see the sudden penalties been given at the breakdown.

  • 235.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:20 am

    Butterfingers Cooper. Having a mare.

  • 236.David: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:21 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-223:
    Me as well. After a bit of thought about why we didn’t play the ref as well, I realised that the Aussies didn’t have any ball to illegally slow down.

  • 237.puff: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:21 am

    No live stream link?
    Come on guys, dying here!

  • 238.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:21 am

    franks chows kepu..

  • 239.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:21 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-233:
    Are you on the rag?
    ffs

  • 240.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:21 am

    Who dares interfere with Lower Hutt’s prettiest face.

  • 241.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:22 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-234: And penalties at scrum time which were not forthcoming against the Boks… A setup. Clearly the Boks of last week would have been a better opponent against the ABs than the Wallabies.

    It should make you think.

  • 242.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:22 am

    ABs leaving too many points behind

  • 243.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:22 am

    piri is going to rue those points

  • 244.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:22 am

    AB get a penalty for Oz (Kefu) collapsing the scrum when buckled by Owen Franks. Weepu misses, making it 1/4. Will Cruden take the kicks?

  • 245.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:24 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-234:

    When are you going to stop crying.
    You are like a little girl, really.
    Just enjoy the game, you can do farkall about what happened in the past- its all over.

  • 246.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:25 am

    Good drop goal by ABs

  • 247.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:25 am

    Cruden slots a droppie! 11-3

  • 248.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:25 am

    Cruden drop!

  • 249.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:25 am

    AB’s using dropkicks in the WC.

    Where did they learn that? ;)

  • 250.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    16 Oct 2011, 10:25 am

    @Robzim(Robzim)-245: Nothing like speaking the truth.

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