Wallabies praise ‘brilliant’ Blacks
16 Oct 2011
Robbie Deans and James Horwill were emphatic in their view that Australia were beaten by a far superior side on the night.
The Blacks progressed to their first World Cup final since 1995 on the back of an inspired performance at Eden Park. They dominated every facet of play, making a prodigiously gifted Wallabies side look decidedly ordinary.
Coach Deans was clear in his assessment of the match, saying: ‘ In 15 Tests coaching against the All Blacks, that was probably the best I’ve seen them play. They were brilliant.’
The Wallabies’ only points came via two penalties, which spoke volumes about the role the Blacks’ defensive effort played in nullifying their opponents’ key players, particularly their dangerous outside backs.
This success was built on an immense gainline contest, which Deans pointed to as being the root of their struggles. ‘They defended really well. We were never able to get momentum, they were strong in contact and aggressive towards the ball on the ground and that made it really difficult for us.
‘We didn’t feel the game was out of reach at half-time [New Zealand led 14-6] but we needed more possession to be able to play. Also the All Blacks’ work in air was very good and we lacked there.’
Captain James Horwill applauded the effort exerted by his charges in search of the breakthrough that could have given them the lift they needed to chase victory late in the Test. ‘We never stopped giving, but they were clinical in what they did and we were beaten fair and square by a better side,’ Horwill said.
The Blacks are heavy favourites going into the final against France, whom they beat comprehensively in the pool phase. Talk of France’s capacity to defy the odds and produce a magical performance will dominate the media this week, but Deans believes his countrymen will emerge as victors.
‘The All Blacks showed tonight that they are hungry and more than capable of winning the final. The core of this side have had three cracks now and that showed in the way they played. Their commitment and intensity was outstanding.’
By Ryan Vrede, at Eden Park.
37 Comments
16 Oct 2011, 13:59 pm
can french do the impossible?
16 Oct 2011, 14:06 pm
Missed the game…how was the ref?
16 Oct 2011, 14:14 pm
@grant10(grant10)-1: Of course they can, they’re the French rugby team. You can’t tell how well they will play based on previous matches. They are wildly inconsistent, not just from match to match but within matches.
On the other hand, I do think the All Blacks will win. The French have to obey the normal laws of physics and karma at least once. Third time’s the charm, right? I have a feeling that the French will try to play tight and slow and restrain us from playing our own style, but we’ll know that and can outplay them even at their own game.
I would have preferred Wales, they deserved to be in the final and would have offered us a thrilling match. But breaking our fear of the French is an acceptable alternative I suppose.
Now, I am off to pray that the ref is scrupulously fair and unbiased. A poor ref is the only thing that could conceivably stop us. That and the nerves.
16 Oct 2011, 14:16 pm
@Wolf(Wolf)-2: Ref was alright, penalised Australia a lot but he looked consistent and unbiased. Of course, I would say that, given that the team I support were the victors.
16 Oct 2011, 14:21 pm
We will b fine. No nerves before the semis and there will certainly let the French who rules this neck of the woods.;-)
16 Oct 2011, 14:33 pm
@Todd W(Todd W)-4: Thanks Sir.
16 Oct 2011, 14:42 pm
@Todd W(Todd W)-4: On the run of play, the ABs should have won by at least 20 points. Ref was excellent, I thought. He was fair to both teams and penalised McCaw for not releasing at a ruck — the Wallabies kicked that penalty. More importantly referee Joubert penalised Pocock a few times for doing exactly what he was allowed to get away with at the breakdown against the Boks last week. It’s interesting that both Deans and Horwill said they were outplayed in all facets today. The stats will show the same happened last Sunday. Pity they were not big enough to admit they were very lucky indeed to beat South Africa who had outplayed them in all aspects of the game. That said, the Boks had only themselves to blame for not taking their chances.
16 Oct 2011, 14:46 pm
@grant10(grant10)-1: whats with this French support all of a sudden? Jeez guys lets get behind a Southern H team that deserves to win the cup. I certinaly wouldnt want the bloody bumbling French to take it. I mean WTF?
16 Oct 2011, 15:26 pm
The AB’s were no better than the Boks. AB’s scored one try through an individuals brilliance but never looked like breaching the wallaby line again. In fact if the Boks had scored that try the touch judge would have signalled a lineout. In fact the Boks looked far more destructive on attack and without Bryce’s help would have scored 4.
The difference plain and simple was that the ref actually reffed the breakdown and NZ got penalties in the red zone that the Boks didn’t.
16 Oct 2011, 20:22 pm
The Boks lost by 2; the ABs won by 14. The ABs are in the final; the Boks are at home, after tripping at their very first knock-out hurdle.
A4Y.
16 Oct 2011, 20:52 pm
@ no 10 – u are unpleasant, very much like the old skin that has 2 b cleaned off a horses winkie every now and again.
16 Oct 2011, 22:01 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-10: Yeah well had the game been reffed properly we could well have beaten the Ozzies by a 12 point margin at least. Rossouws penalty had nothing in it – Rossouw had hands around his legs at one stage but he did not pull the man down, his supporters dropped him and Danie let go before he influenced anything. Secondly Vickermann had been doing far worse to Matfield the whole evening without being penalised. +2 for the Boks, numerous penalties for hands in rucks, high tackles etc could easily have resulted in another penalty for the Boks – Boks +5.
Oz try should never have stood as Pocock clearly comes in from the side and hacks the ball out of the ruck with his foot – 5 points to the Ozzies – Boks win by +10 at least – had the Ozzies been pinged a bit more at the breakdown or had one or two other calls gone our way it could easily have been another 3 points – Boks by +13. No point in comparing the 2 scorelines as we were hard done by the ref. For once I can actually say the ref had a huge influence on the outcome of the game.
16 Oct 2011, 22:09 pm
Noone can doubt this intense rivalry between two great rugby nations
and yet listen to the words of genuine respect in the post-match
so refreshing
16 Oct 2011, 22:21 pm
@JEZ(DEE DAH)-9: Give it a rest. Why cant you lot stop living in the past. take some of your own medicine you so freely dished out when we were knocked in cardiff 07.
Who knows what the boks might have done had they got through, they may well have imploded – pressure has a funny way of showing up in some teams.
So many of you always talk up the “what ifs” etc, you always think you will do better at some moment that never eventuated, its nonsecal to talk like this, as your optimism has to be acknowledged, but equally kept in check.
16 Oct 2011, 22:48 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-12: i watched thatgame again yesterday and the ref was bad for both sides, brussow holding onto Genias legs coming out the ruck when the ball was 15m away, burger constantly inteferring with ruck play from teh side and off the ball. It swings both ways, but you tend to caught up with instances that only effect your team
SA were horribly guilty of not engineering themselves into a better position, irrespective of the ref. They had sufficient chances. But Aus – not the ref – still had to defend, and defend they did.
Another way of looking at this, is that SA just werent meant to be in the running for the title, having had luck guide them through 07 by having to beat Fiji/ Argentina/and a woeful stodgy England. Dont give me that **** about England and Argentina who beat France – as we have seen, France are the chameleons of international rugby and logic does not work its way through as to who beat who etc. Its all bollox.
17 Oct 2011, 00:55 am
Congrats to New Zealand, a well-deserved victory.
But you’d do well to be a little more gracious as the Saffas make valid – though now a little tired – points.
Deans and Horwill gave the Boks zero credit last week, when the Boks actually dominated more so than the Blacks and survived only becuase Pocock was allowed to get away with murder at the breakdowns. Look at the stats, Robbie and James, you were more badly pomped last week.
The Blacks won because they dominated play and had a referee who was good and fair.
The Springboks lost because they dominated play, didn’t take their chances and, yes, had a referee who was poor and biased.
Those are the facts…what might have happened in a Boks v All Blacks semi is another matter all together…we may well have got hammered.
None of which should detract from the fact that Australia were kak (lost to Ireland, should have lost to Boks, lost to All Blacks).
And to think those on this side of the Tasman still, this morning, talk of the game as the ‘grand final that should have been’.
Delusional is a word that comes to mind.
17 Oct 2011, 02:02 am
Quade is Achilles. He is looking an aweful lot like a hybrid between Carlos Spencer and Gaffie Du Toit. A genius clown. I think, if Robbie Deans gets another 4 years he has a serious pivot problem and needs to change his approach to the game. The style the Wallas play is reminiscent of the 2007 AB’s. A lot of flash. The AB’s played World Cup Winning rugby last night, and that is what they will do.
17 Oct 2011, 03:37 am
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-16: Difference between the boks against the Aussies and the All Blacks against the Aussies (other than the ref) is we are one dimentional while the All Blacks tested the Aussies up front in the centres and out wide. By doing this and despite only scoring one try they forced the Aussies to continually infringe and if they had kicked for poles a bit better they could have won by 30 points. I hope this buries the notion once and for all that defensive, kicking rugby is the only way to go inorder to win a World Cup.
17 Oct 2011, 03:58 am
@malcolm(malcolm)-18:
all
good and
well
the bokke
would have
klapped
the keewees
yesterday
bryce lawrence
will have to
live with his
conscience
forever
for his sake
i hope
he was
paid
enough
low life
keewees
17 Oct 2011, 04:17 am
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-19:
Correct, the Boks were clapping for the ABs yesterday and i know you were.
17 Oct 2011, 04:22 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-20:
clap
and klap
are two
different
things
you probably
have
the former
i have no
respect
left
for any
keewee
they can only
win
by cheating
17 Oct 2011, 04:29 am
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-21:
I believe the clap you are talking about is an infection.
I suggest plenty of rest and call the doctor.
17 Oct 2011, 04:35 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-22:
that is
what you
inbreds
of the thin
white cloud
are infested
with
natural born
cheaters
due to
stds
you lot
will never
have my
respect
again
you are
lowlifes
17 Oct 2011, 04:38 am
Bless him, he’s still an All Black deep down isn’t he…old Deans.
17 Oct 2011, 04:42 am
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-23:
Sorry but you are way behind the times.
STDs are now STIs. I will let you work it out, get back to me with what the doc says, i am very worried about you Porra.
Love
Hurricane, you favourite and most respected Kiwi friend
17 Oct 2011, 04:48 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-25:
don’t worry
about me
worry about
you
this rwc
has exposed you
for what
you are
you lot
have given
deviousness
a completely new
meaning
17 Oct 2011, 04:49 am
@Yetirat(Yetirat)-24:
Hmmm he will always be a Kiwi, thats what it is.
It still didnt stop him taking the tri nations of us did it?
17 Oct 2011, 04:51 am
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-26:
lol
I knew you had a heart, always wanting me to worry about myself and not you. What a guy.
17 Oct 2011, 04:56 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-28:
see
that is
the difference
we don’t
just go for
cheating
by all
and any
means
like keewees
we actually
go for
what is
right
you threw
the all black
name
away
this rwc
good night
17 Oct 2011, 05:00 am
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-29:
Anyone thinks Porra is clueless should think again, he has insight in everything he says . Even to the extent that you would think your reading poetry.
Good night mate, sweet dreams
17 Oct 2011, 07:14 am
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-29:
Geesus, Porra, take a Valium mate …. you are making all us South Africans look like idiots.
17 Oct 2011, 07:53 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-10: Thanks for that captain obvious, let’s remember that the blacks are playing at home, so before you sing AB’s praises remember that in 2007 you also lost in QF’s.
Also, WC not over yet.
17 Oct 2011, 07:57 am
All Blacks deserve to win. If Wales was in the final then we would have had two worthy teams, now we only have one. As much as I have come to hate some of the wankers on this site that call themselves kiwi’s, I can’t support a French team as poor as this one.
Go All Blacks, show us that the only place you can win a WC is in NZ.
17 Oct 2011, 08:42 am
26:Pora. Stop being so paranoid , too funny
17 Oct 2011, 09:14 am
@Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-29: Porra ya fat fok, where have we cheated? Think you’ll admit our play has been pretty clean. McCaw has been awesome, but certainly not cheating.
Cheating – see Brussow v Australia, you will be surprised, if you didnt care to admit it already.
Youre not clever by the way
17 Oct 2011, 10:07 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-27: Jeeeez you guys are on the defensive. Is that Bryce-guilt? All I was alluding to is that he has a soft spot for the All Blacks. Quite likely no?
17 Oct 2011, 13:14 pm
Leaving at the QF , really sucks the big one . Is this not the second time that this has happened to the boks ? Anyway .
AB’s coach must has the best ever succes rate as a coach..!! Look at the coaching booths , well if you are a bok supporter look back on the games and see the difference between the AB’s and the boks .
AB’s = 3 wise men
Boks , Larry , Mo and Curly .
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