All Blacks too good for Wallabies
18 Aug 2012
GARETH DUNCAN watched the All Blacks ease to a comfortable 27-19 win over the Wallabies in Sydney.
It wasn’t the most convincing All Blacks performance, but there were clear signs that the current world champions will be the side to beat of this Rugby Championship.
They dominated most of the facets of play, especially in general play as their breakdown dominance laid the platform for this victory. The All Blacks pack dominated their Australian counterparts, which saw the backline thrive.
Despite this ascendancy, the All Blacks only had limited chances to cross the chalk. But they were lethal in the opposition’s red zone, finishing off most of their try-scoring opportunities. This should improve as this team continues to build during the campaign.
The scoreline flattered the Wallabies, who struggled on attack and were guilty of too many individual errors. Kurtley Beale had a nightmare at fullback as his two missed tackles in the last line of defence cost his team two tries.
The boot of Berrick Barnes kept the hosts in the game, but they’ll need to work on their cohesion and offence if they want to be a threat this season. Talks of them being the Pumas’ best bet for victory on Argentinean soil seem likely.
The Wallabies enjoyed a good start to the match, forcing a penalty from an early scrum shortly after the kick-off. Barnes was on target. But once the All Blacks kicked into gear, they gained control of the match.
The All Blacks surged into a 13-3 lead by the end of the first quarter, thanks to Israel Dagg’s try and Dan Carter’s boot.
Dagg’s try came from a smart set-piece move, which saw Sonny Bill Williams and Ma’a Nonu’s dummy runs suck in the Wallabies defence, and Carter’s accurate pass to his fullback giving him a one-on-one run against Beale. And Dagg beat the Aussie No 15 on his outside to sneak in at the corner. Carter added the extras, in addition to two penalties.
The Wallabies created promising chances thereafter, but poor handling and interplay saw the All Blacks easily restricting the home team, creating pressure.
This pressure was evident on the half-hour mark as Beale knocked-on an easy pass from Genia in the Wallabies’ 22m area, which proved costly. From the resulting scrum, the All Blacks shifted possession quickly through the backline, which created space for Cory Jane out wide. Again, Beale was beaten on the outside and Jane dived over.
With an 18-3 advantage, it looked like the All Blacks were going to cruise to victory. But the Wallabies hit back cruicially before half-time as Digby Ioane’s rush to the tryline put Nathan Sharpe in a position to power over. Barnes kicked the conversion for the last points of the first stanza, which saw the All Blacks hold an 18-10 lead at the break.
The final 40 proved to be a kicking contest, with Carter and Barnes adding three penalties apiece. The All Blacks had two clear try-scoring opportunities, but the Wallabies did well to force the visitors into touch.
Australia managed to cut the deficit to five points during the dying stages of the Test as Barnes slotted his fourth three-pointer. But it was always going to be too late and New Zealand held on.
Carter kicked a penalty for the last action of the game, taking the winning margin to eight points and denying the hosts a losing bonus-point.
Wallabies head coach Robbie Deans’ record against the All Blacks reads three wins from 16 fixtures. This will likely be three from 17 next weekend when the two teams clash again in Auckland.
276 Comments
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18 Aug 2012, 13:25 pm
this Irish / French ref far too quick on his NH penny whistle blowing Pocock up at every steal for holding.
Only time in recent years that Wobbly had it over NZ was when Cooper albeit on the rare occasion when he been blowing hot rather than cold was at pivot. With one track Berrick in the driving seat Wobbly got no trick of surprise up their sleeve so AB’s just gonna grind out another pedestrian win. They’d be better off switching Barnes and Beale around play Beale at 10 and Barnes at 15 that way they might just spark something unique. Barnes is the Aussie equivalent to Morne Steyn, Mr one track dependable no fireworks non creating droll.
18 Aug 2012, 13:25 pm
@katman-149:
18 Aug 2012, 13:25 pm
Aidoc with a 220mph wind behind him maybe……
18 Aug 2012, 13:26 pm
Off the topic but can anyone tell me who the ref is for the Bok game
18 Aug 2012, 13:26 pm
@AiDoc-150: Um, no chance
Paul Thorburn, full-back for Wales. In 1986, v. Scotland at Cardiff Arms Park, he kicked a penalty a distance of 70 yards and 8 inches.
18 Aug 2012, 13:27 pm
@katman-146: hahah when was my last “breakdown” Katman? you are so arrogant you believe you can decide someones state on an internet forum?
you da man katcnut, you da man!
18 Aug 2012, 13:27 pm
Min62
Penalty to the ABs where the replay showed it was the other way around?
18 Aug 2012, 13:28 pm
The alcholic cheater walsh @ nautigal
18 Aug 2012, 13:28 pm
Ritchie was sealing off completely. That was a poor call.
One of many both ways.
18 Aug 2012, 13:29 pm
Probably the end of Deans, no excuses really, his No 3 Kepu hasn’t made a tackle yet!
And Beale?, gee
18 Aug 2012, 13:30 pm
Indeed, you’re having a good run, Giulietta. But once an Alfa, always an Alfa.
18 Aug 2012, 13:31 pm
where’s the attack ball benefit law gone? Haven’t these NH refs been education about roll away give daylight and allow carrying player to place the ball, instead he blowing in favour of defense team in this case AB’s every single time?
Pocock and Ioane been done in every single time in possession the wrong way round Mr. Irish / Frenchie ref.
18 Aug 2012, 13:31 pm
Aaron Smith just gave Will a taste of his own medicine…
18 Aug 2012, 13:31 pm
STeve walsh goes to a bar…..and he stays there till it closes…
18 Aug 2012, 13:32 pm
The new no 8 does not bind at all!
Genia not so flash when smith shows him up. Two wobblies headbutt each other.
At last a penalty to the dominant scrum!
18 Aug 2012, 13:32 pm
@katman-161: again, the arrogance to assume you can determine my state via an internet forum really is the epitome of stupid..
so well done, but hey , I understand, its the same kind of stupid that means you dont have a team to support in Super rugby…
18 Aug 2012, 13:32 pm
There have been at least 8 forward passes until minute 65 before the ABs were called?
How come
18 Aug 2012, 13:33 pm
What? Now there are complains Pocock does not have a free reign?
I should rewatch a certain QF again.
18 Aug 2012, 13:33 pm
@fitz1ella-162: So Skoppie wat nou?? Jan Luc Dup has signed to play for the SHarks?? whats happening to your union??
18 Aug 2012, 13:34 pm
Gear could have dived!!
18 Aug 2012, 13:37 pm
The white rhino will kill sonny bill.. I would run if i was money bill
18 Aug 2012, 13:38 pm
SBW: CHEAT. That was pretty blatant.
18 Aug 2012, 13:38 pm
Sneaky block on AAC there by the AB’s
18 Aug 2012, 13:39 pm
Min 70
Case in point
Jane was 2m ahead of Williams who passed well ahead of Jane, do the calcs
On a short distance it must be a 35-40 degrees forward pass, it seemed well practiced move!
JdV take a note
18 Aug 2012, 13:39 pm
@Hondo-174: JDV only does that against the Sharks
18 Aug 2012, 13:40 pm
Deans been a poor Aussie coach, hasn’t got the maximization out of a bunch of relatively talented rugby players. Mckenzie would have gotten far more out of this collection of players. Only thing Deans got right in his 4 years in charge is making SA his bunnies in the last 2 seasons, which isn’t saying much with players like Smit, Burger, Spies, Steyn, Kirchner and FdP ******** the Bok team chances 9 times out of every 10.
18 Aug 2012, 13:41 pm
No advantage again
18 Aug 2012, 13:42 pm
Aussies going for a BP…
18 Aug 2012, 13:42 pm
Barnes goes for the poles?
18 Aug 2012, 13:42 pm
@Hondo-174: are you serious? the missed try by Jane? is that what youre talking about? it was touched by beale, should have been a scrum to the ABs.
open both eyes
18 Aug 2012, 13:42 pm
looks like refs been paid by south africa to ensure Aussie win
18 Aug 2012, 13:42 pm
How anyone can judge a forward pass on tv is beyond me. Parallax error makes it almost impossible.
18 Aug 2012, 13:43 pm
Finally McCaw gets pinged, he does that in every match.
18 Aug 2012, 13:44 pm
@AiDoc-182: That pass then that Barnes missed, parallax error?
18 Aug 2012, 13:44 pm
@goyougoodthing2-137: Which province you live in boet? Me personally I don’t get the whole anit WP thing that has been the case of you inland people for the las how many years. Must be the fact that we live in the only province that has a functioning government, some will say that it’s the WP supporters that are ******** or whatever, I don’t by that, both sharks/ bulls and even the occasional lions fan can be a real idiot.
But I guess it could also be that you think of us as wussies or pansies but then we beat you and then what does that make you?
But in the end of the day I don’t really care, I drive on on roads that have potholes, I do my work without black out interuptions, I stop at the traffic light not fearing that I will be highjacked and then pay my taxes knowing that it will be used.
So hate us if you like.
18 Aug 2012, 13:44 pm
Beale is still on the field?
When strike runners such Mitchell are on the bench?
18 Aug 2012, 13:45 pm
HTF did that pop out? Absolute bs.
18 Aug 2012, 13:45 pm
Not releasing the tackler ref? Rolling away?
18 Aug 2012, 13:46 pm
and Beale turned the ball over,,,
18 Aug 2012, 13:46 pm
Israel Dagg MotM
18 Aug 2012, 13:46 pm
Boks can take these all blacks
18 Aug 2012, 13:47 pm
@goodstuff-185: Durban, a Shark.
3 – 1 I believe.
Keep your trousers on.
18 Aug 2012, 13:47 pm
Some refs conviently forget that daylight needs to be applied…there was no daylight.
18 Aug 2012, 13:47 pm
Kick against the pole… Aussie catches the ball and go score under the sticks
18 Aug 2012, 13:47 pm
That’s the game… how did that ball come out of the ruck… I suspect sneaky hands… reminiscent of a certain QF game in RWC11
18 Aug 2012, 13:48 pm
Beale should always make himself blead like that… He looks better LOL
18 Aug 2012, 13:48 pm
Fat lady sings. Carter eradicates bonus losing point
18 Aug 2012, 13:48 pm
@goodstuff-193: not when its a maul
18 Aug 2012, 13:49 pm
@goyougoodthing2-192: You can count, good for you, doesn’t change that fact that you got humiliated in the final, 37-6 I believe it was, which made it 2-0 against the Chiefs.
Why did the sharks even bother?
18 Aug 2012, 13:49 pm
Aus back to square one. Deans’ future probably settled now. Pity
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