ABs duo key in Wallabies drubbing
25 Aug 2012
GARETH DUNCAN watched Dan Carter and Sonny Bill Williams make telling contributions in the All Blacks’ 22-0 victory over the Wallabies at Eden Park.
On the back of an errant first-half performance, the All Blacks dominated the second stanza to clinch a comfortable win and the Bledisloe Cup for a 10th consecutive year.
The victors didn’t have the forwards dominance they enjoyed in Sydney last week, but they were the better team in general play and they capitalised on the Wallabies’ ill-discipline.
Carter and Williams should take most of the credit for this triumph, with the flyhalf starring with the boot and the latter playing a key role on attack.
Carter slotted six of his seven goal attempts, for a personal tally of 17 points (five penalties and one conversion). He also formed a dangerous combination with Williams, who troubled the Aussie defence regularly.
The All Blacks No 12 carried the ball strongly and offloaded superbly, and created most of his team’s try-scoring opportunities. While New Zealand failed to capitalise on these chances in the opening 40, Israel Dagg finished off a move started by the inside centre after the break.
It was Williams’ last Test before his move to Japan. He will be sorely missed as he’s grown into one of the best inside centres in world rugby. He’s become an important cog in the All Blacks line-up, especially with ball in hand. The experienced Conrad Smith should recover from an eye injury ahead of the Kiwis’ next Rugby Championship fixture against Argentina and is a quality player to fill in the midfield. But New Zealand rugby will poorer during Williams’ absence.
The Wallabies started well in the first quarter, with Michael Hooper a menace at the breakdowns, and the Australian heavies fronting up on attack and defence. But the visitors failed to convert this ascendancy into points.
The All Blacks then started controlling matters after a shaky showing in the first quarter. Williams starred on this platform and his fellow backs exposed the gaps in the opposition’s guard. However, they fell short on every occasion. Carter eventually opened the scoring with a 25th minute penalty.
The Wallabies suffered a major blow when Will Genia was yellow-carded for cynical play moments later. But despite having a one-man advantage, the All Blacks still couldn’t reach the whitewash. Instead, they scored two more penalties, which was enough for a 9-0 lead at half-time.
The All Blacks then sealed the match early in the second half. Dagg touched down five minutes after the restart, while Carter added the extras and kicked two penalties for a commanding advantage.
Game over.
The Wallabies were never going to score 20-plus points in the final quarter. They lacked creativity with possession, even with Quade Cooper’s inclusion, and their ploy to turn down kickable penalties to pursue the try saw them finish the match without any points on the scoreboard.
The winning margin could’ve been greater if the All Blacks had more composure during the dying stages. They made poor decisions and spilled the pill near the tryline. But nevertheless, the mission was accomplished in Auckland and this will be remembered as one of the Wallabies’ most embarrassing defeats.
403 Comments
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26 Aug 2012, 07:42 am
@MADaboutrugby-386: It must be frustrating for you to have all this inside knowledge about rugby and not be recognized. If only Meyer and the others knew what you obviously know. It must be a bit like Sarah Connor in The Terminator.
I’d put NZs superior record to SA and Aus down to the fact The ABs know how to use both the the club and the rapier.
They can physically front up to the Bok in a 10 man game of attrition and triumph, a week later play a high speed aerobic 15 man game against the Wallabies and still come out on top.
SA continue to struggle to evolve a world class attacking game and Aus only field a world class tight five once a decade at best.
This ability of the ABs to change their game plan to suit the occasion is a huge factor in their ongoing success.
26 Aug 2012, 23:26 pm
@cane-375:
Having now had the opportunity to compare the version from my couch with the version from Block 321 Row J, I would have to say that I was a liitle less right than you were more wrong.
SBW was very strong. Very strong indeed. The ‘Showpony’ in him still looks for himself on the live replay screen between each break however. He was excellent nevertheless.
But if you think Nonu is a decent 13, well all the evidence points to the contrary. Hes a brilliant 12 but how many defensive errors and spilled passes at 13 do you
need before realising its a specialist position where a GP wont do ?
27 Aug 2012, 05:53 am
@Rugby-1-209: whats wrong with NZ supporters? Ever taken off your own myopic glasses and sifted through the vitriol that gets flung from SA? I don’t know who is worse – you lot or the welsh.
Your problem is – you cant stand us winning, can you? Like many on here, we get accused of cheating, of corruption, of poaching, of influencing refs, getting away with forward passes, travel factor that has less impact than others, the list goes on.
I mean, come on man, what else have you got? Through all of this, we play the quickest brand of rugby, with highly skilled athletes, and a big dose of intelligence.
Only in very recent times, have we actually started to see some SA fans genuinely acknowledge that their team is simply not as good as New Zealand, or putting it more succinctly, NZ are way ahead of the pack.
And all you can do is be a cry baby about it.
Harden up f*** face.
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