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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25 Aug 2012, 11:27 am
@Big Hit-193: “this is a team which lost to Samoa and Scotland at home, that doesn’t even happen to 6N teams”
Ahem, I could have sworn even England and France have lost at home to Scotland.
25 Aug 2012, 11:27 am
@Robzim-195: all good rob
25 Aug 2012, 11:28 am
Well done All Blacks. Congrats to the AB supporters here.
Though I as a Boks supporter just pleased your team never picked up the bonus point. Helps our Boks.
25 Aug 2012, 11:28 am
@Big Hit-193: on that performance I’d have to agree. But the AB’s do look rather accomplished and we (Boks) would have to step up 200% to get past this team. My goodness didn’t Dagg look good with ball in hand?
25 Aug 2012, 11:28 am
I have no idea what Australia need to do to sort themselves out.
And, to be honest, I don’t give a damn
25 Aug 2012, 11:29 am
Dean will go, no doubt
Care taker candidates will be McKenzie or even JW,
Cooper and Beale: two murky persons who are at home in the court room as they are on the field contributed basically noting on attack while creating two big holes when pretending to defend
25 Aug 2012, 11:29 am
@Big Hit-200:
damn it.
Not really. There were some good parts but the ABs are still not showing there best, which they really need to soon.
As for OZ, they are in trouble.
25 Aug 2012, 11:29 am
@TASSIES-194:
I am riding from home and go there via Hillcrest and D’aria so the loop takes about 2 hours. We must some or other time perhaps do a ride together, i often do Contermans- Meerendal is also going to be good once it gets dryer, they have done quite some work on the trials.
25 Aug 2012, 11:30 am
@Hurricane-182:
“makes all so enjoyable when we totally destroy the Boks”
And you call Bok supporters arrogant lol. You should def beat SA this year, possibly home & away – but we won’t roll over like the Aussies & destroy is a big statement!
Excellent win NZ, didn’t see the game but to blank Australia and win comfortably with that scoreline shows a class side. Pity about some of their supporters….
25 Aug 2012, 11:30 am
Hello everyone
25 Aug 2012, 11:30 am
Deans needs to go now. Ewen MKenzie, wait by your phone.
25 Aug 2012, 11:31 am
@Hurricane-197: well I’m pretty sure the reverse is true mate. In fact make that 100%.
25 Aug 2012, 11:31 am
@TASSIES-204: I think NZ will beat SA, but assuming Alberts stays fit (he is vital for you) I expect SA to make some headway in the forwards. NZ really miss the hard edge of Thorn and Kaino, I’m not sure this is the strongest NZ pack right now.
@Nils-201: not to both (notice the ‘and’) and they did it inside 12 months
Surprisingly, since the 2007 WC, Scotland actually have a better record against the 4N than the other teams.
25 Aug 2012, 11:31 am
AB’s were just in a different league and could step up when needed.
I’ll be disappointed if the Boks don’t win twice against the Aussies this year.
25 Aug 2012, 11:31 am
Aus really are in a bit of trouble these days, but wouldn’t it be just like the Boks to go and get whipped in Perth now!
25 Aug 2012, 11:31 am
Naas is talking kak again!
Deans on a knife’s edge…might get fired tomorrow
25 Aug 2012, 11:31 am
@Rugby-1-209:
Well did you see who i was replying too?
Get back to me when you read that.
25 Aug 2012, 11:32 am
Is it true that Budgie Abbot, the head of the Oz national socialist party, does not sell his a.s.s. ?? Confucious say: “He with aural love handles had several and severe tugs from behind.
Aussies have rubber spines and no bones in the wrist?
25 Aug 2012, 11:33 am
@Robzim-208: that’s an idea Rob. Yes I have noticed on-going work on the trails. Cut out a whole section in the first vineyard slope.
25 Aug 2012, 11:35 am
if morne, hougaard & kirchner kick to dagg, jane we will get moered!
25 Aug 2012, 11:35 am
@Hurricane-217:
And continue too read when i said that destroy did not mean this years games…. as stated i dont know how that will pan out.
25 Aug 2012, 11:35 am
Average game
25 Aug 2012, 11:35 am
@Big Hit-213: You are right, of course, this current Aussie team looks poor and even 3-0 vs Welsh cannot hide that.
25 Aug 2012, 11:37 am
Now if our Boks can win tonight and pick up the bonus point we will head to Perth with our tails up. Just hope we don’t take this Wallabie side for granted. We now need to beat them in Perth to go to Dunedin with confidence.
So far it looks like it will only be Boks to beat the World Champs. I think we will beat them at FNB even with our kick and chase and crash ball game plan. Just hope we can beat them in Dunedin, though think that will be tough, just hope we put up a better show than the Wallabies have done against them on their turf.
Go Bokke.
25 Aug 2012, 11:37 am
@Nils-223:
lol
6 nation champs….really makes you wonder how strong the 6 nation teams are.
25 Aug 2012, 11:37 am
@Rugby-1-209: new zealand are **** no way they should beat the boks at all even with cockeyes refs. their best players are carthorse fk wads and the rest just plain ****.
25 Aug 2012, 11:38 am
@Hurricane-217:
Yes I did, what’s your point? You stated the AB’s will destroy the Boks, a huge/arrogant statement on an SA blog regardless of who you were replying to.
NZ look the goods no doubt, but you have been rolling Aus over for years now so this was hardly your biggest test.
25 Aug 2012, 11:39 am
@Transformation-220:
And unfortunately that is axactly what they will do!
25 Aug 2012, 11:39 am
Don’t know why the Aussie game is kick happy.
25 Aug 2012, 11:39 am
@Puma-224: why you all so fkin in awe of new zealand? these bunch of prissy pants tosserz wouldnt even be world champs without a nice payout to keep the refs onside but i think they are really into the irb. stuff these fukkers and may new zealand rugby die a painful death and be forgotten forever. amen.
25 Aug 2012, 11:39 am
@Hurricane-225: I would not discard them entirely, they just blew their chances and they DID have them, remember, English were within a shout to beat Boks once and Welsh, well, could blame only themselves.
25 Aug 2012, 11:39 am
@Big Hit-213: I don’t think that’s the issue BH. We’re going missing in the tight/loose. We’ll miss Bismark and Brussouw and that is where we are going to see our arse.
25 Aug 2012, 11:39 am
@kaksioek-211: It could be Jake waiting by his phone. Don’t be surprised it could be.
25 Aug 2012, 11:39 am
@Blitzbok-226:
lol
Thanks for proving my point. I didnt even have to show Rugby-1 the idiot i was replying too.
25 Aug 2012, 11:40 am
Boks are put to win at 1:4 at Mendoza, a test ground where the French lost by 20 something points only 2 months ago?
Go Walshie!
25 Aug 2012, 11:40 am
@Puma-224:
Agree.
The Boks should always win at home. No excuses.
But I think we might get a klap in NZL.
25 Aug 2012, 11:40 am
@Hurricane-225: And let’s not forget the Irish for their Chrictchurch effort.
25 Aug 2012, 11:40 am
@Hurricane-234:
Please don’t respond to that banana.
25 Aug 2012, 11:41 am
@TASSIES-219:
@Robzim-208:
Its via Majik Forrest and D’Aria even
They are also going to make changes to majik- lots of fences and stuff, it seems like we will soon have to pay for access even if it is suppose to be “public” space- they had some problems with vagrants there however, a few people were attacked so perhaps the fencing in will help.
I am off now- enjoy the rugby later… Go WP !!
25 Aug 2012, 11:41 am
@CSI:Rugby-229: coz they cant penetrate ball in hand. you need penetration on the inside channels before you can go wide they cant do that so they just fkin crab all over the field getting slammed like a back-alley b!tch and getting turned over. next best thing is to just fkin kick it and hope you get it back but these stupid fukkers cant even put pressure on their kicks. nothing wrong at all with kicking its the most important part of test rugby, but for *** sake do it right and grow a par of ****** ballzin the process.
25 Aug 2012, 11:41 am
Scotland has a suss record. Only just beat Oz, whose individuals had played three days earlier. Only beat the PI teams because the best PI players were given cash inducements not to play. The Scots unfortunately have as little between their ears as they do under their skirts. They played in camouflage in 2007 to keep the Kiwis under the ton.
Now on to the vip match of the weekend; GW Sydney v carlton . Go Blues
25 Aug 2012, 11:43 am
@Hurricane-234: hows your rebuilding work in mudd-slide island? hahahaha stick to wat you know you fkin dog. all kiwis are low life dogs not even human go *** yourself with your dan carter fleshlight bwahahahaha
25 Aug 2012, 11:43 am
@AiDoc-241: scots beat aussies thrice in a row now
25 Aug 2012, 11:44 am
@Puma-233: No, there would be a massive outcry if they gave the job to another foreigner. It will be Ewen.
25 Aug 2012, 11:45 am
rubbish game to be honest…
thought the ABs pack had it all over the QWobblies, who were intent on trying to slow the speed of the play the ball down..
ABs far from the finished article, but the signs are there they just need to keep working on what they are doing…. counter ruck is what sets this team apart imo..
all 15 players do it and do it effectively…
25 Aug 2012, 11:45 am
@Rugby-1-227:
read #197
I think you have got the wrong end of my post
25 Aug 2012, 11:46 am
@Hurricane-221: @Hurricane-221:
Fair enough Hurri, I just don;t know why you allow yourself to get so worked up by TROLLS, that you come out with nonsense like that
Anyway bring on the ABv SA games, Uas are a walk inthe park for you guys
25 Aug 2012, 11:46 am
@poppa69-245: counter ruck your arse-nought poppa this all-kak team is no great shakes in any way at all. they ***** cheat all over the place thats they ONLY edge they have and even then they are still fukinn average. the biggest fkin joke in the history of the sport eva!
25 Aug 2012, 11:47 am
@AiDoc-241: actually, Scotland have beaten the Bokke 5 times in their history, and have drawn with the ABs 25 all (still remember that game, Hastings one of my favourite non AB players ever)..
25 Aug 2012, 11:47 am
@TASSIES-232:
My prediction last week was at least one Bok’s key forward will go down because the hits’ load not shared as it should be?
If another key forward goes down tonight then the ABs’ work would be done for them by the Argies
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