Carter stars as ABs smash Scots
11 Nov 2012
JON CARDINELLI reports on the All Blacks’ effortless 51-22 victory against Scotland on Sunday.
New Zealand operated at a low gear for much of this contest. There were times when they stepped up the intensity and produced some magical attacking touches, where they exhibited the high level of execution that we’ve come to expect from the best team on the planet. But for the most part, they didn’t control the game by playing for territory, and their defence wasn’t up to its usual high standards.
Perhaps the inconsistency was down to the changes made by coach Steve Hansen for this particular fixture. Perhaps it was down to motivation. Indeed, while the All Blacks played the game at breakneck speed, they weren’t at their combative best. Then again, they didn’t need to be.
Dan Carter made an early error to give the Scottish optimists hope. In the build up, Scotland had spoken about rush defence tactics keeping the New Zealanders at bay. This paid dividends early on, with centre Matt Scott intercepting a pass made by Carter. Scott then found Tim Visser in support, and the Flying Dutchman finished what would be the first of his two tries.
But the Scots failed to maintain that defensive pressure. Carter made amends for that no-look pass soon after by making two linebreaks in a subsequent movement. The Scots were punished for standing off the All Blacks flyhalf, as Carter’s second break led to the simplest of tries for Israel Dagg.
While the All Blacks underperformed in certain areas, Carter was in sublime form in front of goal. He finished the match with figures of nine from 10, and a personal tally of 21 points.
Carter also had a hand in several of the All Blacks’ tries. The visitors played the game at a furious pace, making easy ground and linebreaks through the inside channels.
Once the initial break was made, men like Carter were key in identifying the space, and across the board, the All Blacks’ handling skills and finishing was excellent.
Scotland No 7 Ross Rennie was injured early in the match, and the hosts battled to compete at the breakdown thereafter. The absence of a genuine openside meant that Scotland had nobody to slow down the All Blacks’ ruck recycle. This in turn made it difficult for the Scots’ line defence, as there was not much time to realign.
The All Blacks conceded three tries in this fixture, and this will annoy the coaching staff. Scotland did well to take three chances. If they had been more clinical, they may have scored another when All Blacks No 6 Adam Thomson was in the sin bin if they had only secured a lineout throw on the opposition try-line. As it transpired, they only succeeded in handing possession back to the All Blacks.
It’s frightening to think about how much further damage a full strength All Blacks’ side, or indeed one operating at full intensity, may have inflicted on Scotland. The All Blacks cruised to a 51-22 victory on Sunday without producing their most polished display. It’s a simple truth that highlights the gulf in quality between the world champions and the Six Nations stragglers.
342 Comments
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11 Nov 2012, 21:24 pm
@David-232: willie john was a bloke I might recall. Think he might have been around in the year ’74. I might have been a very young hell-raiser at the time but I really don’t recall so well. Thank god they change the guard at Rondebosch Police station on a fairly regular basis or I might still be in a spot of bother.
11 Nov 2012, 21:27 pm
@corporal punishment-239: Our Henry(No 10) wouldn’t have been a bad choice tho. Just wrong era. Think Richie would have had a bad headache most of the time if he’d been exposed to that No 10. Just a thought.
11 Nov 2012, 21:28 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-250:
haha…..yes Houston I know you like to keep it honest….. in your own way
11 Nov 2012, 21:35 pm
@TASSIES-251:
He was the Lions captain!
11 Nov 2012, 21:36 pm
@Te Rangatira-253:
hehe
cheers TR,
i’m off have a good one
11 Nov 2012, 21:37 pm
@cab-249:
Wrong
The worlds greatest player…..ever.
Nothing in SA has come close or anywhere.
No one has played as long as him with a record like his.
11 Nov 2012, 21:41 pm
@David-254: yup. So he was. Remember most of the team quite well.
11 Nov 2012, 21:42 pm
Hurricane
that’s a mighty big call – he may be your messiah but we had equally good players. Jan boland Coetzee, rob louw, I thnk it was greyling – boks have produced them for generations – schalk was as effective in his prime and brussow is a better fetcher.
Wha distinguishes McCheat is his quick fingers and rascal-like mind, fastastic cheat, way better than anyone else, he’s like the David blame if cheats the hand is faster than the eye – just not Barnesey’sz
11 Nov 2012, 21:43 pm
@Big Hit-209:
Unlike you and finding excuses for players like Shaw in your team…thompson needs to go. In fact he shouldnt even be in an AB jersey.
Although as a few on here tried to say Etzebeth did not really make contact , you can just about say the same with Thompson……but we are not like some of these posters and Thompson no matter what needs to miss the rest of the tour.
Dirty idiot.
11 Nov 2012, 21:44 pm
@TASSIES-251:
Although I grew up in England it was Welsh rugby that inspired me. Players like Cliff Morgan, Dai Watkins etc. When I found myself in Cape Town in the late ’60s, not only did I find a home but a rugby ethos that I could identify with.
11 Nov 2012, 21:45 pm
@Hurricane-256: Gareth Edwards maybe?? I mean its nothing quantifiable but he was quite good. Your point is quite possibly contestable.
11 Nov 2012, 21:47 pm
@cab-258:
Are you talking about Barnes….the most useless ref from the other night?
Look at the thread again,so many complaints about his reffing.
All those people have not got the all round game like Richie, he fetches,runs with the ball, runs the team and tackles like a machine and yet even when things is against him he still has a cool head.
Brussow may have been a better fetcher but when richie first come out as a youngster…..i dont think Brussow was any better.
11 Nov 2012, 21:48 pm
@cab-258:
Jan Boland makes good wines but to compare him with Richie McCaw as a rugby player is like comparing Steve Hofmeyer to Ben Harper as a musician.
11 Nov 2012, 21:50 pm
Sacriledgeous RobbieZ
11 Nov 2012, 21:50 pm
@David-260: yes I can believe that. In the late sixties I was a very young boy in the good city. Newlands was an institution which I and many other frequented often. Maybe there was not much else to do but it was a fairly decent distraction from boarding school routine. Even a match between Union and Hammies if Tiny Naude was playing.
11 Nov 2012, 21:53 pm
@Robzim-263: huh Rob. You have a good day today? Ben Harper? Our Steve?
11 Nov 2012, 21:54 pm
@TASSIES-261:
Yep, for sure. I know and this what makes the blog interesting…… someone outs out a call like that, and especially when it is Richie McCaw.
HIs stats really say it all
11 Nov 2012, 21:57 pm
@TASSIES-266:
Lol, I am just listening to Harper at the moment. Not many to beat him.
“I knew a girl
Her name was Truth
She was a horrible liar”
Check it out :
http://youtu.be/LuHg4RnxGWA
11 Nov 2012, 21:59 pm
@Hurricane-267: no doubt he’s up there and possibly the best. But the contest is what makes life interesting. There are one or two in that great ’74 Lions side who’d be pushing Richie for the No 1 spot IMHO. But its all relative as they say.
11 Nov 2012, 22:01 pm
Yep fingers mccaw – what me ref?
Splitting image of ‘fagan in Oliver twist.
Gdam crooked operator supremo.
11 Nov 2012, 22:04 pm
@cab-270:
As paragraph 3 verse 1 in the Book of South African rugby says:
3:1 If thy Richie shows head thy maul, gouge,elbow till heart content
11 Nov 2012, 22:08 pm
Correct Hurricane
as sure as day follows night, and Richie tries to squirrel the ball away, our lot will try and bite those nuts off – johan roux got some ear of that other almighty fantastic crook fitzy – what me ref?
11 Nov 2012, 22:09 pm
@Robzim-268: I enjoy the lad too. Take a listen to the Cat Empire Rob? Ignore the fact that they are an Oz band. More than decent IMO. If you haven’t don’t miss out. http://www.thecatempire.com
You seem to enjoy the lyrics.
Adam Green is also worth a listen when you have the time. http://adamgreen.info/
11 Nov 2012, 22:11 pm
@Hurricane-256:
I agree with Tassies regarding Gareth Edwards. He might not have played as many games but his genius is unquestionable.
The problem is that comparing players from different eras and positions is impossible.
11 Nov 2012, 22:12 pm
@Hurricane-271: do you guys charge per round? Good entertainment every shot you and Cab.
11 Nov 2012, 22:12 pm
@cab-272:
As they say…if you cant beat em…… maim them
11 Nov 2012, 22:14 pm
@David-274:
True.
11 Nov 2012, 22:16 pm
@TASSIES-275:
11 Nov 2012, 22:18 pm
time out girls. Off to my pit. To cuddle vrou. Or alternatively cultivate the imagination via a good book if vrou preoccupied. ou riv okes
11 Nov 2012, 22:19 pm
Night Tassies.
11 Nov 2012, 22:20 pm
@TASSIES-273:
Thanks Tassies, I will certainly watch it just now.
I thought u would know and like harper.
Check him doing this laid back one with ex pro surfer jack Johnson:
http://youtu.be/ULjnajViCSM
11 Nov 2012, 22:20 pm
@TASSIES-265:
A friend and I used to go to Newlands (Kelvin Grove end) in the sixties and stand on the grass with a gallon jar of Tassies which we’d share with the surrounding guys. Memories.
11 Nov 2012, 22:26 pm
@Hurricane-267: Best player ever? I think that depends on how it is measured. McCaw has certainly made the greatest contribution to a national team of any player I can think of – that is what his stats clearly display.
Best player ever? If that is based on match winning ability when at their prime, amongst the AB’s, I would be thinking Lomu, Cullen, Carter ahead of McCaw.
Just depends on how it is defined.
11 Nov 2012, 22:29 pm
@corporal punishment-283:
Best player ever?
Zinzan in the pro era and Gareth Edwards or JPR Williams in the amateur era imo.
11 Nov 2012, 22:32 pm
Wahl bartman without doubt.
11 Nov 2012, 22:32 pm
Barabas venter also up there.
11 Nov 2012, 22:33 pm
@cab-285:
Jannie Breedt..
11 Nov 2012, 22:35 pm
Yessus Rob Jannie was uitstekend
kabous had the mooiste hare vir die tannies – quite a good finisher mind you.
11 Nov 2012, 22:35 pm
@corporal punishment-283:
I think thats one of McCaw strongest abilities, its his match winning.
No doubt for point scorers like Carter,Cullen and the like, sure it goes without saying but as a captain, more rests on your shoulders and all fingers normally points at you…oh and the coach.
Only bought this up as Cab mentioned McCaw as a good player but a better cheat. Nonu is a good player, so is Woodcock in fact all the ABs are good players but i would not put McCaw in the class of a good player, he is alot better than a good player..
11 Nov 2012, 22:36 pm
@Robzim-284:
The amateur era goes back way beyond your lifetime to comment on the best.
11 Nov 2012, 22:38 pm
@Robzim-284:
Whats the bet if we said back 20 years that Zinzan was the best player …. i am sure it would get the same thing as is going on here.
Probably in 25 years time McCaw maybe the greatest player as it seems you cant get called great until you are retired for 15 years + or dead.
11 Nov 2012, 22:40 pm
@David-282: Had to get the last one in David. A friend and I once (it was permitted in those days) carried a cooler box of Castles into Castle Corner (Kelvin Grove end at Newlands) and nailed 27 Castle each from 11am to stumps. We notched each dumpie(remember) on the lid to make sure of a proper record. I’ll never forget that. We still caught the train home and took the women out for a jol at Tavern of the Seas that night. Someone else drove the Volksie Beetle there and back. We were pretty hammered. My current handbrake recalls the story vividly unfortunately.
11 Nov 2012, 22:42 pm
hey Tassies
Hows Slaap stad
11 Nov 2012, 22:43 pm
Zinzan much better than mccaw in my opinion but mccaw is more influential such are his ‘secretive abilities’ – basically a very good openside with skills and the advanced crooker of fitzpatrick but quicker and more mobile – that’s a helluva combination. Probably get pinged only 10% of tge time he’s such a sharp operator and is probably worth 15pts in every match to the ABs. SA are probably better talent-wise but we don’t gave those sharp shark-like operators…
11 Nov 2012, 22:43 pm
okay now I’m out.
Speak through the week boys.
chaars
11 Nov 2012, 22:43 pm
And it seems Cab is calling out every South African that has out on a Bok jersey
11 Nov 2012, 22:45 pm
@TASSIES-295:
Cya mate
11 Nov 2012, 22:46 pm
lol – 27 castles jeezus and they reckon the Ozzie wicketkeeper could setup a record.
11 Nov 2012, 22:47 pm
@TASSIES-295:
Cheers Tassie.
11 Nov 2012, 22:47 pm
Hey guys this is from my very good friend Rugby Princess who is possibly the greatest AB fan
You may have heard it before 
Why did the All Blacks Draw with Australia ? Now we know :
Ritchie McCaw goes into the All Black changing room to find all his team mates looking a bit down. “What’s up guys?” he asks.
“Well Ritchie, to be honest we’re having all sorts of trouble getting motivated for this game against Australia . We know it’s important but we’ve just beaten Argentina and South Africa in consecutive weeks and, let’s be honest, it’s only the Aussies this week. They’re **** and we simply can’t be bothered”.
Ritchie looks at them and says “Okay guys, I hear what you’re saying. The way I’ve been playing recently, I reckon I can beat these Aussies by myself. Why don’t you fellas go down to the pub, have a few jars and maybe catch it on telly. I really think I can do this by myself”
The rest of the team reckon it’ll work and they agree. So Ritchie goes out to play the Wallabies by himself while the rest of the ABs go off for a few pots. After a couple, they begin to wonder how the game is going, so they get the barman to put the telly on.
A huge cheer goes up as the screen reads (after 10 minutes): “New Zealand 7, (McCaw, converted try) — Australia 0”
Dammit, he’s actually beating Australia all by himself. Surely he can’t do it, can he?
Anyway, a few more beers later, the telly goes off and the game is temporarily forgotten until someone suddenly remembers, “Heck, It must be full time now, let’s see how Ritchie got on”. They get the telly put back on and look on eagerly.
There on the screen is the result: Full-time from Eden Park,: New Zealand 7, (McCaw, 1 converted try); Australia 7, (Sharpe, 1 try, Cooper 1 conversion.)
They can’t believe it! It’s a draw. Ritchie v Australia and he single-handedly managed a draw against the Aussie Wallabies!
Delighted, they rush back to Eden Park to congratulate him. They find him in the dressing room, still in his gear, slumped over with his head in his hands. He refuses to look at them. “I’ve let you down guys,” he mumbles disconsolately. “I’m so sorry, but I’ve really let you down.”
“Don’t be an idiot skipper; you got a draw against Australia, all alone, all by yourself. And they only scored a single try, right at the death, after 79 minutes!”
No, no, I have” says Ritchie. “I’ve let you down. I hope you can forgive me. Twenty minutes from full time, I got sent off!”
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