By MARC HINTON - Stuff.co.nz
Last updated 19:25 19/09/2009
Emphatic victory to All Blacks
Crisis averted. Jobs safe. Vice-like grip on the Wallabies continued. All in a night's work for the suddenly awesome All Blacks.
But the big question we'll be asking ourselves as we digest this comprehensive 33-6 Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup victory over the Wallabies over our Sunday morning breakfast will be just what value do we place on it? Really, was it any great surprise?
The All Blacks have now won six of their last seven tests against the Wallabies over the last two seasons, since a certain Robbie Deans slunk across the Tasman to take charge of the Men in Gold.
And this latest instalment simply continued that trend. Graham Henry might not be able to buy a win over the Springboks right now; but he owns Deans.
And really as much as the All Blacks are tying themselves in knots over their inability to counter the South African game; they must feel pretty satisfied about the superiority they hold over their trans-Tasman rivals. They've now swept them 3-0 in the Tri-Nations and will surely make it a round four in Japan next month.
Really, if ever the Wallabies were going to redress the imbalance, you would have thought this match would have been it. But they simply weren't good enough as the All Blacks convincingly won the arm-wrestle through the first three quarters and then came home with a wet sail and two late tries to inflate the margin out close to embarrassing territory for the Wobberlies.
This was among the more convincing wins over the Australians over the last couple of years, too, with the All Blacks dominating most aspects of play, including that much talked-about lineout, and successfully suffocating everything and anything the visitors could throw at them on attack.
Yes, it was a performance to be proud of from the All Blacks who avoided the spectre of their first ever three home loss season, and answered their critics in fine style. This was how we expect them to play. This was how they should play.
Their set-piece work was excellent, their breakdown game top drawer and, possibly for the first time this season, the All Blacks got their attacking game going. It was a sweet response, and would have been manna from heaven for the under-siege New Zealand coaches.
Credit to them, too, to rally the troops after the defeat in Hamilton and come up with improvements in areas where they had to be made.
"I'm pretty proud of the guys, it's never easy coming off a loss and the belief among the whole group was outstanding and to put a performance out here tonight... very, very happy," said skipper Richie McCaw afterwards.
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He was rapt with the lineout response that saw the All Blacks hold firm on their own ball and even steal two straight Wallaby throws (both by supersub Jason Eaton) late in the piece.
"We kept the belief in ourselves," said McCaw. "We realised last week it was only minor things that went wrong, the boys worked hard all week and put that together which is vital to get your game going.
"It's great. When you're down it's a real test of what character you've got within the team."
Wow. What a difference a week - and a few harsh words from their critics - made. The All Blacks looked a different side in the first 40 minutes of this contest, playing with a purpose, precision and penetration that had not been there in Hamilton, nor for that matter in any of their opening salvos throughout this competition.
A strong, and accurate, opening half was punctuated by a magical period around the half-hour mark right about when it looked most ominous.
Centre Isaia Toeava had just been despatched to the sin-bin for a high tackle on young Wallaby fullback James O'Connor, and from the same play phase Berrick Barnes had just coolly slotted a dropped goal (under advantage) to close the Wallabies to within three, at 6-9.
Ten minutes, a man up, we all steeled for the Wallaby charge that would surely come.
Instead it was the numerically disadvantaged All Blacks who pounced. During a nice spell where they did extremely well to limit the Australian chances to expose them, wing Cory Jane snatched a try - quite literally - out of thin air.
It had looked distinctly unpromising when fullback Mils Muliaina received backtrack ball his side of halfway and sort of ran out of options for the pass. So instead he hoisted one of those middle-of-the-field high bombs that the Springboks specialise in, but are catching on like wildfire at the moment.
It could have - should have - been diffused with little discomfort by the Wallabies. Could have, schmould have. Instead Jane came flying through the air like, well, Tarzan, plucking the ball from right under the nose of startled Australian wunderkind James O'Connor and then dashing 35 metres or so for a superb try, and a 16-6 lead they would hold till the break.
Where has this man been all season? Oh, that's right, not required.
The Wallabies came out with plenty of purpose after the break, but they could still find no way through an All Black side that remained on its mettle on defence.
Carter slotted an early penalty to extend the margin to 13, the All Blacks battened down the hatches for a period of Wallaby dominance and then straight after Eaton had come in with his lineout thievery they finished with their flourish.
Ma'a Nonu had the second try six minutes from the end, with a trademark bullocking run that left a handful of Wallaby defenders looking like fools; and before it was over the All Blacks worked a couple of quick phases off a scrum before putting Josevata Rokocoko into enough space on the right to unleash one of those swan dives for his 45th test try.
And, with Carter slotting a second goal off the upright, the margin went out to 33-6, and the bleeding was well and truly stopped. The All Blacks were mostly all on top of their games. Jane was superb on the wing, and surely he's earned more starts on the back of this. Toeava had one of those tests that remind you why his coaches covet him so and there was also a much improved showing from Rokocoko. Also, wasn't it good to see Mils Muliaina playing with a lot more confidence?
Up front new chum Tom Donnelly had an excellent debut in the second row, Andrew Hore got his lineout stuff right, Adam Thomson added some much-needed mobility to a loose trio that outplayed their opposites and the set-piece stuff was, by and large, on the money. Richie McCaw was back to his best too as the All Blacks won the tackle ball area comprehensively.
The Wallabies? O'Connor had a match to forget, Giteau was again well contained by the All Blacks and the Australian backline in general found themselves running at a black wall all night.
The Wallaby forwards also could make little or no headway all night, and even failed to procure the supposedly failsafe method of possession via the All Black lineout. Pocock and Smith were non-factors.
For the All Blacks the questions were answered. For the Wallabies they start all over again across the Tasman. Deans should buckle down for another assault.
New Zealand 33 (Cory Jane, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko tries; Daniel Carter 4 pen, 3 con)
Australia 6 (Matt Giteau pen, Berrick Barnes dropped goal).
Halftime: 16-6.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Late flourish not enough for All Blacks
By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE - Stuff.co.nz
The All Blacks were gracious in defeat as they handed the Tri-Nations trophy over to South Africa last night with coach Graham Henry only lamenting a poor opening hour's work that cost his side the Hamilton test and any chance of staying in the title race.
The All Blacks came back strongly but ended up short, losing 29-32 for their third loss of the tournament. That left Henry offering no excuses.
"Congratulations to South Africa. I think they richly deserve to win the Tri-Nations, they have beaten the All Blacks three times ... that's pretty convincing.
"They played structured rugby. We played well for the last 20 minutes and didn't play well the first 60, that's the basic reason we lost the game."
Late tries to Sitiveni Sivivatu and Richie McCaw raised hopes of a win that would have kept the tournament alive.
But in the end there could be little argument with South Africa's stature as the best side in this championship.
The All Blacks play the Wallabies in Wellington next Saturday to wrap up the tournament.
There is nothing but pride to play for now and clearly the Boks dented the All Blacks with this win in New Zealand.
The All Blacks lineout fell apart from the outset and by the time it recovered late in the match it was too late.
"When the game looked lost we could have pulled it out of the fire. But we lacked that consistency. We turned over too much ball, there wasn't the structure in the set pieces," said Henry.
"We started to get that consistency, the lineout got better, we held on to ball and we looked a good side. We got a wee bit more adventurous as the game went on too."
Of the lineout woes specifically, Henry said: "I guess that's confidence. We didn't hit the jumpers early and that confidence waned."
Henry and backs coach Wayne Smith admitted the controversial move to play Dan Carter and Stephen Donald together had failed.
"I don't think it was as good as we hoped," said an honest Henry.
"We thought it was the right selection. But I though Daniel lacked a wee bit in giving the side direction when both were on the field."
He felt things had improved when Donald was subbed in the 50th minute, allowing Carter to concentrate on his No 10 duties after the pair had swapped positions regularly.
Added Smith: "I feel a bit sorry for Stephen because there weren't a lot of opportunities in that first half. It was a scrambling game and not how we wanted to play."
Henry said there were some simple lessons to be learnt from this campaign.
"You need quality first phase ball so that you have a foundation to work from and getting over the advantage line.
"I think it's a basic game --- get go forward ball and when you achieve those things then you are looking likely. We did that but it was too late in the game."
The All Blacks were gracious in defeat as they handed the Tri-Nations trophy over to South Africa last night with coach Graham Henry only lamenting a poor opening hour's work that cost his side the Hamilton test and any chance of staying in the title race.
The All Blacks came back strongly but ended up short, losing 29-32 for their third loss of the tournament. That left Henry offering no excuses.
"Congratulations to South Africa. I think they richly deserve to win the Tri-Nations, they have beaten the All Blacks three times ... that's pretty convincing.
"They played structured rugby. We played well for the last 20 minutes and didn't play well the first 60, that's the basic reason we lost the game."
Late tries to Sitiveni Sivivatu and Richie McCaw raised hopes of a win that would have kept the tournament alive.
But in the end there could be little argument with South Africa's stature as the best side in this championship.
The All Blacks play the Wallabies in Wellington next Saturday to wrap up the tournament.
There is nothing but pride to play for now and clearly the Boks dented the All Blacks with this win in New Zealand.
The All Blacks lineout fell apart from the outset and by the time it recovered late in the match it was too late.
"When the game looked lost we could have pulled it out of the fire. But we lacked that consistency. We turned over too much ball, there wasn't the structure in the set pieces," said Henry.
"We started to get that consistency, the lineout got better, we held on to ball and we looked a good side. We got a wee bit more adventurous as the game went on too."
Of the lineout woes specifically, Henry said: "I guess that's confidence. We didn't hit the jumpers early and that confidence waned."
Henry and backs coach Wayne Smith admitted the controversial move to play Dan Carter and Stephen Donald together had failed.
"I don't think it was as good as we hoped," said an honest Henry.
"We thought it was the right selection. But I though Daniel lacked a wee bit in giving the side direction when both were on the field."
He felt things had improved when Donald was subbed in the 50th minute, allowing Carter to concentrate on his No 10 duties after the pair had swapped positions regularly.
Added Smith: "I feel a bit sorry for Stephen because there weren't a lot of opportunities in that first half. It was a scrambling game and not how we wanted to play."
Henry said there were some simple lessons to be learnt from this campaign.
"You need quality first phase ball so that you have a foundation to work from and getting over the advantage line.
"I think it's a basic game --- get go forward ball and when you achieve those things then you are looking likely. We did that but it was too late in the game."
Tri-Nations analysis: Struggling All Blacks can still retain their crown
An in-depth look at how the times are changing for Graham Henry and his not-so-vintage New Zealand side.
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| by James Mortimer on 31 August 2009
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| The last word that comes to mind when describing the 2009 All Blacks is vintage, but they possess a fighting quality that has ensured they may still defend their Tri-Nations title. New Zealand are looking at recording an unprecedented fifth consecutive trophy that signifies supremacy in the Southern Hemisphere, and their ninth overall. However, back-to-back losses against the Springboks in South Africa have ensured that their destiny is not in their own hands. The All Blacks must rely on the Wallabies to beat the world champions in Brisbane. If this is achieved, then the clash on September 12 in Waikato could still be for the 14th Tri-Nations title. Irrespective of this, there would be a grim satisfaction residing with All Blacks coach Graham Henry, with the fact that he is now 5-1 against his Wallabies rival and fellow Kiwi Robbie Deans, well and truly putting to bed any concerns over whether or not the NZRU made the right decision in their then controversial decision to re-appoint the former headmaster of Kelston Boys. While there are still concerns moving forward for this All Blacks team, there are plenty of foundations to w |
As the Springboks themselves have proven in this year’s competition, you do not need the complete game plan, as long as the established pillars of your technique are strong enough to win matches.
In this we can sum up the All Black issues this year. Unlike the South Africans, they have not been clearly dominant in one aspect that has allowed them to build into match-winning control. But the manifesto laid in Sydney, if built upon, could well change this.
The most fundamental appears to be there, the bedrock on which All Blacks teams throughout history have relied on, an unwillingness to accept defeat and a pride in the silver fern embossed on their left chest.
Even in the face of a Springboks onslaught, this All Blacks team has not folded.
The second elementary aspect is there, even if it is evident against the Wallabies far more than against the South Africans.
Their pack is strong, with a solid scrum, but in Sydney they showed one of the most desired aspects of a forward platform; the ability to evolve. Their lineout improved and their tactical approach in the loose was alternated when it was required, vastly increasing their pick and drives and running off the pillars when evident that the Wallabies were struggling.
The challenge will be to achieve this against the Springboks. Against both the World Cup holders and France this year, New Zealand have laboured at times to dominate in the tackle area.
The cattle and technique are there but, as with their basic skills in all facets, it is more a question of accuracy and patience. This could sum up their attack, with the All Blacks showing neither quality in spades.
In this, the All Blacks are very much a diamond in the rough. They are showing a willingness to run with the ball and employ an offensive stratagem, far more than their opponents, but the execution is not there.
While the desire is clearly evident, the tenets of such attack are missing, which also form the backbone of historic All Black rugby. Hard direct running, close lines of support and exquisite short off-loading are just not coming together for Henry’s men.
In many respects, heaven help the opposition when they slot the final pieces of the grand jigsaw, for against both South Africa and Australia they have made numerous breaks and running metres (almost double that of their opponents in the competition so far) but unforced errors have derailed their phases.
In this the men on the pitch must be responsible, but here a recent strength of New Zealand rugby, already seen under Henry, needs to again come to the fore. Depth of players, and the resulting competition for places it ensures.
This was evidenced through the performances by both Ma’a Nonu and Rodney So’oialo in Sydney when coming off the bench. With the All Blacks having other options in their positions (Luke McAlister and Kieran Read), the two Hurricanes came on to the park and played as if their very lives depended on it.
Contrast this to Mils Muliaina, who despite being an excellent player, hasn’t quite delivered to his very high standards in 2009. Is he a little more relaxed knowing a certain Leon Macdonald isn’t challenging for his position?
This is where New Zealand’s jewel in the crown – the Air New Zealand Cup – is crucial. This year we have seen All Blacks filtering back into the competition, but non-performing Test players should be put on notice. Equally strong domestic performers should be rewarded.
Joe Rokocoko re-earned his Test spot with a winger’s master-class performance for Auckland at Kerikeri domain, but still his position should be on notice. Otherwise it is an affront to the battalions of New Zealand wingers, such as Hosea Gear, Rudi Wulf, Rene Ranger and Fetu’u Vainikolo who perform week in and week out.
Still, if anything the frustration felt by the All Blacks' public is symptomatic of their demands for success and reflective of the usual high standards of the most successful Test team (World Cups aside) in the modern game.
And beyond the above mentioned “platforms” to work with, 2009 has unveiled many positives.
Isaac Ross and Owen Franks have been unearthed as long-term options, crucial considering Ali Williams' absence and the struggle to fill the immense shoes of Carl Hayman.
The defensive ethos of the All Blacks is strong, employing a mixed strategy of rush, swarm and umbrella tackle systems.
But for all the lack of crispness in New Zealand’s game, it is clear beyond any pessimism that they are - despite struggling to implement – looking at an innovative attacking match-day strategy that could pay dividends come 2011.
As it was when they introduced a Randwick-style attack to their arsenal in 2004, the reality is that these new approaches take time.
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This was evidenced through the performances by both Ma’a Nonu and Rodney So’oialo in Sydney when coming off the bench. With the All Blacks having other options in their positions (Luke McAlister and Kieran Read), the two Hurricanes came on to the park and played as if their very lives depended on it.
Contrast this to Mils Muliaina, who despite being an excellent player, hasn’t quite delivered to his very high standards in 2009. Is he a little more relaxed knowing a certain Leon Macdonald isn’t challenging for his position?
This is where New Zealand’s jewel in the crown – the Air New Zealand Cup – is crucial. This year we have seen All Blacks filtering back into the competition, but non-performing Test players should be put on notice. Equally strong domestic performers should be rewarded.
Joe Rokocoko re-earned his Test spot with a winger’s master-class performance for Auckland at Kerikeri domain, but still his position should be on notice. Otherwise it is an affront to the battalions of New Zealand wingers, such as Hosea Gear, Rudi Wulf, Rene Ranger and Fetu’u Vainikolo who perform week in and week out.
Still, if anything the frustration felt by the All Blacks' public is symptomatic of their demands for success and reflective of the usual high standards of the most successful Test team (World Cups aside) in the modern game.
And beyond the above mentioned “platforms” to work with, 2009 has unveiled many positives.
Isaac Ross and Owen Franks have been unearthed as long-term options, crucial considering Ali Williams' absence and the struggle to fill the immense shoes of Carl Hayman.
The defensive ethos of the All Blacks is strong, employing a mixed strategy of rush, swarm and umbrella tackle systems.
But for all the lack of crispness in New Zealand’s game, it is clear beyond any pessimism that they are - despite struggling to implement – looking at an innovative attacking match-day strategy that could pay dividends come 2011.
As it was when they introduced a Randwick-style attack to their arsenal in 2004, the reality is that these new approaches take time.
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