All Blacks beat Wallabies to retain Bledisloe Cup

All Blacks beat Wallabies to retain Bledisloe Cup
from Latest News-All Black resigns by Haka 2011
All Blacks beat Wallabies to retain Bledisloe Cup
By MARC HINTON in Christchurch - Stuff
Last updated 21:34 07/08/2010


Rejoice New Zealand. You should, for these All Blacks of yours are getting closer and closer to a rugby peak that is going to have the rest of the world needing to enter nosebleed territory to catch them.
This was a real test match. A competitive one. But in Christchurch tonight the All Blacks found a new way to do an old thing – that was to secure a ninth straight victory over the Wallabies and retain the prized Bledisloe Cup for the seventh consecutive year.
Their 20-10 victory, two tries to one, was not quite enough to put the Tri-Nations in the bag – but it is as good as theirs with the New Zealanders now on 19 out of a possible 20 points and only a cataclysmic series of events could allow the Wallabies to catch them.
It won't happen. And so a 10th Tri-Nations title will also be secured as these All Blacks lay down their marker to the rest of the rugby world.
Having won their first three Tri-Nations matches on the back of their exhilarating attacking game, it was refreshing in a way tonight to see them ride home on the back of their magnificent defensive steed. It made a change, and it's reassuring to know this side can win like artisans as well as artistes.
Where razzle-dazzle has won them their tests through this year's programme, tonight it was grit and grunt and sheer determination.
The Wallabies had more than enough ball in the second half to finally shake that black monkey off their back. But they weren't good enough. Or the All Balcks were too good on defence. Late in the second half the All Blacks had made nearly twice as many tackles as their rivals. But they kept making them, right to the end, and their vice-like grip on the blokes from across the ditch continues.
In some ways, as much as the Wallabies improved in seven days, this will be equally galling. Last week they were never in it. This one they had every chance.
In front of a capacity crowd of 39,000 at AMI Stadium, a fast-paced and free-flowing opening quarter was notable for a continuation of the All Blacks' ball-in-hand policy - not only gloriously entertaining but stunningly effective under the new laws now in play.
With the New Zealanders refusing, for the most part, to kick away possession, they conjured two magical tries inside the first 15 minutes, to rejuvenated fullback Mils Muliaina and classy centre Conrad Smith.
They were stunning scores, and summed up perfectly the strikepower of these All Blacks as they play with those mighty twin traits of pace and precision. They know as they work through the phases that they can wear defensive lines down, eventually finding holes to probe, if they're patient and accurate enough.
Muliaina's sixth-minute touchdown, his 29th test try, continued a rich vein of form since his belated return to the arena this year after thumb and calf injuries. And Smith's measured strike eight minutes later demonstrated palpably what a wonderfully efficient footballer this fellow is. Sonny Bill Williams may be looming menacingly in the background, but right now the All Blacks are splendidly served by their midfield men.
Smith actually featured in Muliaina's try when his initial carry got the go-forward and then Keven Mealamu – another in splendid form – and Joe Rokocoko played their parts perfectly to put the fullback over with not much room for error down the blindside.
It was similar stuff when Smith was eventually put over wide on the left. This time it was Dan Carter who created the initial breach, and when he was able to pop the ball off the deck, Piri Weepu's sharp clearance enabled Nonu to put his old mate over against an outmatched Wallabies defence.
But there was a difference this week. The Wallabies showed a bit more resilience and crucially kept the All Blacks within reach. When Carter made a rare error on the carry soon after Muliaina's opening score, the Australians pounced, David Pocock and Nathan Sharpe good enough to put Kurtley Beale away on a 65m run to the line.
Yes, this was better stuff from the Aussies. Their application in the key area of ball retention was streets ahead of Melbourne and when they did find themselves under the cosh late in the first half, they were able to prevent any further damage being inflicted when it looked imminent. At 10-17, they were well in it at the break.
But they couldn't find a way through in the second half, so once again they came up short against the All Blacks they're so desperate to defeat. Carter's penalty was the only score in the spell, and the Wallabies will be gutted by that.
But to the vistors the spoils. And the kudos. The All Black forwards were great on defence, the loose trio tackling themselves to a standstill, indefatigable Brad Thorn bashing away as he does and Mealamu continuing his magnificent form. The backs struck twice in some style early on, but thereafter largely struggled to find a way through. They were not helped, though, by a serious lack of possession for most of the second spell.
Who cares? They won a great arm-wrestle, and that, folks, is well worth celebrating.
NEW ZEALAND 20 (Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith tries; Dan Carter two penalties, two conversions).
AUSTRALIA 10 (Kurtley Beale try; Matt Giteau penalty, conversion).
Halftime 17-10.

Statistics don't lie - ABs first, daylight second

By GRANT FOX - Sunday Star Times
Last updated 05:00 05/09/2010

OPINION: They say you can twist statistics to paint whatever picture you want.
When it comes to the Tri Nations, I'm not so sure Pieter de Villiers and Robbie Deans will agree.
Since the All Blacks secured this year's Tri Nations title a fortnight ago with that memorable victory in Soweto, I've been quietly analysing some stats around the annual triangular tournament.
What I've found should impress even the hardest marker among All Blacks' fans.
The graphic within the Ruck and Maul column on this page makes the point pretty starkly.
In a nutshell – when it comes to Tri Nations' stats – it is the All Blacks and then daylight. And by some way too.
We have now won the Tri Nations championship 10 of the 15 times it has now been played. Or, to put it another way, we win it, on average, two out of every three seasons.
Of the 67 Tri Nations' matches the All Blacks have played, they've won 47. That's a 70% winning record. With all due respect to our Springbok (40%) and Wallaby (38%) opposition, their records don't look too flash alongside the men in black.
Maybe some knowledgeable reader can correct me, but I don't know of any other annual high-level international triangular tournament where one country has been so dominant.
Maybe the Australian cricketers could lay claim to a similar winning record in the now defunct three-team, limited overs series they would host each summer. But those matches were all played in Australia, not on a home-and-away basis.
What's even more remarkable about New Zealand's Tri Nations record is that, for most of those 15 years, Australia and South Africa have been among the top three teams in world rugby.
That makes the All Blacks' feats even more meritorious.
The away record is even more mind-boggling. We like to think it's almost impossible to win a Tri Nations match away from home. Certainly the Wallabies and Boks have traditionally had plenty of trouble in that area. Both have away-winning records of less than 20%. The All Blacks sit at 57%, having won 19 out of 33 away matches.
What's my point?
Simply that we need to celebrate that level of achievement. We often get caught up in the moment within New Zealand rugby. That's actually one of our strengths and contributes to what making the All Blacks what they are. But it doesn't hurt to occasionally pause and reflect. And then smile about a job well done.
On that point, and given the current All Blacks coaching group have been there for seven of those 15 Tri Nations' years, we should be tipping our hats to them too.

The three wise men have had plenty of flak (and praise) in recent times but with a winning record of about 85%, there's a strong argument we're in safe hands.
The doomsayers will tell us it all means nothing if we fall over next year in the world cup. And maybe they've got a point.
But who would you rather be right now – us or the Aussies?
The Wallabies are going through enormous pain and, yes, it may all be forgotten if they win the world cup. But what if they don't? That makes it a pretty lean time for a long time if you're a Wallaby fan. It will be painful if we don't take the Webb Ellis trophy next year. But I have to say it's been a pretty good time to be an All Blacks fan in the lead-up!
And, who knows, if we knock over the Wallabies in Sydney next weekend, we'll have within our sights the world record – 18 – for the most number of successive test victories. The All Blacks will never admit it publicly, but I believe the chance to set that record will be on their minds in Sydney and should ensure another focused and strong performance. I know if I was still playing, it would motivate me.
I suspect we will see Piri Weepu start at halfback and assume the goal-kicking duties. That would help first five-eighths Aaron Cruden, who will also be assisted by knowing he has Weepu inside him and two other Hurricanes – Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith – outside him.
We need to find out more about Cruden at test level.
Dan Carter's injury provides the perfect opportunity.