The Year Of The All Blacks-2013

All Blacks vs Ireland 2013

It was a sensational clash, a pulsating contest from start to finish and as entertaining as any in recent memory.

A fired-up Ireland threatened to upset the odds and claim a first ever victory over New Zealand in 108 years of trying only to be denied by an All Blacks side that simply refuses to accept it is beaten.

The stunning finale that propelled the Kiwis to a 24-22 victory was just the last dramatic act in a thriller that captivated the Aviva Stadium and millions of fans beyond. In terms of performance, it may not have been the perfect end to an historic unbeaten season – with no other side in the professional era having completed that feat – but it was a perfect example of what makes this New Zealand team the greatest side in the world.

Mental strength

There was not one point in this game that the All Blacks contemplated defeat. A ferocious opening from Ireland brought due reward in the form of tries for Conor Murray, Rory Best and Rob Kearney but there was not a hint of panic from the visitors. They were out-fought and out-played but had complete faith in their ability to force their way back into the contest. This composure and belief was evident in captain Richie McCaw’s decision to kick for the posts with two second half penalties when his side still trailed by a significant deficit when others would have been inclined to gamble and chase the game.

But that belief and ability to think clearly under pressure was trumped by the sweeping move that turned the game on its head in the dying moments. By this stage the game and ‘perfection’ was on the line with a repeat of last year’s season-ending defeat against England looming large but the All Blacks remained cool-headed as ever. The Kiwis’ enviable skill levels in the loose and physicality at the breakdown came to the fore as they carved their way down field where replacement Ryan Crotty eventually broke Irish hearts by levelling the scores.

But they were not done. New Zealand fly-half Aaron Cruden missed his first attempt at the conversion with the Irish defence bearing down on him but their charge was ruled premature and he made no mistake with the second attempt. In contrast, Ireland playmaker Jonathan Sexton did not have the benefit of ice in his veins. Handed the chance to take the game away from the All Blacks and the Irish into an eight-point lead late in the second half his form deserted him. McCaw later admitted that had he been on target it would have been ‘game over’ and you couldn’t help but think that Sexton’s apparent decision to take as much time as possible over the kick may have messed with his routine and mental preparation. The kick will haunt him but luckily his talent ensures he will have several chances to erase the memory in the future.

Roll with the punches

For forty minutes Ireland threatened to upset the world order by playing like the All Blacks. Displaying an intensity that was notably absent from their performance against Australia last weekend, Ireland appeared set on banishing the memory of their record 60-0 defeat to the All Blacks in their previous meeting last year. The back-row trio of Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip swarmed all over their All Blacks rivals and denied them time and space. Scrum-half Murray was at his best and centre Brian O’Driscoll, in his last appearance against New Zealand, attacked the challenge as if this game would define his career. But crucially this was controlled mayhem with their discipline – they conceded just one penalty in the first half – a key factor in their first half dominance.

But Ireland failed to press home their advantage after the break and did not even add to their score in the second half. They could not rediscover the ferocity that had fuelled the dreams of packed Aviva Stadium and as the game wore on it was clear their first half endeavour had taken its toll. There was no such drop off from the All Blacks who dusted themselves down and clawed their way back into the game and eventually turned the tables on Ireland. With an increasing amount of possession and territory it was no surprise that Ireland’s penalty count began to climb and the scoreboard was soon telling a different story. It did not come easy, and almost didn’t come at all, and the effort required to turn the game was perhaps best summed up by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen: “We survived a shit storm.”

It ain’t over until it is over

The score was Ireland 22-17 New Zealand. The clock said 79:33. The hosts had the ball on the All Blacks’ 10m line. History was calling for Ireland and a group of players whose industry had rightfully presented them with this opportunity. But they blew their date with destiny in a way that their all-conquering rivals would never have done.

Handed one final lifeline, the All Blacks did what they do best. Twelve phases and 60m later Ireland’s chance had gone. I should be clear to every international side that it takes a performance of 80+ minutes to account for the All Blacks. And if they needed a reminder of the Kiwis’ dogged sporting DNA then they need only have cast their eye back 24 hours to see how the New Zealand rugby league side a last-gasp victory over England in their World Cup semi-final clash at Wembley.

Ireland desperately needed someone to make one big final play as the All Blacks stretched them from one touchline to the other in search of salvation. Unfortunately the obvious candidate – O’Driscoll – was sitting on the sidelines with concussion, cruelly robbed of a chance to steer his side to yet another famous victory. Others such as O’Brien and Heaslip were understandably spent having racked up an incredible 44 tackles between them.

It just was not to be. Ireland fell to their knees while New Zealand struggled to find the energy to celebrate but their fatigue will be short-lived with a beach awaiting. However, Ireland’s scars – both physical and mental – are sure to linger a lot longer.

What a game, what a year it has been for the All Blacks.

Blackprint for Success

A thrilling clash, described by victorious New Zealand captain Richie McCaw as “a hell of a Test match”, underlined the All Blacks’ class but England also emerged with immense credit having pushed the world’s best side all the way. But what decided the contest?

Red zone return

New Zealand’s ability to execute under pressure has long stood them apart from the rest of the world and that ruthless streak was evident again in this nail-biter. Match stats reveal that both sides made eight trips into the opposition 22 and while New Zealand came away with points on four occasions, England only did so once. The home side’s relatively low return is thanks largely to their bullish tactics in the first half as they chased the game and a crucial call from captain Chris Robshaw did eventually lead to a try and spark a tremendous and gutsy comeback that almost won them the game. But no side going against the All Blacks can afford to be so wasteful when handed such precious field position especially when your pack has worked so hard to earn it. England have a set of forwards at their disposal with the ability to strike fear into any of their rivals but they still do not have the game-breaking back division to compliment them or capitalise on any dominance up front.

The world’s best player?

New Zealand fly-half and reigning International Rugby Board Player of the Year Dan Carter rightly took centre stage ahead of the clash at Twickenham on the occasion of his 100th Test match appearance but it was the front runner for this year’s honour that dominated the game itself. All Blacks No.8 Kieran Read delivered yet another outstanding all-action display to propel his side to victory and bolster his claims to the title of the world’s best player. As impressive his match stats – a try, 45m with ball in hand, 11 tackles – they do not do him justice and not even a first half yellow card could tarnish his game. He has a priceless ability to read the game and this, along with his incredible work rate and skill, ensures he is a near-constant presence. His influence makes him a target for the opposition and he attracted the attention of England’s Chris Ashton, Billy Vunipola and Lee Dickson in the lead up to the opening try of the game but they were left dumbfounded, like the capacity crowd, as the Kiwi slipped a delightful scoring pass to winger Julian Savea. Read is just as devastating in defence with Tom Wood, Dan Cole and Courtney Lawes seen to almost bounce off their rival at just one of many bruising breakdown battles. Is there a better player in the game right now?

Hartley the beating heart?

Dan Carter was not the only player celebrating a career milestone with England hooker Dylan Hartley given the honour of leading the side out on his 50th international appearance. He celebrated with another rugged and tone-setting display and was at the heart of England’s comeback after they had gifted New Zealand a substantial lead. A typically brutal tackle on All Blacks flanker Richie McCaw brought a premature end to Hartley’s game and England appeared to lose their way in his absence. An otherwise formidable lineout began to creak with replacement hooker Tom Youngs failing to find his man on three occasions and the momentum that the ferocious England pack had worked so hard to generate began to dissipate. England’s bench has provided fresh impetus in recent weeks but in this instance it had the wrong kind of impact. England had the lead and the match within their grasp but their failure to maintain that effort offered New Zealand hope and they pounced with a game-clinching second score for Julian Savea.

Riders on the storm

Twelve months ago New Zealand were swept aside – or ‘donkey-licked’ as coach Steve Hansen recalled – by a rampant England side spearheaded by a warrior-like Tom Wood and a wrecking ball centre pairing of Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi that was sorely missing from this latest clash. The All Blacks had little answer to the onslaught and while this game was apparently not about revenge – at least publicly – there was a clear determination on the part of the visitors to ensure lightning did not strike twice. A relatively inexperienced England side, that clearly and with good cause does not fear the All Blacks, threw everything they had at New Zealand and that effort, bolstered by a vociferous Twickenham crowd that so often is not a factor, rocked their rivals – but no more. This All Blacks side is not just physically strong but also mentally strong having carved their way through the international calendar for the last few years. They push the game and the Laws to the limit to preserve their status and while England were good, they were just not good enough.

Keep them guessing

While an injury-ravaged England struggled to conjure opportunities with yet another scrappy score their only try of this contest, New Zealand continue to ooze class and creativity. The stage was set for All Blacks playmaker Dan Carter to steal the show and he certainly left his mark with one pin-point cross-kick to winger Charles Piutau and another delicate chip over the England defence that was gobbled up by centre Ben Smith – but injury brought a premature end to his game. However, the All Blacks are blessed with many players who can turn a game with one being veteran centre Ma’a Nonu. Behind but not beaten, the visitors sensed the game was still there to be won and hammered a tiring England midway through the second half. They stretched them one way and then the other, peppering the defence with a hypnotic blend of power, pace and guile. Piutau went close in one corner – denied by an excellent tackle from Mike Brown – but the All Blacks did not dwell on the setback with the ball immediately worked wide again with Nonu’s eventual sublime offload to winger Julian Savea for the All Blacks’ second try the decisive moment of the game. While New Zealand appear to have such talent on tap, England’s well appears dry.

All Blacks prevail over French in Paris

MARC HINTON IN PARIS

Last updated 11:14 10/11/2013

Twelve down, two to go. The All Blacks' quest for the perfect test year hit some predictable French resistance at a packed Stade de France, but got home 26-19, largely thanks to a star performance from rookie wing Charlie Piutau.

The 21-year-old Auckland wing was, as the French would say, ''tres magnifique'' as he scored one try and created the other that proved just enough to keep this winning streak of the All Blacks for 2013 alive.

Coach Steve Hansen had admitted before the match that he would have picked the impressive youngster ahead of the much more experienced Cory Jane. As it was Julian Savea got sick, and both ended up playing.

But Piutau demonstrated just why his coach has so much faith in him in his first season of test rugby. He's a heady and confident performer, and it's no stretch to say his twin pieces of brilliance won this test for the All Blacks in an otherwise tight contest.

The New Zealanders have now won all 12 of their tests for 2013 - and 31 of their last 33 since 2011 - including a four-game sweep of the French. Now only England and Ireland, over the next fortnight, stand between the All Blacks and professional rugby's first perfect year.

But gee it was close. The French, who have now lost eight of their last nine tests, played a lot better than that record suggests and threw the kitchen sink at the Blacks in front of a sellout crowd of around 81,000 at their home citadel.

All week the New Zealanders had talked about the challenge they figured was coming, and they were right. The French brought plenty to the heavyweight contest and very nearly pinched a draw as they finished the match pounding the All Blacks' line.

But this is an All Blacks outfit with all sorts of resolve, and they needed it as they dug in for a defensive stand at the end that denied a furious French finish.

"That probably summed up the rivalry between New Zealand and France - two proud nations and there was no quarter given today," said All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw afterwards.

He was right. This was not the free-flowing, fast-paced All Blacks of the Rugby Championship. They had to make a lot of tackles to win this match, hit a lot of rucks and chase a lot of Frenchmen.

But, wearing black armbands to honour Peter Fatialofa, they found yet another way to win a test this year, and keep that quest alive.

It was certainly a less than impressive opening 40 minutes from the All Blacks who spent much of the half under pressure and were extremely lucky to end it level at 9-9, Dan Carter's trio of penalties cancelling out the three from Morgan Parra.

Though honours were even on the board, it was the French who would have gone into the sheds feeling much the better about the flow of the game. The All Blacks had gone agonisingly close to the game's opening try in the early minutes, but it was Les Bleus who looked much the more likely to cross thereafter.

The match never really settled into any rhythm, with the penalties continuing to flow at scrum time - now officially a blight on the game - and after that sharp start, the New Zealanders always seemed to be hurried and lacking accuracy.

The All Blacks were unlucky not to spring out to an early lead when from a scrum Ma'a Nonu thrust through in midfield and quick ball wide had Cory Jane reaching out to force it just before he was bundled into touch. Replays showed Jane had almost executed his lunge brilliantly. Almost.

Unfortunately for the wing, in his comeback test for 2013, the ball just slipped out of his fingers as he extended out in mid-air and he was denied the five-pointer.

Thereafter it was mostly all the French as their dangerous ball-runners - the likes of the always dangerous Wesley Fofana, Brice Dulin and Maxime Medard - had the All Blacks making a lot of desperation tackles, and conceding the odd desperation penalty.

It all changed after the break though when the All Blacks came out a much more purposeful unit. Steve Hansen's words no doubt ringing in their ears.

After early penalties were traded, the in-form Piutau struck in the 46th minute with a very well conceived seven-pointer that took the All Blacks out to 19-12.

Fullback Israel Dagg had started the move when he fielded a high kick and swept out a crisp wide pass off his knees. The ball found Ben Smith who spotted all sorts of space and put through a kick that went exactly where it was meant to. The rest was all Piutau as the young Aucklander won the initial race, toed through and then pounced as he hit paydirt.

The contest then came alive as the tries positively flowed. Piutau went close to a second from a little Nonu nudge through, but couldn't quite force. Then, just past the three-quarter mark, Kieran Read was put clear by a peach of a Piutau offload in the tackle to extend the lead to 26-12.

Game safe? Maybe not. The French struck back quickly, fullback Brice Dulin slipping an Israel Dagg tackle to cross for a seven-pointer to keep home hopes alive heading into the final 10 minutes.

The French had one last chance as they poured on to attack late. A lunge for the line from No 8 Damien Chouly went close, and then from a scrum option off a late penalty, the All Balcks escaped via a penalty for an incorrect feed.  

Piutau was the standout All Black, but Ben Smith was also sharp, Dagg had a very solid game and Dan Carter got through 52 quality minutes before being subbed. Up front Brodie Retallick and Kieran Read were the workhorses, while the scrum spent a lot of the match under a good deal of pressure.

New Zealand 26 (Charles Piutau, Kieran Read tries; Dan Carter 4 pens, con; Aaron Cruden con) France 19 (Brice Dulin try; Morgan Parra 4 pens, con). HT: 9-9