The Australians have some worries. Quade Cooper was like a possum in the headlights for much of the match. The Wallabies played too much of the game behind the advantage line, and their kicking game was average.
We'll do a full review of the match in the morning, by which time the Wallabies will be South Africa-bound. It's advantage All Blacks in the run to RWC 2011.
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It's going to be a match for the ages at Eden Park tonight. Not only is there a huge difference in the ages and relative test experience of the two side, but it's ages since the All Blacks have played in front of a crowd of over 50,000 at home!
So the All Blacks are fielding their oldest ever test side tonight; so what? Age is a relative thing, and one thing that the professional era has done is extend the playing careers of many of our top players.
We attended a function this week with Va'aiga Tuigamala. He reminisced about his All Black days, and the decision to go to rugby league because rugby was costing him and his family. That's how it was; the story was told after the 1987 Rugby World Cup of Craig Green. The Cantabrian winger was one of many star players in the All Black side. But on the Monday after the final (less than 48 hours later) he was spotted on the side of the road, cut lunch in hand, waiting for a lift to his job as a roofer. That was the reality of those days.
A guy like Brad Thorn can have a long career because his is paid to be an athlete. And Brad Thorn is the consummate professional in his attitude, his discipline and his training. He's blessed with a superb physique, and he trains like a man ten years his junior. And best of all, he loves it.
That's why we are not at all worried about the Dad's Army All Blacks tonight and through to the Rugby World Cup; the team's collective experience is a major strength. The forwards tonight especially have test match experience in spades, and we have little doubt that they will get the better of their Australian opponents. On the other hand, Robbie Deans has dropped his most experienced forward, Nathan Sharpe.
And it's in the forwards that test matches are won or lost. That's why we are confident of an All Black win tonight. Yes; the Australians have plenty of attacking firepower, but even in Queensland's Super Rugby final win, there were signs that they could be contained. Will Genia may have scored a sensational try to win the final against a tiring Crusaders defence, but both he and Quade Cooper had average matches under pressure from the Crusaders. Let's not forget that Richie McCaw was short of a gallop in that match; last week he looked to be almost back to his best, and a fit All Black loose trio spearheaded by McCaw will put all sorts of pressure on the Australian inside duo.
If Australia gets some ball, they will be dangerous out wide, and the Conrad Smith-led All Black defence will be tested. Last week though they showed a willingness and an ability to turn defence into attack, and to attack from deep. That, we believe, is what will set the All Blacks apart over the next three months.
The All Blacks looked super-fit last week, and we reckon that they are in a pretty good place just five weeks out from the RWC opener against Tonga. A win tonight will lift confidence, and provide a psychological edge over the trans-Tasman rivals ahead of the return clash in a three weeks. A win tonight will also secure the Bledisloe Cup for another year. And let's not forget that Dean's Wallabies have only beaten the All Blacks once in the last ten outings, and that it was only a couple of Stephen Donald howlers in Hong Kong which helped the Australians to that win.
We believe that the All Blacks will win tonight, and by some margin; more than 7 points. This All Black team is a far cry from the mental midgets of 2007, and Richie McCaw has gone from a hesitant All Black captain to one of the great leaders. Experience and age brings with it maturity, and we are expecting to see the very best of the 2011 vintage of the All Blacks over the next three months.
10 comments:
I've actually split the "lazy $20" this week and...put half of it on an Aussie win (! GASP !)
My reasoning is this: that the Aussies know that if they are to win the World Cup, they have to get into the AB's heads and to do that, they have to win tonight. So I just think their motivation factor will be higher.
The other half? Well Richie copped a bit of criticism after the Crusaders'loss and therehave been some suggestions this week that Pocock has it over him now...all utter rubbish of course, but that's why I've got the other $10 on Richie to score a try.
Oh, and you AB fans really should embrace that "Dads'Army" thing for all it's worth - that's what they said about England in 2003.
Two brave calls there JS and you may just be a month or three too early in backing the Aussies. I think they are a big danger in the World Cup and have been skilfully brought through for that since Robbie Deans took over.
The most interesting part of tonights match will be the scrums because if the Aussies are to continue their development they must at least hold the AB scrum.
KS, you are dreaming if you think Richie will be any better under preesure than he was when they finished 8th equal last time. Oh how I chuckle when I look back on Ted hanging his skipper out to dry to hold onto his job.
They will win tonight and will definately be top 4 in the world cup but stop guilding the lilly mate.
The fact that the team are the oldest we have seen is testament to the fact that NZ no longer has tickets on bringing new talent through.
AND............ I have bowed to pressure from the mrs and reactivated sky sport today so we can watch it. I suspect it is more to do with her not wanting me to go down to our local than any desire to watch it though/
Another very good All Black performance ah la 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007 - is this an omen?
You wouldn't think so by the way the All Blacks played particularly in the first half where they dominated in all areas. Once again Carter was man of the match with his first tackling snuffing out the few likely moves from the Aussies.
Hard to see Gear or Sivivatu heading off Gear and Jane with Gear being anonymous from about the 10th minute to the 70th minute.
Weepu cleared the ball better than I expected and was surprisingly energetic but he hasn't the instinctive touch of a class half back.
Ali Williams was better with fewer errors than in previous games. Good to see Read back at 8- he has a huge workrate.
In all the signs continue to improve and a bit of the niggling doubt is removed.
What of the Aussies - the one really good thing is that Cooper excepted they did not give up. In Coopers case he seemed to flag it after about 20 minutes
Their forwards tried hard with Holwell, Elsom and Higginbotham the pick of them. Their scrum held up okay but overall they made far to many mistakes and they seemed to rely on Ioane to make their breaks and he was better than both our wings. The rest would be disappointed with their efforts.
Finally the referee. I think Craig Joubert is one otf the tiop two refs in world rugby - Wayne Barnes is the other - but how does he manage to miss so many forward passes and knock ons? What were his Touch Judges doing?
Good AB win, I hope you enjoyed it Inv2.
I wouldn't read too much into it for the World Cup just yet.
Best thing is all the world now knows Cooper doesn't like to be tackled - so I am sure plenty will try to put a few on him just to shake him up a bit.
Really enjoyable game to watch.
Ross
Yep; an excellent match Ross and pdm. I doubt though that Dingo Deans and Jim Williams will sleep easily today.
And I loved Ted Henry's sly grin when asked about the second try, and his comment that the match was already over then. He's quite right; with a 23 point margin, the AB's could afford to relax for a moment.
Oh; and James; bad luck with the lazy $20; you should have followed our advice!
pdm
Im a ref - is easy to miss forward passes - often you're running to the site of play on an oblique angle and cant quite catch it - it is the most contentious and difficult thing to ref. I'm pretty good with knock ons but the one Joubert missed that led to Sitivatu's try was a tricky in air contest for the ball and he may have only seen the ball come off the Aussie defender because his hand signal was "ball went back"
That's sports betting...Aussie were paying $3.75 versus $1.25 about the AB's and Richie was bloody close to a $40 return for the try that Mealamu scored.
@ KiA; match report coming up in about 15m, and your comments will be welcomed. I'm a former ref as well, and reckon that Joubert had a pretty good match last night, forward passes aside. The disappointment though was that his assistants let him down in the regard; they are much better placed to see such actions.
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