Dream on
Easy
2013 matches played Sydney, Wellington, Dunedin
Just win any two of the three
Coach Ewe Mckenzie showed he has what it takes to beat NZ sides . . . that 9-38 loss to Crusaders two weeks ago was just a cunning plan, as he stacks the test team with Reds players.
Nothing wrong with being confident
How'd this one work out?
ll Blacks: McCaw inspirational in comeback
By Wynne Gray
5:30 AM Sunday Aug 18, 2013 Richie McCaw marked his comeback with a try. Photo / AP
*/
Presence is part of Richie McCaw's rugby authority. When he turns out in black, as he did on his return to test rugby last night, his appearance inspires and motivates.
He jogged back at the head of the All Black queue before turning on that unmistakable horsepower to grind it out once more with the Wallabies.
There were mistakes and his handling was not foolproof - that has never been the strongest part of his rugby armoury.
But that competitive fire which has stoked his career was roaring at its incendiary best.
He was penalised several times early for ruck infringements, either off his feet or illegal entry, but there was no backing down from the All Black captain. Not that we expected anything less.
He scored his 21st test try, and ninth against Australia, midway through the first half, going over in the corner.
No one other than McCaw knows what it takes to turn out his frame for a renewed stint at international rugby. He thought he would be keen but even he probably had some doubts about his capacity to get back to top quality.
He might have felt fresh but did he have the hunger, that raw appetite to scrabble and scrape and put himself through all the physical and mental pain of international rugby?
An opening half gave some of the answers. He was busting to get back into the fray but sensible enough not to charge around chasing too many lost causes.
When he was needed, though, McCaw was the same fearless, intense competitor in the tackle or at the breakdown, where he squeezed his body into gaps, seeking the ball and disrupting the Wallabies.
He was a menace there but also had the game sense to hold in other areas of the field, like the right wing, where he completed a great sequence of All Black pressure.
No one knew how long McCaw would last in his comeback. A best guess before the test was to expect a grunty hour from the skipper before he gave way to Sam Cane.
Instead he stayed on until the 72nd minute, retiring to the bench only after Ben Smith had completed his hat-trick and the All Blacks were leading by 25.
The All Black talisman was back.
Score:
Australia 29 (W. Genia, J. O'Connor tries; C. Leali'ifano 2 cons, 5 pens
New Zealand 47 (B. Smith (3), A. Cruden, R. McCaw, C. Smith tries; A. Cruden 4 cons, pen; B. Barrett con)
Good work ABs.
sort of on topic,
had this sent to me - a screenshot from yesterday afternoon of the largest online news media site in NZ, Stuff, highlighting the 'Australianisation' of NZ media as it is owned (10 major dailies get same news feed) by Fairfax Australia
I see his point - saturation coverage of Wallabies - six of the seven rugby stories are Wallabies based (the 'Woes in Perspective' is about wallaby Scot Fardy) , and NZ lucky to get one in there at #7
Think people were convinced the qantas side would win . . . because they 'read it in the paper'
The alternative - NZ Herald, offers little more with a poor attempt at 'shock-jock' journalism from Chris rattue
that little moan out of the way
What for next Saturday?; since well before his appointment as coach we've been force-fed the fact that Ewe Mckenzie 'knows how to beat New Zealand', yet his last two outings - Reds 9 - Canterbury 38 and yesterday's Qantas Wallabies 29 - All Blacks 47 might suggest the opposite.
Yesterday was their best chance, home game, home crowd, before the two other Bledisloe tests Wellington and Dunedin. Same squad to choose from, who to change?
Maybe some of the 'too old' stuff will fade now, every cheap journo flung themselves n that one, McCaw, Hore, Conrad Smith the geriatrics . . . wouldn't go the distance.
3-nil for Bledisloe looking very possible
And that 100th test win v Australia (from 147 games, 6 draws). Long time till that is equalled - SA is closest v Australia with 42 wins (from a lot less games, 76)
14min highlights video here
This article says it all
With amigos like these ...
I reckon the Wannabes will get another lesson in how to play rugby at the hands of the ABs this afternoon!
NZ 27 - Aust 16
Ben Smith misses out on hat-trick of tries on consecutive weeks with just two tonight
Tom Taylor the 4th choice 10, sound on debut and 14 points
For New Zealand: Tries: B Smith 2, Con: Taylor, Pens: Taylor 4, Dagg
Australia: Try: Folau, Con: Lealiifano, Pen: Lealiifano 3
Folau's try was a classic intercept and 50m sprint 9min from the end.
Cost me my 'no Wallaby try' bet.
Bledisloe Cup stays in NZ; third and almost pointless Bledisloe test played in Dunedin, NZ, in October.
It means more to the Kiwis. Kudos.
Pity they can no longer breed a Melbourne Cup winner.
Please bite.
When I was growing up we Aussies ruled a lot of sports winning with ease.
Now we can't even compete with the Poms and how fucked up is that.
I reckon a countries sporting success mirrors how it is travelling.
Some things money can't buy. Like hunger.
Loy Toy now we know how the poms felt for decades and decades.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)