Loss to Wallabies gives five-match tour new significance
At least former All Blacks supremo Graham Henry might be happy.
Having recently lamented the All Blacks’ dominance of world rugby, his point being the game doesn’t need a team which continually sweeps opponents aside because that is ‘‘boring’’, Henry had been encouraged by the improvement shown by the Wallabies.
Then, right on cue, the Wallabies delivered as they proved more savvy in the controlling the wet ball when they upset the All Blacks 23-18 in the bruising encounter at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday night.
Now, all of a sudden, the All Blacks’ five-match tour of the northern hemisphere, which starts against the Barbarians in London on November 5, has the potential to get lively.
A 37-man squad, which will be named today, will fly out on Friday to also play tests against France, Scotland and Wales, as well as a midweek game against a French XV.
The fact the itinerary doesn’t include a game against England, a side the All Blacks haven’t played since 2014, may upset some parties in the Old Dart but following the loss in Brisbane their Kiwi counterparts could be just a little relieved.
No-one could say the All Blacks were in snooze-mode at Suncorp. Far from it: some jaw-clenching tackles from Sonny Bill Williams, Sam Cane, Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Waisake Naholo were testament to that, but the Aussies were better.
‘‘The Wallabies probably got it over us, physically, in the first half with their carries,’’ All Blacks captain Kieran Read said. ‘‘Probably the disappointing thing for us, when we did make a physical shot, and there were a few of them, we couldn’t quite back it up with a turnover or anything like that.’’
Although All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has already stated the loss in Brisbane won’t affect the compilation of his touring squad, he will need no reminding that he has no show of taking a full-strength squad.
Owen Franks, Joe Moody, Israel Dagg and Nehe Milnerskudder have busted bodies and will remain in New Zealand, while vice-captain Ben Smith is on sabbatical.
Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick and Luke Romano didn’t play the Aussies because of injury and for personal reasons; first fiveeighth Barrett, especially, was missed at Suncorp. Without his leadership the backline’s timing on attack was disjointed, and the ability to use his running game to confuse defenders, and blast through gaps, would have been a big bonus.
Lima Sopoaga, who started at No 10 in Barrett’s absence, was replaced by David Havili in the 61st minute. That was a clear indication Hansen had lost patience with Sopoaga, and it allowed Havili to shift to fullback while Damian Mckenzie ducked into the playmaker’s spot.
Mistakes at crucial moments hurt. The Aussies might have turned the ball over the ball on 18 occasions, compared to the All Blacks’ nine, but the home team kept their heads straight when it mattered.
Instead of being alert and sensible as they closed in for the kill, the New Zealanders made daft decisions.
‘‘They [the Wallabies] worked hard, put us under pressure as well and prevented us taking ours so they will be happy with themselves,’’ Hansen said.
Who knows how different the result would have been if Sopoaga hadn’t gifted the intercept pass to Reece Hodge, or if replacement prop Tu’ungafasi hadn’t made a silly clean-out at a ruck allowing Hodge to kick his final penalty from 56m out with two minutes left.
To see flanker Cane knock on in the last play of the game was a cruel blow for a man who had made 27 tackles. But it summed-up the All Blacks’ evening.
"Probably the disappointing thing for us, when we did make a physical shot, and there were a few of them, we couldn’t quite back it up."
All Black captain Kieran Read, above.