Desperation fueled Wallabies win over ho-hum ABS
OPINION: It is never good watching the All Blacks lose a test, but world rugby really needed that Wallabies’ 23-18 win.
The All Blacks’ complete domination over the past couple of years has been particularly damaging in Australia where punters have responded by switching off their televisions and not turning up to matches.
Rugby in Australia has been on life-support this year and needed some positivity to give the fans and the young future stars - a reason to tune in.
On this side of the ditch, there seems to be a lack of anticipation before tests. The All Blacks have always been expected to win every test, but in recent years fans have headed into every match almost certain of victory.
New Zealand almost proved them right again on Saturday night in Brisbane.
Few would have bet against the All Blacks as they set a lineout on the 22m line with time expired and trailing by five points.
Most of the time, the All Blacks would have pulled such a match off. This time they faltered, a Sam Cane knock-on ultimately handing the win to the Wallabies.
The Australian’s celebrations spoke volumes as to how much the win meant.
They looked as if they had won the Bledisloe Cup.
The last time the All Blacks displayed that level of exuberance after a win was their World Cup triumph in 2015. It was the difference in desperation that got the Wallabies over the line in Brisbane.
They lifted as the match wore on. Their loose forwards started to be more prominent and their bench offered the kind of impact that the All Blacks usually enjoy.
The All Blacks were not at their best and were far too predictable aside from Aaron Smith whose service and speed from the back of the ruck was almost flawless.
They made plenty of mistakes and appeared to lack the creativity on attack we have become accustomed to. Their constant ofthe-ball play proved costly. It was the silly kind of stuff that an allconquering juggernaut team like the All Blacks do not need to get involved in.
Referee Wayne Barnes penalised them a couple of times for taking out players on the side of the ruck, he issued a number of warnings to both team’s captains and the All Blacks subbed Dane Coles right as Barnes was issuing Read a warning over the hooker’s behaviour.
A handful of players with plenty to prove did not fully convince
Patrick Tuipulotu will likely get the end of year tour to prove he deserves a more permanent place in the team. But his efforts off the bench in the back-end of the Rugby Championship have been hardly convincing.
The likes of Jackson Hemopo, Tom Franklin and Dominic Bird are banging down the door for his spot heading forward.
Coach Steve Hansen has already promised to make no kneejerk decisions when he names his end of season tour squad for the end of year tour on Monday.
This year has presented Hansen with more of a challenge than the past with a hefty injury toll.
But that may have him secretly celebrating.
Two years out from a World Cup is a key time to test young players and work out if they are up to the rigours of test rugby.
It is also the time to assess whether the some of the older players will be able to make it through to the to 2019.
Expect some surprises when he names his squad.