The yolk’s on you Steve – Oz media
Australia’s media jumped at a rare opportunity to stick the boot into the All Blacks and Steve Hansen.
Following the Wallabies 47-26 thrashing of the All Blacks in Perth on Saturday night, some sections of media across the Tasman have called on long-suffering Wallabies fans to start believing ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
The Sydney Morning Herald was the strongest in its criticism of Hansen under the headline ‘‘Wallabies demolish All Blacks to keep Bledisloe dream alive’’.
‘‘It turns out All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has egg dripping all over his face after his comment that Mickey Mouse was coaching Australia,’’ the story read.
Australia’s upset victory over the All Blacks – who were reduced to 14 men when Scott Barrett was sent off late in the first half – has the Daily Telegraph calling for Wallabies fans to believe in the World Cup dream.
‘‘The Wallabies’ long-suffering fans can start believing again that the Bledisloe Cup — and maybe even the World Cup — could soon be coming home after a recordbreaking performance last night.
‘‘After years of watching the Wallabies fumble their way through loss after loss, and tear themselves apart off the field, finally they are back playing the sort of rugby that can and will win the big games.
‘‘It’s the performance Michael Cheika has been praying for with the Wallabies finally putting in a complete team display just months out from the World Cup,’’ the Daily Telegraph stated.
The Daily Telegraph did warn the 47-26 romp came with an asterisk because of the red card to Barrett.
Nine’s Wide World of Sports described the win as a ‘‘muchneeded shot in the arm’’ for Australia but warned they still needed to win the decider in Auckland on Saturday to win the Bledisloe Cup for the first time in 17 years.
The Australian described the Wallabies win as a statement victory heading toward the World Cup in Japan.
‘‘The Australians were given little chance of knocking off their arch-rivals, but delivered their best performance in years to make a statement with the World Cup starting next month.’’
News.com.au said New Zealand is so used to dominating Australia, the Kiwis weren’t impressed when a controversial call favoured the Wallabies.
Fox Sports said the victory was an inspiring performance and the kind of effort longsuffering Wallabies fans have been waiting for.
‘‘The physicality of the Wallabies forwards matched the enterprise and skill of Australia’s backs,’’ it stated.
Yahoo Sport Australia reported the All-Blacks were shell-shocked after being dominated by Perth.
Stephen Jones, a journalist at the Sunday Times in London and perennial All Blacks disparager, took to Twitter to accuse New Zealand fans of blaming French referee Jerome Garces for the defeat.
‘‘Jerome Garces becomes the new Wayne Barnes. Blamed by NZ though making the correct call.
‘‘Arrogance cannot absorb defeat, especially today’s thrashing, so seeks to divert blame’’ Jones wrote in reference to the sending off of Barrett.
The Times’ match report read’’ ‘‘Beaten all black and blue, this wasn’t just a defeat for New Zealand, it was a psychological stuff
‘‘A psychological stuffing of savage proportions.’’
The Times of London
ing of savage proportions.’’
The Guardian reported that ‘‘against all odds, the Wallabies restored pride to the gold jersey’’.
‘‘The six-try showing was a clear vindication of Michael Cheika’s experimental team selection,’’ it said.