Record-breakers happy to move on
Overshadowed amid the controversial fallout surrounding Michael Cheika’s explosive rant, the All Blacks achieved something very special at Eden Park, and one day later continued to future proof their record-breaking squad.
The 37-10 scoreline fails to tell the true story of Saturday’s torrid test, one the All Blacks were made to work harder than they have all season by a spirited Wallabies outfit. Injuries to world-class locks Sam Whitelock, out for 3-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain, and Brodie Retallick’s concussion – the result of an illegal elbow from Wallabies loose forward Dean Mumm – shine further light on the combative contest.
Tensions between the transTasman neighbours ran high on the pitch with several scuffles, and hit new lows post-match as Cheika took aim at officials, media and the All Blacks.
The significance of becoming the first team to win 18 consecutive tests against tier one opposition was highlighted, but didn’t receive the same recognition had Cheika not let rip. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen went as far to say his counterpart ‘‘hijacked’’ their celebrations.
In the All Blacks sheds, their history-making victory was duly toasted but frustrations bubbled just below the surface.
‘‘We’ve found over the years there’s certain people who want to say certain things. We’ve just got to worry about ourselves. We know how big the milestone was. We enjoyed it as a group,’’ All Blacks captain Kieran Read said.
‘‘It’s one of those things, a record, you’ll look back on in the future. It’s great for us; it’s part of our legacy that’s going to be there for as long as it can be. If Michael wants to say different things like that we’ll just move on.’’
The All Blacks are never content, and will soon switch focus to circling a new target before departing for the end-of-year tour. But with so much hype around reaching 18, and having botched three chances to do so previously, resetting may prove difficult. Exhaling can be dangerous in this game, even when so far ahead of the pack.
‘‘We’ve got to reassess,’’ Read said. ‘‘We can’t just keep going with what we’ve been planning for at the moment. We turn up each week with a new plan for what we need to do to perform.
‘‘We’ve got a young enough team and enough guys who keep pushing the lads who get the opportunity. That’s the best thing that’s been happening so far; everyone outside the group keeping the starters honest.’’
Therein lies the crux of the All Blacks’ major strength: depth. Whitelock will be missed, but with powerhouse lock Patrick Tuiplotu waiting in the wings, Canterbury’s Scott Barrett now being brought into the frame for the first time and Wellington’s Vaea Fifita on the fringe, the rejuvenation of this team seems never ending. Throw in two teenagers, Blues and sevens star Rieko Ioane and soon-to-be Hurricanes utility Jordie Barrett who will travel north as a nonplaying apprentice, and it’s hard not to be enthused about this team’s long-term prospects.
Ireland are the next frontier in back-to-back tests in Chicago and Dublin, followed by a chance to experiment against Italy in Rome, with the unknown French challenge to finish the year in Paris.
Eighteen now knocked off, it could well be 22 by late November.
Even on an off-day the All Blacks are so difficult to put away. Catch me if you can may be the new motto.