Bledisloe One review
Campbell Burnes reviews the first Bledisloe Test of 2021, which saw a predictable result but will not be recalled as a classic between the two nations.
We pick apart the first Bledisloe Cup Test at Eden Park, not one of the classics.
CONTEXT
Overshadowed by the Olympics and the worsening Covid-19 situation in Australia, it was perhaps no surprise that bledisloe One failed to capture any heights as a spectacle.
The wallabies based themselves in Tauranga for most of the week, after arriving just before the cutoff for a nonmiq flight from across the Ditch, while the All blacks quietly went about their preparations.
Aaron smith hogged most of the headlines, understandably, as he ran out for his 100th Test match, the first halfback and 10th All black overall to reach the mark. Both Dane Coles and Scott Barrett were late withdrawals from the bench in the hour before kickoff.
Dave Rennie swung the axe for disciplinary reasons, dropping three players, including star wing Marika Koroibete, for the Test due to some latenight drinking in Tauranga.
A crowd of more than 47,000 will be pleasing to nzr, which can pay some bills.
HOW IT PLAYED OUT
The less said about the first stanza, the better.
both teams failed to adapt to the wind and drizzle, with the All Blacks handling poorly and attracting the ire of referee Paul williams. The wallabies’ lineout was spluttering. The highlights were Hunter Paisami’s bruising defence and Damian Mckenzie pinballing out of tackles.
That said, a long lineout throw paid dividends for the wallabies when Paisami’s thrust found Andrew Kellaway, the former steeler, who crossed for the first try.
It was left to sevu reece to even the try ledger on halftime, in close after a lineout drive. The All blacks led by eight amidst all the dross.
Inspired by richie Mo’unga (see below), the All blacks cranked it up in the third quarter, running in three tries, two of them set up by long flat passes by Aaron Smith.
At 33-8, another blowout loomed, but the All blacks did not see the impact from the bench as they did in Dunedin, and the resurgent wallabies ran in three tries, two to Tom banks, to reduce the margin. noah Lolesio, so accurate against France, slotted just two from seven. His astray radar was highlighted but, in truth, the All blacks, though far from their best, were the clear victors.
KEY MOMENT
richie Mo’unga was again the man.
It was 16-8 after 45 minutes and the home side was struggling to make headway, until the no 10 made a dart from 90m out and started a movement that led to a brilliant sevu reece try that was unfortunately, though correctly, ruled out due to a forward pass. but that flash of a moment kickstarted the All Blacks into dominating the next 20 minutes to secure the match.
MVP: NO 10 RICHIE MO’UNGA
Aaron smith was full value in his milestone match and the best of the forwards was brodie retallick, though he did cop a few penalties (as part of an 18-9 count against the All blacks).
but it’s again tough to go past Mo’unga, the MVP from the Hamilton Fiji Test. He slotted five from seven in the windy conditions, scored 18 points – including an important intercept try – and conducted the orchestra well, for the most part, over 70 minutes. The no 10 debate may be drawing to a close.