Bledisloe Two review
Campbell Burnes reviews a much better Test match, after which the All Blacks retained a vice-like grip on the Bledisloe Cup.
The All Blacks retained the silverware with a statement display on their favourite ground.
CONTEXT
The phoney war sparked briefly to life during the week when Andrew Kellaway spoke about the All blacks losing their aura.
He may have had a point, but it would have been best made after a victory, especially as the wallabies’ drought at this venue extends to 35 years and counting. still, Dave rennie resisted the temptation to roll the dice and promote Quade Cooper to the match-day 23.
The All blacks had issues of their own, with Anton Lienert-brown out with injury and will Jordan back from a hamstring niggle. They brought TJ Perenara onto the bench for his 70th Test.
Logistics were a hot topic with regard to precisely what sort of travel arrangements were going to take place over the next few months, given the uncertain MIQ and Covid-19 situation.
Off a 10-day promotional lead-in, NZR was hoping for in excess of 25,121 to be on hand. This was the lowest All blacks’ crowd at eden Park in years. wellington may have hosted this battle were it not for a beer festival clash. Maybe sky could have pulled strings, given it owns sky stadium in the capital.
HOW IT PLAYED OUT
There was much more fizz about this encounter than the dreary offerings from the first Bledisloe Test.
both teams were up for it physically, and the wallabies found space on several occasions, exposing the All blacks defensively. but they gifted two intercept tries, the first to Rieko Ioane after just four minutes.
The home team had some technical setpiece issues to sort out, and sort them out they did in the second stanza – though not before Ardie savea was binned.
Funnily enough, the All blacks grew in attacking confidence as the conditions became more slippery with the rain. Aaron smith started to snipe, richie Mo’unga used the wind to good effect and Codie Taylor bagged a double. eight tries to three sounds decisive but told little of the physical battle, with the committed Michael Hooper in the thick of it – at least in the first half.
The upshot was that the All blacks posted their highest score in 172 Tests against Australia, and it is now over 18 years since the wallabies held the bledisloe Cup.
The beers flowed freely into the cup that night… in one of the changing rooms.
KEY MOMENT
It was 28-15 and Ardie savea was in the bin.
but the All blacks had the wind. Captain whitelock opted to shoot for goal… 59m out. wise call. If nothing else, it would kill some time until back to their full complement. up stepped Damian Mckenzie. Channelling his inner François steyn, he banged it over. you could see the Wallabies deflate.
MVP: NO 6 AKIRA IOANE
This was Akira Latrell Ioane’s best Test of his first six.
The blindside flanker made a huge impact over the full 80 minutes, pulling down lineout ball, making his tackles count, making no errors, punching holes out wide or in close, and setting up brodie retallick’s try with a long break and perfectly timed pass to Damian Mckenzie.
It was a display full of authority and may just have propelled him ahead of Shannon Frizell and Luke Jacobson in the pecking order.
Others to perform strongly were skipper sam whitelock, who made the right calls at the right time, Ardie savea, Aaron smith and richie Mo’unga.