Bledisloe Three review
The All Blacks exorcised the demons of 2019 in Perth with a sterling display, given they were a long way from full strength, writes Campbell Burnes.
we analyse how the All blacks won in Perth to sweep the Bledisloe series 3-0, after a spiteful build-up to this second Rugby Championship fixture.
CONTEXT
This third Bledisloe Cup match was played against the backdrop of all sorts of drama.
The date was changed twice as the Covid-19 situation worsened in much of Australia while New Zealand went into a level 4 lockdown. Dave Rennie had a crack at the All Blacks’ commitment to getting on a plane. His spray sounded justified at the time, until further details emerged about just how much doubt the Rugby Championship was in before Queensland was finally confirmed as the destination for rounds 3-6.
In the meantime, the All Blacks were mentally gearing up for three months away from home, but left behind fathersto-be Richie Mo’unga, Sam Whitelock and Aaron Smith.
After all this, Ardie Savea was appointed the All Blacks’ fourth Pasifika captain, following Tana Umaga, Keven Mealamu and Jerry Collins. He was proud and emotional about the promotion.
This was, incredibly enough, the first afternoon Bledisloe fixture in Australia since Michael Brial decided to try out his poor boxing technique on Frank Bunce in 1996.
HOW IT PLAYED OUT
Staunch defence was the early name of the game, but it all unfolded into an entertaining spectacle.
The Wallabies started to punch holes and a Samu Kerevi bust nearly put Marika Koroibete over. But it was Beauden Barrett, playing his best Test of the season, who split the contest open with a deft chip. Will Jordan and Brad Weber handled to help put Jordie Barrett over. 13-0 after 17 minutes.
The signs looked ominous for the Wallabies. Michael Hooper was in the blood bin and Noah Lolesio brought his kicking boots from the first Eden Park Bledisloe, missing one in front.
Jordie Barrett’s red card, detailed below, and concussions to Codie Taylor and Ardie Savea should have aided the home team’s cause.
So it was a hammer blow when David Havili, of all people, dived off from a lineout maul to make it 18-0 at the break.
The All Blacks took it up a notch in the second spell, pounding the breakdown and crossing for four further tries, while the Wallabies scored three, two of which were consolation. Havili scored from yet another All Blacks intercept. Will Jordan was set up by a dynamic burst by Akira Ioane and George Bridge, with his first touch off the bench, latched onto a TJ Perenara crosskick.
This was apparently the 18th Bledisloe series sweep by the All Blacks. The Wallabies’ last one came in 2001.
KEY MOMENT
At 28 minutes, Jordie Barrett leapt high in the air to claim a high ball.
He found himself slightly off balance and raised his right leg, catching Koroibete in the face with his boot. Purely accidental. Yet referee Damon Murphy, in consultation with his match officials, red-carded him for dangerous play. This would rank as one of the worst decisions in Bledisloe history and more evidence, were it needed, that common sense has flown out of the game with this slavish adherence to player safety.
On that basis you would say Brodie Retallick deserved a red card for accidentally clipping Hooper in the head with his boot when he ran over the top of him in the first spell.
Barrett was, as per the Rugby Championship rules, replaced by Damian Mckenzie after 20 minutes.
MVP: NO 11 RIEKO IOANE
It was a big day out for the Ioane family.
Akira was in thunderous form, especially in the second half, carrying for 82m and beating nine defenders. But his younger brother Rieko was sharp from the get-go on the left wing, running with dash and setting alarm bells ringing in the Wallaby defence each and every time he received the ball.
This was Rieko’s best Test of the season and he may now be hard to supplant as the preferred No 11, even if it is not his favourite posting.