Australia's home advantage was neutralised by the posturing that is the Haka; yes I know it's tradition and as a spectacle it is truly something, but this has long since passed the stage of being a "laying down of a challenge" and sides use a fair bit of mental energy facing up to it in any way they choose. England's reaction to it during the days of Richard Cockerill remains fresh in the memory, and the different methods of facing up to it in recent times have met with a variety of success. Sebastien Chabal's idea of lining up in red, white and blue tracksuits to leave a visual impact on their opponents seemed to inspire the French in the 2007 Quarter Final though.
Psychological advantage duly taken, the 99% Blacks, as they really ought to be known given the white collar on their new shirts (isn't it more than a little ironic the fuss that was made about England moving to an All Black away kit at a time when the ALL Blacks moved from a 100% black shirt?), started under severe pressure and conceded an early penalty which Quade Cooper slotted. Cooper also wasted a massive overlap in the first ten minutes which could have given the Aussies some serious breathing space, but his elusive running in the early passages of play showed just how dangerous he can be. Indeed, after winning a free kick at a scrum, Cooper broke and fed Ashley-Cooper who seemed to initially benefit from some sluggish tackling, before Weepu and Muliaina produced a stunning combination tackle to prevent a certain try, but from the resulting 5 metre scrum (which replays suggest they were lucky to be awarded) the pressure finally told and Will Genia strolled through the gap between prop and hooker to go over next to the posts. Cooper kicked the extras to make it 10-0.
After 15 minutes, I started thinking the Aussies had maybe been underestimated by me on previous performances, and with Samo, Genia and Cooper pulling every imaginable string, I began to think the Aussies could really push for the World Cup if these three remain fit. This was possibly compounded by the fact that, in those opening exchanges, the All Blacks, particularly at half back, looked ponderous. In defence though it was a different matter and they systematically slowed the ball down (legally I might add), picked the occasionally fantastic angles of the Aussies and when not missing tackles, tackled ferociously in key areas to keep themselves in the game. The ever-reliable Carter kicked them to within 7 points mid-way through the first half, but it was very much a performance on the back foot for the New Zealanders, not being able to get any possession or territory. The steady drip of penalties again saw Cooper kick Australia 10 points clear after Nonu held back the man without the ball.
Straight from the kick-off, Pocock rose to take a high ball from above McCaw and Samo pushed Thompson off on his own ten metre line and sprinted 60 metres to score under the posts. The unbelievable score of 20-3 to the Aussies with 4 minutes to half-time now adorned the scoreboards, and most worryingly for Graham Henry was that this was 100% deserved. The All Blacks had no penetration and no inspiration. Even after a poor box kick from Genia went straight into touch, New Zealand couldn't profit and the disorganisation behind the scrum spoke volumes.
Half-time Australia 20 New Zealand 3
Two different teams took the field for the second half, or seemingly so. The 99% Blacks started in attritional mode, grinding the yards around the base of the maul, earning a penalty when Elsom came in from the side, and Carter took them within two scores. As the half went on, the considered approach started paying dividends, and in the 12th minute, from the 26th phase of possession, Carter fed Conrad Smith who ran over unopposed to put the cat amongst the pigeons. 10 unanswered points in the opening 13 minutes for the All Blacks and the Wallabies looked rattled; none more so than Quade Cooper, whose knee in the face of a prone New Zealand forward will no doubt provoke some action from the citing commissioner.
Indeed when Nonu and Smith combined, somewhat chaotically initially, and Nonu found himself opposite a prop, the equalising try was scored. The phrase 'like a knife through butter' is used a little too often, but the second half had seen New Zealand's knife cutting through Australia's defence as if they were yoghurt, not butter, and there was only one winner from now on, or so you would think; Genia immediately slipped clear from another missed tackle, slipped it wide and Beale finished things off to give the Aussies the lead again, though only by 5 as Cooper missed the kick.
Ill discipline should have cost New Zealand three more points after a needless obstruction as Ashley-Cooper followed a Genia kick, but Cooper missed a second consecutive kick to leave the game with a 1 score deficit. Crucially though the game was being played in the All Blacks' half now, and though Ellis looked more incisive than Weepu, the Aussies yoghurt defence had firmed up and as the game entered the last 7 minutes, it was truly anyone's game. Each time the Aussie defence looked like being prised open, the All Blacks were penalised at the breakdown though, and given their traditional strength in this area, and their dominance over the last few years, it must be worrying for Henry to see them being so easily dominated here as we enter the World Cup.
The last ten minutes saw the pace, unsurprisingly, slow substantially, as the efforts of both sides started to show. As the All Blacks started one final attempt to steal the game, space seemed to open up, but Beale snagged an interception, and the Aussies rucked and mauled away the last 90 seconds, before a penalty saw them give Cooper the chance to belt the ball into touch and crown their first Tri-Nations success since 2001.
New Zealand will regret a lacklustre 1st half and maybe even more so their weakened side which lost to South Africa last weekend. Australia will feel that they have a squad that can go to New Zealand with every chance of surprising their neighbours and taking the real trophy that matters back across the Tasman Sea at the end of October. The wisdom of such a high intensity game 2 weeks before the World Cup opener will be called into question again. Injuries to Keiran Reid and Adam Thompson could prove costly over the next 7 weeks.
Final Score Australia 25 New Zealand 20
Man of the Match - Radike Samo: a stunning 50 minutes from the 35 year old capped with a fantastic try. He popped up everywhere during Australia's early dominance and, should he stay fit and should his legs last the demands of Tournament rugby, Australia have a decent chance in New Zealand.
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