Lineouts and scrums better but gaps leak
Lineouts and scrums better but gaps leak
John Connolly | September 14, 2008
WHAT a difference 81 minutes of football makes.
Two weeks ago in South Africa, Australia suffered their biggest Test defeat. Last night, they played with spirit and commitment, only to be beaten by a number of mistakes.
I have no doubt they'll regret losing this game for a long time.
While there were some great players for Australia, the win was a huge achievement for the All Blacks, who have lost 17 players to overseas clubs.
Hell will freeze over before the Wallabies selectors overlook Nathan Sharpe for a Test side again. He churned his way through an enormous amount of work, especially in the lineout, where he gave the team a great platform and frustrated the New Zealanders terribly.
It was also highly satisfying to see the Aussies trouble the All Blacks with their defensive lineouts.
The referee definitely helped Australia in the scrums with his interpretation of the game. The All Blacks would also have been far from happy with the number of collapsed scrums he let go.
Nevertheless, forwards coach Michael Foley and the senior players should be proud of the improvement in the Wallabies scrum.
The result would suggest coach Robbie Deans would still be worried about some defensive lapses in broken play - they are a real problem.
Both teams started this game with a safety-first approach. There were 33 kicks in general play in the first half alone, and while Australia dominated possession in the opening half - they enjoyed a 73 per cent possession rate - there was little reward for it.
Australia must now prepare for the All Blacks Test in Hong Kong and their European tour.
For the third year in a row, the Tri Nations has finished with the All Blacks on top and Australia second. Despite missing the silverware, the Aussies should feel proud.
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...857916638.html
