Leave it to the All Blacks to pour salt on the wounds of the poor Australian fans. Just when they thought they were in, they yanked them back out. Under the circumstances it was an exceptional performance by the Wallabies, who came agonizingly close to silencing the critics. The exhaustion of the build up set in at the end, as most predicted, but until then they were playing some cracking rugby, really taking it to the New Zealanders in a thrilling match.
Both sides looked intent on playing expansive, positive rugby, and it was the Wallabies who struck first after nearly a dozen minutes of back-and-forth action. A patient build up was rewarded with a sneaky try for Nick Phipps, who seemed to be in the thick of everything while he was on. That got the home crowd fired up, but the tourists were in on the act within seconds.
New Zealand have a habit of responding straight away after being scored on. They invariably either regather the restart themselves, or put the other team under pressure and get the lineout in strong field position. Brodie Retallick went up to challenge and Conrad Smith ended up the with pill, and before the backs were finished celebrating Cory Jane was over in the corner.
It was close to deja vu soon after. Bernard Foley had just notched a penalty to take the lead, and a lapse in concentration saw hooker Dane Coles dance his way through some disjointed defenders to give New Zealand a leg up. This time the Wallabies responded in kind, however, and in a near carbon copy of the first try, Foley exploited the fringe defense again to nab the lead back.
The All Blacks very rarely concede points heading to the break, so it was a massive boost for Australian hopes. To score again just after was even better. A soft turnover handed possession over and Tevita Kuridrani inspired a huge breakout down the right side, finished off by Adam Ashley-Cooper, celebrating his test century in style. The 10 point lead is generally as good as it gets against the world’s best team. Unfortunately it wasn’t quite good enough.
A reckless challenge from replacement lock Patrick Tu’ipulotu, only just on the field, landed him in the bin and things were looking very bad for New Zealand, and had Ben Alexander held on to Foley’s offload the papers would have had a different headline on Sunday morning. The same could be said for Kuridrani’s wayward pass to Scott Fardy, which came inches from rolling into touch but instead ended up 60 metres down the pitch via the boot of Beauden Barrett.
Still a man down, the All Blacks pressed and a quick tap from Aaron Smith after a lazy James Horwill penalty resulted in a try to bring them right back. The frantic action was energy sapping stuff and even when Nic White put over a long range penalty goal it was Australia who were struggling with the pace and on the defensive. As Ireland cruelly found out in Dublin, you have to play for 80 minutes against this team and Malakai Fekitoa’s buzzer-beater was an inevitability more than a surprise. Colin Slade took a page out of Stephen Donald’s autobiography and Ewen McKenzie could only watch as his fairy tale exit was snuffed out.
Of course nobody knew that this was the end, save for the players, who gave their best to try and send off their unwanted commandant with something for the gift bag. It’s anyone’s guess how much influence McKenzie had during the week, or in the dressing room beforehand, but the result only seemed to add to the melancholy of the occasion as it was spelled out during the post-game media debrief. For everyone’s sake, let’s hope this is a watershed moment for Australian rugby which has so much to offer on the field, and so much to learn off it.
AUSTRALIA 28 vs 29 NEW ZEALAND
Saturday, October 18, 18:00 GMT, Brisbane
SCORING
12 mins – N. Phipps try 5-0
13 mins – B. Foley con 7-0
15 mins – C. Jane try 7-5
16 mins – B. Barrett con 7-7
32 mins – B. Foley pen 10-7
35 mins – D. Coles try 10-12
39 mins – B. Foley try 15-12
43 mins – A. Ashley-Cooper try 20-12
44 mins – B. Foley con 22-12
53 mins – B. Barrett pen 22-15
58 mins – B. Foley pen 25-15
69 mins – A. Smith try 25-20
70 mins – B. Barrett pen 25-22
76 mins – N. White pen 28-22
80 mins – M. Fekitoa try 28-27
80 mins – C. Slade con 28-29
CARDS
59 mins – P. Tu’ipulotu yellow (foul play)
AUSTRALIA
I. Folau; A. Ashley-Cooper, T. Kuridrani, C. Leali’ifano, J. Tomane; B. Foley, N. Phipps (N. White 54); J. Slipper (B. Robinson 67), S. Fainga’a (J. Mann-Rea 70), S. Kepu (B. Alexander 64); S. Carter (J. Horwill 64), R. Simmons; S. Fardy, M. Hooper (capt.), S. Higginbotham (M. Hodgson 59).
NEW ZEALAND
I. Dagg; C. Jane (C. Piutau HT), C. Smith, M. Fekitoa, J. Savea; B. Barrett (C. Slade 70), A. Smith (T.J. Perenara 70); W. Crockett (B. Franks 53), D. Coles (K. Mealamu 47), O. Franks (C. Faumuina 47); B. Retallick, S. Whitelock (P. Tu’ipulotu 57); L. Messam (S. Cane 61), R. McCaw (capt.), K. Read.
Referee: C. Joubert (SARU)
Assistants: J. Peyper (SARU) & M. van der Westhuizen (SARU)
TMO: S. Veldsman (SARU)
