Bledislope Cup: Round 2

It was a wobbly start for the All Blacks as they brought home a victory against the Wallabies last weekend.  

It was clearly obvious that Ian Foster’s men’s lack of recent competition against top-flight sides has detracted from their usual sharp edge as, after building up a commanding lead, they kicked the proverbial door open and allowed the Wallabies back into the game. 

The Wallabies entered the Bledisloe Cup significantly more battle-hardened than their counterparts after a three-Test series against the French in which the former managed to triumph, albeit narrowly. 

The captaincy of Sam Whitelock showed its quality when, while enjoying only a one-point lead, the All Blacks were awarded a very kickable penalty. Instead increasing the lead to 4 going into the break, Whitelock instructed flyhalf Richie Mo’unga to kick for the corner and his forwards to drive the ball over the line. It was a masterstroke by Whitelock which injected his team with the energy and belief they needed to build the formidable lead that they did during the lion’s share of the second half. 

However, with 11 minutes left and the score at 33-8, the Wallabies showed great character to initiate and maintain an admirable comeback. 

The All Blacks’ discipline will most probably have been Ian Foster’s chief concern at the conclusion of the Test.     

"The last 15 [when Australia scored three tries] we were disappointing in terms of the way we stepped off the pace, but the middle 50 I was delighted with the composure and the attitude. 

"At 33-8 we should have done better but it's a Bledisloe Cup series, we've put a stake in the ground, we're 1-0 up and we're looking forward to next week," he said. 

"There's plenty to work on in those spells again, it's the first Test in a Bledisloe [series]. It was always going to be a massive Test. They came over here very well prepared and threw everything at us, so the way we came back and squeezed it, and we were doing well at 33-8, it was disappointing. 

"We take a lot of pride in how we finish and we didn't finish that well. So there's some things we will take away and work on," he said. 

Wallaby coach Dave Rennie was pleased with the courage exhibited by his team to pick themselves up when the chips were down and take the fight to the All Blacks as the end of the game drew closer. 

"For a big chunk of the game we defended well but as you know with the All Blacks you have to do it for 80 minutes," he accurately pointed out. 

Wallaby captain Michael Hooper also shared his thoughts: 

"We've been a team that finishes strong so far this year, which is really pleasing,” he said. ‘We got plenty of heart and put them under heaps of pressure at the end with different parts of our game. 

"Our attacking, our maul, we had them under pressure, that's pleasing, we've just got to do it for longer. 

 "It's a hard part to get right. There are so many legs and bodies and stuff in that close-quarter contact zone, it's hard to keep your feet.  We've got to be better if that's the way they're going to rule and it is, because we've heard that down from World Rugby, we've got to be better there, particularly in that close-quarter zone.” 

All Black captain Sam Whitelock addressed the issue of his team’s discipline earlier this week. 

"It's no secret we gave away 18 penalties, and it was something that allowed them to get in the game in the first 15 [minutes] and the last 15," he said. 

"That's something we need to be better at. Making sure we're taking the referee out of it, clearly onside and making good, clear, accurate decisions at the breakdown, and take it from there. 

"We get put under pressure in different ways. The boys had good intent, and we drove that throughout the week, last week, about getting off the line and putting pressure on them, but we didn't get it right the whole time. 

"That's the beauty about Test match rugby. You're put under pressure and making sure this week we adjust to that pressure and make sure we take the referee out of it and, hopefully, instead of going back 10 metres all the time, we can impose ourselves a bit more," he said. 

Rennie emphasised the fact that the Wallabies are in a building phase and looking to the future as well as the current competition. 

"We're building a squad that's played 50-plus Super Rugby caps as well. We are young, but it's a team full of experience. 

"We're getting along with each other off the field which is helping us put on performances on the field and want to play for each other. 

"We want to build on it, and get better. We hope to put a better performance on this week that Australia will be proud of," he said.