Rain Man: Wallaby captain Michael Hooper was at his customarily effervescent best on a tough night for footy – Photo: karenwatsonphotography.com.au

by Paul Cook –

The Wallabies have thwarted the All Blacks’ record breaking attempts once again, a rallying performance in tough conditions earning a 12-12 draw at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium and putting an end to Kiwi dreams of a world record 18th win in a row in the process.

But it was hard work.

Torrential rain made for a tough night with ball in hand, the slippery surface cruelling many an attempted foray and numbing both teams attacking capabilities to the point where penalties proved decisive. Neither team could find a five point breakthrough, making this the first time since 1979 that the Wallabies have failed to score in a Sydney test match.

Kurtley Beale and Aaron Cruden shared eight penalties across an 80 minutes in which the All Blacks made the early running and the Wallabies looked like a side playing their first match in a while before a second half recovery saw them go within a whisker of what would have been a pivotal victory over their arch-rivals.

Australia must now travel to their traditional graveyard at Eden Park next week, knowing that only victory will keep alive their hopes of winning back that elusive Bledisloe Cup.

Head Down & Rip In: Scott Fardy builds up a head of steam
Photo: karenwatsonphotography.com.au

Despite the Sydney downpour, an evening of high expectation off the back of the NSW Waratahs’ success over Kiwi opposition at the same ground two weeks ago, began with a stirring on-field rendition of ‘The Golden Thread’ by it’s author, Rupert McCall. If that didn’t get Australian supporters champing at the bit, the sound of the Gold Brigade, the Wallabies’ most fervent fanbase, belting out Waltzing Matilda in response to the haka before hitting a resonant chant of ‘Wallabies, Wallabies’, was enough to leave even the least ardent of fans whetting their lips in anticipation.

Unfortunately for all concerned, the build-up proved to be merely a brooding appetiser before an underwhelming main course as those donning gold on the other side of the fence, struggled to find their groove from the opening whistle. An early score for the All Blacks was a sign of things to come, Aaron Cruden slotting a 3rd minute penalty after Scott Fardy found himself on the wrong side and with no room to escape.

The Wallabies then failed to go 10 metres from the restart before Kurtley Beale was stripped off an up-n-under which almost led to a New Zealand five pointer. Aaron Smith was first on the scene but hooker Dane Coles dropped the ball cold with the line in sight. The Wallabies were looking decidedly nervy.

They got a foothold when the All Blacks went off their feet and Beale stepped up to level the scoreboard with a sweetly hit 40 metre penalty but their parity was tested a minute later after another indiscretion. An obstruction at the lineout giving Cruden a chance to level but this time he was off target.

However, the home side didn’t learn from their mistakes, a couple of gold jerseys lying over All Black ball in the 16th minute was punished by Cruden’s boot and referee Jaco Peyper called Wallaby captain Michael Hooper in for an advisory word.

Peyper himself played a starring role in the next play, knocked flat on his back by a Wallaby chaser, his ignominy captured in all its glory by ‘ref-cam’, much to the amusement of the rain soaked ANZ Stadium crowd.

It was no laughing matter for those of a green and gold persuasion though, Israel Folau bloodied but unbowed and Nic White left limping after a ‘friendly fire’ collision before a scrum penalty coughed up another 3pt present for Cruden.

Breakaway: Adam Ashley-Cooper busts the All Black line in typical AAC fashion
Photo: karenwatsonphotography.com.au

It took almost 25 minutes before you could pinpoint a genuine error from the visitors, Jerome Kaino dropping the pill cold inside his own 22. But the Wallabies released the pressure valve again off the back of their own ill discipline, pinged for not releasing from the ensuing scrum.

A half of precious little cheer for the Wallabies ended with the taking of a positive lineout option from a penalty instead of a shot at 3pts, as they looked to construct something concrete to take into the sheds. They got a reward of some sorts when prop Wyatt Crockett subsequently went to the bin for an offside infringement – a touch harsh perhaps given the balance of penalties up to that point.

Michael Hooper sniffed blood in the water and took the scrum option but when the siren then went after a few phases of attack and ref Peyper’s arm signalled another penalty, the skipper pointed to the posts.

Unfortunately, in a microcosm of their previously unflattering 40 minutes, Beale’s kick struck the upright, fell back into Wallaby hands only for the All Blacks to hound Cliffy Palu over the sideline to bring an ignominious opening stanza to a close, the visitors 9-3 to the good.

The second half saw a more positive start for the Wallabies, Beale reducing the arrears when Richie McCaw was pinged for coming in from the side. But the early score seemed to rally the All Blacks rather than inspiring Australia, the visitors camping inside their hosts’ territory for the next period while the slippery deck continued to cruel handling efforts for both sides.

Broken Record: Kieran Read couldn’t lift his side to a
world record equalling 18th straight win
Photo: karenwatsonphotography.com.au

The Wallabies held firm and – showing a tad more derring-do than they had before the break – started to take the game to their record chasing opponents, mixing up their attacking threat with a few place kicks in behind and a kick-chase led for the most part by the reliable and hardworking Adam Ashley-Cooper and the impressive Rob Horne.

Their pressure paid off as they knocked New Zealand out of their comfort zone and a couple of sliced kicks and poor option taking later, Beale levelled the scoreboard with a straightforward penalty.

Now we had a game. Whether it was a growing weariness on a sodden turf, heightened attacking intentions or simply two international sides blowing away the cobwebs and finding their rhythm, the match suddenly came to life with a succession of exciting plays.

The All Blacks went on the offensive first, procuring penalty no.4 for Cruden to re-establish a lead before Beale, Folau and co. upped the ante at the other end, turning on the pace with ball in hand and fostering a couple of close calls with the line in sight.

The cavalry arrived for both teams as the coaches went to the bench but no sooner had Beauden Barrett replaced Aaron Cruden at flyhalf for the visitors, than he was back off the field to cool his heels for 10 minutes with the cheers of the Australians in the crowd ringing in his ears, guilty of an illegal entry at the ruck.

Beale’s last action in the match was to dissect the posts with an equalising 3pts to make it 12-12 and with Nic White having departed a couple of minutes earlier, the Nick Phipps-Bernard Foley Waratahs’ axis was given the job of bringing this one home.

When the Wallabies built up a head of steam in the closing minutes, they looked like they could go on and snatch the win. With Phipps dictating the pace, Hooper making yards with every carry and Will Skelton coming off the bench to add plenty of power and offloading capability, the visitors suddenly looked ripe for the taking.

But a frantic final few minutes merely ticked the box marked effort, not the one marked execution, leaving the status quo intact. All up, a rusty but genuinely gutsy performance in admittedly tough conditions and the Wallabies will be all the better for this one come next week. Ominously though, so will the All Blacks.

Australia 12 (Kurtley Beale 4 pens) New Zealand 12 (Aaron Cruden 4 pens)
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