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Victory is sweet: Australia swamp Wallaby hero James O'Connor
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Also see
- The minutes from Hong Kong!
- All Blacks lose Sivivatu for tour
Australia finally ended their 10-game losing streak to New Zealand by beating their trans-Tasman rivals 26-24 in a thrilling Test spectacle in Hong Kong on Saturday.
It took an injury-time conversion by Wallaby wing James O'Connor to win the match for his team after leveling the scores with a last-gasp try in the corner.
O'Connor held his nerve to end Australia's miserable run against New Zealand as the man of the moment converted to seal a dramatic Bledisloe Cup victory at Hong Kong Stadium.
Another All Blacks victory seemed a sure thing after the Kiwis had thwarted a previous Wallaby attack just seconds earlier. However replacement fly-half Stephen Donald failed to find touch with his clearance kick. But trailing 24-19 with the final hooter having sounded, Australia managed to keep the ball alive through several phases of play before O'Connor crashed over the line.
As expected, the game was played at a frenetic pace from start to finish with both sides giving the dispersed crowd excellent value for their money. What a shame a high-quality Test match such as this, couldn't be witnessed by a sold-out stadium.
Australia made much the better start and Kurtley Beale had two chances to give them an early lead following New Zealand infringements but the full-back was off target with penalties from almost identical positions on the right hand side.
The Wallabies continued to pressure the New Zealand line and after a couple of half-breaks came to nothing with passes not sticking, they finally took the lead in the eighth minute when the ball was moved out to Quade Cooper on the left and the fly-half's angled run took him over in the corner, although Matt Giteau missed the conversion.
Mils Muliania was on hand to tidy up Will Genia's dangerous grubber kick in the in-goal area before New Zealand began to gain a foothold in the contest and Dan Carter wasted two opportunities to reduce the arrears, his first penalty hitting the left upright and the second drifting wide.
Australia extended their advantage to 12-0 in the 22nd minute when following a lineout, Adam Ashley-Cooper broke a tackle in midfield to burst clear and score under the posts with Giteau adding the extras.
That stirred the All Blacks into life and they came close to their opening try when Kieran Reid flung the ball out to Keven Mealamu on the left wing after the number eight's strong run was halted five metres out by desperate Australian defence but Mealamu was held up over the line.
They finally got on the scoreboard on the half-hour mark. Jimmy Cowan picked up from the base of a ruck after Jerome Kaino had gained good ground and the scrum-half darted over with Carter adding the conversion.
New Zealand took the lead three minutes later as the ball was moved out to Read on the right and his short pass afforded Corey Jane the space for the winger to barge over the line from inside the 22 with Carter again adding the two points.
Giteau then struck another penalty off target but Carter made no such mistake, slotting over from 45 metres to give his side a 17-12 half-time lead.
Australia began the second period with plenty of attacking intent and skipper Rocky Elsom was just unable to get the ball down after forcing his way over.
Giteau missed another penalty before New Zealand extended their lead to 12 points in the 53rd minute.
Richie McCaw's fantastic break down the right was the catalyst, the skipper shrugging off a couple of defenders to gain valuable yards before he was eventually hauled down. The ball was recycled out to Ma'a Nonu and the centre was able to use his strength to touch down, Carter succeeding with the subsequent conversion.
Australia hit back just after the hour mark as Beale's incisive run ended with the full-back off-loading to Drew Mitchell and he powered in at the corner. O'Connor reduced the deficit to five points with a fine conversion from the left touchline.
O'Connor then could not haul in Berrick Barnes' pass with New Zealand stretched following the substitute's break before Carter missed another penalty with four minutes to go.
Australia continued to press for the try they needed and having kept the ball alive following the final hooter, O'Connor managed to force his way over the line from close in before kicking the winning conversion.
Man of the match: James O'Connor's heroics can't be ignored, but flanker David Pocock was the Wallabies' best player. However our vote goes to the losing All Black team's loose trio of Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino and Kieran Read - all three were devastating on attack, rock solid in defence and provided a constant and invaluable source of possession from breakdown turnovers
Moment of the match: Do we even need to say it? In case you missed it - James O'Connor's unerring conversion to win the Test match for Australia.
Villain of the match: Stephen Donald isn't going to get many Christmas cards after first missing a penalty kick in the 75th minute which would have given the All Blacks a comfortable eight-point advantage. Then he missed touch with a clearing kick moments from the end which led to a turnover and O'Connor's winning try.
The scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Cooper, Ashley-Cooper, Mitchell, O'Connor
Cons: Giteau, O'Connor 2
For New Zealand:
Tries: Cowan, Jane, Nonu
Cons: Carter 3
Pens: Carter
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 James Slipper, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 Richard Brown, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Lachie Turner.
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 John Afoa, 18 Samuel Whitelock, 19 Daniel Braid, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Isaia Toeava.
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Comments
7ton says...
Pocock did not shove McCaw to his face but to his body and McCaw shoved him back
Posted 23:09 03rd November 2010
andrew1 says...
@ trinats - thanks for the quote from Cooper! I am an Aussie and I was not happy with the shove from Cooper but from the information you have provided I guess the shove was warranted for the head lock tackle alone.
Posted 22:01 03rd November 2010
andrew1 says...
@ justice_4_all - I agree with your comment - I like the the merit system as well. I appreciate Watson writing about it on the SA rugby referee site. Your comment about the ability of South Africa to turn out so many high quality refs is plausible - I agree.
Posted 11:07 03rd November 2010
trinats says...
rhino, Cannonball01:
Reason for Coopers shove on McCaw was quote : the headlock tackle on me a couple of plays earlier and thought he had a swipe at O' Connor as he was scoring. unquote. He had a similar one in Reds V Crusaders this year. I don't think Cooper will be sending McCaw a xmas card.
Posted 10:07 03rd November 2010
cannonball01 says...
at rhino
be that as it may any player in the world would have had a crack at that ball that was coming out of scrum ..so that holds little water . i was actually was refering to the little sissy quad cooper at the end of the game pushing from behind...oh and i would call him a sissy to his face not pocock though hes a bit big ''or maybe if he really upset me i might 'but probably not
Posted 08:11 03rd November 2010
justice_4_all says...
@andrew1, Thank you for that link. I must say that I like the merit system in principle and wonder if this strict application and the competitive spirit is a factor in the ability of South Africa to turn out so many high quality refs?
Posted 07:04 03rd November 2010
rhino says...
@ Cannonball01
I have packed my fair share of scrums at Hooker, with the busted shoulder and the chipped shins to go with it. McCaw broke the rules when he kicked Pocock, simple, Pocock gave him a shove (to his face) and told him were to go, hardly the actions of a sissy. McCaw pushes the rules, thats his job, that means in some games, he will come out with a few penalities (more than one this time i noted as well) whilst a lot of the time he gets away with it. If some Wallabies want to remind him he pushed the rules and lost with a shove as he is lying down so be it. You are welcome to go up to that player and tell them that they are sissies. I personally wouldn't call any professional player a sissy, they are athletes competing in the toughest collision sport I know. But if they break the rules, then I will say so.
Posted 02:10 03rd November 2010
andrew1 says...
@ justice_4_all - Check out this link - it seems only one explanation to his non selection - form.
http://www.sareferees.co.za/news/ref_news/2649463.htm
"where the following was posted at the end of 2009:" Things look like they have changed in 2010 - Joubert got the 2010 Super 14 final as well. I will look forward to seeing the press release at the end of 2010 for the 2011 season.
Posted 23:42 02nd November 2010
justice_4_all says...
@andrew1,Thanks for the information. You confirm my thought that the IRB lists the top panel alphabetically and not in rank order. There are many reasons why Kaplan may not have been chosen....training/ref development (as was the case in the Curry Cup), injury, vacation, personal commitments etc etc. You can ask Johnathon Kaplan yourself on www.sareferees.co.za where the following was posted at the end of 2009: "South African referees made known today its panels of referees for 2010, following its recent meetings in Johannesburg. Jonathan Kaplan remains the top-ranked referee in South Africa."
Posted 16:17 02nd November 2010
andrew1 says...
@ Bigspottedcat
"Don't come preaching here sonny. I was playing rugby while you were in nappies."
If this is the case scrums most definitely have changed since you were playing.
"Rolland made a mess of the scrums in the first half" - were you unhappy with all the free kicks and penalties against both teams for early engagement? Are you aware that referees are told by the IRB that there is a strict no early engagement - Rolland did not make a balls of the early engagement both teams did not react to his call. I'm not saying it did not look ugly - all the penalties did but Rolland is just following instructions so that he can get his next match with the IRB.
@ justice_4_all - No I can not provide the source for that assertion. No ranking system is published that I know of but one can presume that he would be ranked number one as he did have the RWC final in 2007 - I know South Africa were in the final thus Kaplan could not take charge. Secondly- The game on the weekend was between the two top ranked teams - thus the best referee available would have been given the game (hence me presuming he is ranked the top referee). It is only logical that game between the two top nations attracts the best referee the IRB has. How come you think that the top 20 referees on the IRB panel would not be ranked?
Of course he will not be the referee of the final if Ireland make the final. It is a possibility that Ireland would make it.
I would like to see where Kaplan is ranked as well. He did not take charge of either of the semi finals of the Currie Cup or the final (Lawrence and Jonker did the semis and Joubert did the final). He was on the touch for Jonker - Sharks v Bulls - maybe he has slipped in ranking in his home nation as well as internationally?
Posted 10:52 02nd November 2010
justice_4_all says...
@andrew1, You say, " If readers did not know Rolland is ranked the number one referee" Oh really? Can you provide the source for that assertion...not the irb, I think?
He is on the panel, of course, but ranked #1? And as to being the referee in the RWC final, do you think that they would choose him if Ireland were in the final?...I know, I know, its going to be SA v Frogs or SA v Oz....I'd really be interested if they are ranked and I would be very surprised if Rolland were ranked above Kaplan.
Posted 19:11 01st November 2010
cannonball01 says...
at rhino
I would say you have never scrumed down before '' its called competing for the ball '' ball spills out into veiw have a crack at it and sometimes when you strike at it people get kicked in the process. thats the harsh reality of the game'' íts not for cry babies matey. and unfortunately so is little sissy girls coming in from behind to push you when your not looking because they lack adequate genitalia to do so face to face
Posted 08:05 01st November 2010
rugbylover says...
Well done Australia & Robbie Deans. A splendid result. And all about 19 years old. Congratulations to both teams [albeit slightly rusty, (& Graham - what were you thinking?)] for a wonderful exhibition of Rugby Football - please take note Martin & Peter [and purselips] - see if you can emulate that!
Posted 23:04 31st October 2010
rhino says...
@kkovak
McCaw pushes the rules and the boundaries of the game. He kicked Dave Pocock in the back of the leg when the ball was fed into a scrum and wasn't moving through past the wallaby props. Hardly good sportmanship to be illegally raking the ball and end up kicking an opposition player.
Not to mention the repeated infringments and high tackles made in the dying seconds of the game as the AB's tried to get their hands on the ball. Neither side was perfect, in the end the Wallabies refused to be pushed around by the AB's if you think that is bad sportmanship, then go to youtube and look up Paul Carroza and Richard Loe.
Posted 21:02 31st October 2010
Bigspottedcat says...
@ andrew1
Actually a South African living in Ireland and a Leinster club member. Rolland made a mess of the scrums in the first half. Don't come preaching here sonny. I was playing rugby while you were in nappies.
Posted 20:38 31st October 2010
andrew1 says...
Congratulations to the Wallabies! Showed real improvement in playing for 80mins - it is one thing to get the opportunity to win the game but to take the opportunity shows the team is improving.
I believed Rolland had the best game I have seen him referee. The scrum is usually a problem with most referees as some many things can contribute to unsuccessful scrummaging.
I thought Rolland refereed the tackle, ruck maul as well as any referee I have seen this year.
Yes I agree he missed couple of knock ons and forward passes - the game was played at a frantic pace i think most of the irb elite panel referees would have struggled to keep up.
Was very happy to see Woodcock being penalised for once. The diving and not taking the bind is classic Woodcock ( late in the game ). It seems his hand is always on the ground when the referee is on the otherside of the scrum. The most pleasing thing to come from the match is that the Wallabies have so much improvement left still in them.
I can not wait till polotu-nau, vickerman, palu and ioane make it back into the match day 15 - those players will most definitely add to Wallabies performance.
All the comments about the referee on here are they from disappointed AB fans or are they from general rugby followers as well? If readers did not know Rolland is ranked the number one referee in the elite panel of 20 referees and if the current standings stay the same Rolland will be the referee in the RWC final next year.
Posted 13:08 31st October 2010
olepete says...
Hooray! Lithuania's record of 18 consecutive test victories is intact! Did some Lithuanian nationalist pay Donald?
Posted 10:40 31st October 2010
Bigspottedcat says...
Savage game - watched it this morning. Beale is the best fullback in the world. Ashley-Cooper is also in contention for the best outside centre in the world game. But who could forget Pocock or the Great Rocky? Seriously good team with excellent finishers in the form of O'Connor & Mitchell. RWC 2011? Good chance. Grand Slam Autumn tour? Probably. As usual Rolland made a complete balls of the scrums, boring everybody half to death in the first half with incomprehensible penalties. He is not good enough to blow SH matches - stick to Magners Allaaain.....
Posted 10:03 31st October 2010
kkovak says...
it is a pity that Aussie poor sportmanship continues to surface with Cooper hitting Mccaw at the end - what you expect from most aussie sporting teams . It is about time they grew up !!
Posted 09:46 31st October 2010
7ton says...
I agree with SBWAllblack and have been a bit concerned about the All Blacks consistently running from inside their 22 and even more so about trying short re-starts from the 22 as this is extremely dangerous against a team with such fast and talented backs like the Aussies.
OK Donald did have a bad game and Tovea had trouble with his feet on a loose surface (I do rate Slade and Fruen better) but we can't just blame them for the loss as the Aussies played well and deserve full credit for their win and G Henry and co. perhaps need to re-think some of their tactics against them.
Carter did miss a couple of kicks as well, Ben7, and the score margin was about right.
Posted 09:11 31st October 2010