Sunday, September 14, 2008
Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup glory for the All Blacks
Three converted tries in the second half devastated a tired looking Australian side that battled bravely throughout and had a real chance of snatching it at the death.
Flyhalf Dan Carter scored the winning try with 12 minutes left to seal the victory, although Australia kept the 52,000 Suncorp fans on the edge of their seats when centre Ryan Cross crashed over with two minutes to go to get to within four points.
It was too little too late though as New Zealand grabbed both the Tri Nations title and the Bledisloe Cup, much to the delight of the large New Zealand contingent in the crowd.
Coach Graham Henry said his side had shown enormous character to beat an inspired Australian outfit.
"I've just got a huge amount of respect for what the guys did out there tonight. They were down 17-7 and showed a lot of togetherness and guts to come back from that," he said.
It was New Zealand's third consecutive Tri Nations Test win after Auckland and Cape Town, all three achieved with the same starting 15.
The success highlights the incredible depth of New Zealand rugby, with half of last year's World cup squad including Carl Hayman, Chris Jack, Aaron Mauger, Luke McAlister, Doug Howlett and Byron Kelleher, all having left to play overseas.
Time: 09:20
Posted at 12:47 pm | 73 comments
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Viewing 73 comments
Anonymous September 14, 2008 5:03 pm
All Blacks deserved it. Carter is a class act. Fitting end to a topsy tervy trinations. Aussies played above their potential. Good stuff.HANG ON! there is still the one in HONG KONG to look forward to.
Anarchangel September 14, 2008 5:08 pm
And best of all, Carter was kicking goals like a robot again! Sweeeeeet!The Hong Kong test is a dead rubber as far as the silverware goes, but It'll still be a great game! Roll on November!The Stomach Pump drinking game for this match: drink whenever Nisbo says Giteeeeau.
Cheesekiwi September 14, 2008 5:57 pm
I couldn't have a bigger grin on my mouth! :D
opfazonk September 14, 2008 7:38 pm
that was such a brilliant match!could have been any of the two to win the match, but i think carter's try and his overall performance on the one hand and the tremendous AB defence under mccaw on the other hand made it an AB win.good game australia! good to see the two best teams in world rugby on top of it again!
Hendrick September 14, 2008 8:19 pm
Great game by the way. One of the best games of the year. But I don't like the aussies scrum half he get the ball out to slow for me, or maybe I just mess George.
Anonymous September 14, 2008 8:45 pm
God, the Tri Nations must be boring.Same old...
Anonymous September 14, 2008 9:00 pm
Did he say knocking off a sheep or knocking up a sheep?
felix September 14, 2008 9:06 pm
ruddy bloody marvellous. it's sweet to hear how gutted the aussie commentators were. i really rate ryan cross but he cost the wallabies two tries - mocked by sivivatu and bounced by carter. he did at least score one when he had no right to - not many get through so'oialo, mccaw and thorn all in one break. the tri-nations and bledisloe wins are all the more amazing when you think that you could pick an even better all black team just by selecting from northern hemisphere club sides.
stan September 14, 2008 9:13 pm
Another classic Bledisloe match. NZ totally deserved the win.Up against the the world champs and the world's best team I think OZ faired quite well.OZ truly needs a provincial competition. The Currie and Air NZ cups develop players and provide depth for their countries.
Anonymous September 14, 2008 11:33 pm
fuck the ozzies!!!! woohoo the cups stay on our side of the ditch for another year..the all blacks the best ever rugby team..the rest...mud
Cheis September 15, 2008 12:47 am
Deserved!! NZ got their team back on track just in time, but I feel Oz didn't play as well as their first couple o matches...anywho, next year SA!!! :P!!!!!!!ps. Rugbydump: could you put up the Francois Steyn 58 m dropgoal against cheetahs from last weeks currie cup??!!!!!!!!!!
geoff September 15, 2008 1:13 am
still cant believe giteau kicked the ball away at the end of the game.its like everytime they start to build pressure, he just decides to bomb it. what a wasteand ffs, he needs to learn to kick for touch!!!!!
blacknblue September 15, 2008 1:43 am
One of those games when even when you know the result the last few minutes are still nerveracking to watch. Loved how Smith didn't make one inch on Woodcock. Giteau takes some weird options but when he's got it he looks dangerous. When ABs finally got a bit of ball and took it up a notch for ten minutes the damage was done.
Blakehurst September 15, 2008 4:05 am
any prick from the ab's wanna go just tell us i will by a plane ticket and come over and bash you's all up.
abpete September 15, 2008 4:53 am
ask your mum first blakehurst, you don't sound old enough to fly by yourself
Anonymous September 15, 2008 5:45 am
both of teams played really well, even though Australia didnt win it i thought that played one of their best games of rugby this season
richo September 15, 2008 5:47 am
bad luck aussies! they really missed luke burgess. the ball just wasnt quick enough coming out of the rucks. when it was australia looked pretty dangerous. You have to put on Peter Hynes's tackle on Dan Carter it was perfectly timed. Hynes loves a bit of heavy contact!
boomshanka September 15, 2008 5:48 am
Great game, Aussies really stepped it up a notch... thankfully the black machine was equal to the task .
Ave. September 15, 2008 5:51 am
Giteau and Carter were both amazing.. Giteau was even more present in the set up I think.. But Carter.. sheer class. The best fly halves in the world by far
Tatum September 15, 2008 7:34 am
'great' to hear some tired anti-haka comments by the Australian commentators.if they want something traditional to do before the game maybe they can thieve some horses or some bread like their ancestors.
Benson September 15, 2008 8:28 am
That Weepu try... Knock on by Kahui, then Horwill takes it up, knocks it on, and advantage is over. REALLY short advantage played there by Kaplan, and none gained. Tough call IMO. Oh and it also looked like McCaw may have knocked it on as he was gathering it? I'm not an Aussie... just saying. Well done to AB's though. The mental resolve of that team under Richie is incredible.
Anonymous September 15, 2008 9:23 am
Nonu was crap, but carter... just professional
Luke September 15, 2008 9:31 am
i spose this is fox or something? but those commentators are so biased its really annoying, calling for the haka to be banned and saying that waltzing matilda isnt something to pyshce yourself up to before a game...OF COURSE ITS NOT!!! its about a bloody man who steals a sheep then commits suicide, why would you even promote that song is beyond me.anyway good game from New Zealand with many players leaving for Europe.
geoff September 15, 2008 10:42 am
@benson:yeah, it was a very short advantagekaplan is a bit weird as a ref. some games, anything goes, some, he'll ping you for anything.its amazing that he called both sides for so many shortarms and never pulled out a card.
geraint September 15, 2008 11:41 am
Shocking commentary, glad to see Australia lose as they're the main ones who want to ruin rugby with all these shit new rules. Would have preferred SA to have won the tri nations but seen as they couldnt i'm glad NZ did.
andy2 September 15, 2008 12:30 pm
Advantage in midfield is usually shorter than near the try line because the try can still be on for a long time, but that was a really short one, although Horwill was making good yards, but once the ref's called it he can't change his mind.I think the Aussies got some good breaks from the ref too but didn't make the most of them.
KiWi FlYa September 15, 2008 1:00 pm
YEA AB'Z GAVE IT 2 DEM GUDOH N 2 DA COMMENTATA SAYING 2 BAN 'THE HAKA' DATZ DISREPECTFUL 2 MAORI HERITAGE N ALL KIWIZINSTEAD OF WALTZING MATILDA DO A ABO DANCE OR SUM SHIT
rayman September 15, 2008 2:50 pm
kiwi flya - "ABO DANCE OR SUM SHIT" is just as disrespectful to Australians, smarten up. I'm a NZer.
thedannyclayton September 15, 2008 3:39 pm
Christ, is this guy taking the piss?"YEA AB'Z GAVE IT 2 DEM GUDOH N 2 DA COMMENTATA SAYING 2 BAN 'THE HAKA' DATZ DISREPECTFUL 2 MAORI HERITAGE N ALL KIWIZINSTEAD OF WALTZING MATILDA DO A ABO DANCE OR SUM SHI"Appalling English. Learn the language or don't use it at all.In regard to the game I fear for England in the AI. Hopefully all three teams will be tired by the time you come over. The breakdown is the area you'll trounce us in. Both Oz and NZ were incredible...some of the quick ball the Aussies got was frightening...The Haka debate...hmmmm I suggest that they either get the national anthem or the Haka not both. The same with Ireland; one anthem not both.It is only fair...
mpc-33 September 15, 2008 3:39 pm
I'm french, sorry for my poor englishCongratulations to AB's for their victory and to the Aussies who were also very good. Carter is excellent, i wonder how the AB's will do without him after 2011 (I'm sure he'll end his career in Europe, unfortunately). I have also been very impressed by Cross, at least on the offensive plan, to me he's better than Mortlock, but he's the captain so no chance for Cross to be a regular starter (except if Mortlock plays at 12, bad idea). Weepu was also excellent, i think he may have regain his AB spot on this match. Afoa is a terrible runner, but less solid in scrums. Smith (Conrad) is always here at the right time.It's true that the aussies commentators seemed disgusted and a little biazed during the match, big moments of silence when ABs scored...Well, that's normal anyway.It's true that Kaplan refers in a strange way during the game, but referees are always right. We are not footballers. So for the disgusted Oz, stay cool, there'll be other games and victories.
Just a Fan September 15, 2008 4:10 pm
Well as a Saffa I am gutted at the Bokke poor performance during the Tri-Nations. But it was still good to watch a decent rugby game on Saturday. I have to say that although they lost the Aussies put up a decent fight. They lost ground when they lost concentration...that comes with maturity and experience gained though game time though..in the next couple of years they will be a force to be reckoned with. And hopefully if SARU can get rid of their racist coach, SA will be able to compete decently to.Ps..Frans Steyn you beauty!
durrie September 15, 2008 4:30 pm
Ya Kaplan is one of the best refs about but his advantage was a little up and down...still a fantastic game and well done ABs.The ABs counter rucking was a master class for all on Sat...simply awesome!The never really looked like they had 80mins in them...having said that the Carter Try was soft and the Aussies did throw it away at the end...the try was on 3\4 times out wide but no communication...???
durrie September 15, 2008 4:32 pm
"The never really looked like they had 80mins in them..."...Should read...The Aussies never really lookined like they had 80 mins in them.
Anonymous September 15, 2008 9:20 pm
Aussies threw that away, New Zealand only won that through luck and opportunism. Shame neither team can repeat performances like that when it matters aka THE WORLD CUP! The mighty Boks or even England would never throw a game away like that. I also like how half the New Zealand team is made up pacific Islanders, they would be nowhere without Fiji, samoa or tonga!
felix September 15, 2008 11:36 pm
i'm bored of this nonsense^saturday's team:1. Tony Woodcock, 2. Andrew Hore, 3. Greg Somerville, 4. Brad Thorn, 5. Ali Willliams, (ALL BORN IN NZ) 6. Jerome Kaino, (BORN IN SAMOA BUT CAME TO NZ WHEN HE WAS YOUNG AND WENT TO SCHOOL IN AUCKLAND) 7. Richie McCaw (c), (BORN IN NZ) 8. Rodney So'oialo, (LIKE KAINO, BORN IN SAMOA BUT SCHOOLED IN WELLINGTON FROM YOUNG AGE) 9. Jimmy Cowan, 10. Dan Carter, (BOTH BORN IN NZ) 11. Sitiveni Sivivatu, (BORN IN FIJI, CAME TO NZ AGED 15 AND WENT TO SCHOOL THERE - i think this is the oldest age of immigration of any of the current all blacks born outside NZ)12. Ma'a Nonu, 13. Conrad Smith, 14. Richard Kahui, (ALL BORN IN NZ)15. Mils Muliaina (BORN IN SAMOA - MOVED TO NZ AGED 2)Reserves: 16. Keven Mealamu, 17. John Afoa18. Anthony Boric, 19. Adam Thomson, 20. Piri Weepu, 21. Stephen Donald, (ALL BORN IN NZ)22. Isaia Toeava. (BORN IN SAMOA BUT SCHOOLED IN NZ)no one from tonga there and only 5 out of a squad of 22 not born in NZ and of those, they ALL attended school in NZ so grew up there. I'm going to be bold and say that i can find 5 internationals in any current training squad from any rugby playing nation that were not born in that country. NZ puts huge effort into developing players and educating them too. also, heaps of guys are born there and play for other countries.SO basuically my point is, 'shut up Anonymous'.
felix September 15, 2008 11:51 pm
actually argentina are an exception and only have one or two born elsewehere - good for them - they even lose lots of talent to italy.
robert September 16, 2008 12:33 am
you got it right felix, I'm also sick of the rubbish people write about this part of NZ rugby out of complete ignorance. They have no idea about NZ society. Years ago when I played rugby at an Auckland primary school at least half the kids were from islander families including one who became an All Black and he was born in Auckland.
geoff September 16, 2008 12:56 am
all the people that whinge about nz using islander players, just think about this. all these islander players, if they didnt play for the all blacks, they would never have reached their potential. these guys, if they werent in black, would be off playing in europe anyway, and would hardly ever play for their respective countries.also, the training offered by the blacks is such that these players have really developed. theres almost no way they would be this good if they still played in fiji/samoa/tonga.do you think rupeni would've become overweight if he played for the blacks??
Chazza September 16, 2008 6:02 am
Geoff what you are saying has some value but you said that if they didnt play for new zealand that they would play in france and not play for their own countries and well if they are playing in new zealand then they are not playing for their countries see?but everyone seriously these islanders havent been shipped over to new zealand just to play footy they have probably just moved their at a very young age beacuse new zealand has the highest number of polyneasians in the worldGo The AUSSSIEEE PRIDE
Anonymous September 16, 2008 9:57 am
AB's solid once again, after Oz scored either side of half time, the AB's didnt panic.Giteau kicks the ball away too muchSo'oialo and Kaino had huge defensive gamesCarter was simply CarterBut it was the bench that provided the impact.
geraint September 16, 2008 10:08 am
NZ need to play some tests in the pacific islands rather than the islanders coming over to NZ to play a game all the time. If so many of your players are originally from the islands then you should give them some respect. You owe them a lot.
RuNiTsTr8 September 16, 2008 10:12 am
that was the best game this yearsolid physical matchab'z counter-rucking blew the wallabies away but their key playerz kept em in the gameand the best thing was that woodcock burnt off G.Smith 2 score hahahahahaha
felix September 16, 2008 10:26 am
NZ does a lot to help rugby in fiji, tonga and samoa but also the cook islands as well as othr smaller nations. It's not very helpful for the all blacks to go over there and put 100 points up like they did against samoa in New Plymouth. also it's often better to play in NZ because samoa or whoever else get more money out of the game due to the better tv coverage, increased marketing and shirt sales, larger live audience etc. the NZ maori team and the junior all blacks play them more often. one of these teams always plays in the Pacific nations cup which also involves japan. overall Nz and NZers put loads of effort and cash into pacific island rugby. whether it's through touring sides or general investment.Samoa are actually bank-rolled by a kiwi business man Sir Michael Fay.
Anonymous September 16, 2008 6:52 pm
Felix "I'm going to be bold and say that i can find 5 internationals in any current training squad from any rugby playing nation that were not born in that country."Let's hear them for Wales then.
felix September 16, 2008 10:16 pm
wales - some big names here:1. sonny parker2. tom shanklin3. ian evans4. luke charteris5. rhys thomasnext...
felix September 16, 2008 10:48 pm
that's just the most recent squad.upon conducting some research, it is clear wales are not shy to pick guys who were born elsewhere. there's a few other guys worth mentioning - from last years world cup squad: colin charviswill jameschris horsmandafydd jamesalso i know they're not in the playing squad but warren gatland and shaun edwards weren't born in wales either
robert September 17, 2008 3:06 am
Just a quick check and it looks like many of these guys not only weren't born in Wales but didn't even go to school there. All of the current ABs went to school in NZ and often from a very young age. When Mils Muliaina arrived in NZ he was still running around his play-pen, probably flat-out and stepping off both feet.I think a lot of NH people in particular don't grasp that NZ is a truly South Pacific nation. A city like Auckland of about 1.3 million has about 200,000 citizens of Island descent.The point is that the ABs are at least as eligible to play for their country of citizenship and upbringing as the Welsh players, some of whom seem to have never lived in Wales for any extended period at all.
Chazza September 17, 2008 5:52 am
Felix ive got one for youRomania good luck bro
Rian Rees September 17, 2008 6:26 am
Forget the game how bias and rude are those commentators they favor Aussie too much when Aussie played above their potential
Greiffel September 17, 2008 7:01 am
Knowing Felix, he's googling the Romanian players as we speak.
felix September 17, 2008 11:12 am
haha nice one chazza, i was really thinking of the 10 top-tier nations. following some serious research, i can tell you that... i can't tell you how many of the romanians were born elsewhere. it looks like most were born in romania but the WWW has precious little information on a fair few of their players. especially the ones who do not play in france. It does seem that (like Georgia) romania are pretty dedicated to picking only players that were born there. the only current squad members i can find from overseas are 1. Zane Winsdale - NZ2. Ben Aoina - NZ3. Jeff Lapana Makapelu - SamoanI can add that the Romania Director of Rugby is Ellis Meachen the backs coach is Murray Roulston and their physical trainer is steve mcdowell - all from NZ. also the FRR is george straton but i can't find out where he was born. i even texted AQA and they didn't get back to me.
felix September 17, 2008 11:14 am
^ should have put FRR president is george straton
Anonymous September 17, 2008 1:01 pm
Fair play there are quite a few names there who weren't born in Wales. One thing Tom Shanklin's father Jim played for Wales in the seventies so his link to Wales is VERY strong. And Luke Charteris went to school in Llandeilo from at least the age of 12 (the age you enter a comprehensive school in Britain). http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/Personnel.aspx?pr=106395 - look under education.Out of those names mentioned I figure that 3 were guys who chose to play for Wales without having some prior link to Wales. Most of the rest of them at least have Welsh names or other strong links to Wales. Colin Charvis has started to learn Welsh, and he's the main guy you would say hadnt spent much time in Wales. As for Gatland & Edwards, there aren't any IRB regulations about 'foreigners' coaching international teams are there? So that's basically irrelevant.-Dune
Anonymous September 17, 2008 1:02 pm
btw I'm not one of those ppl who think there's anything wrong with NZ's selection policy.-Dune
felix September 17, 2008 1:35 pm
yeah i don't see anything really wrong with it either. my point is simply that the perception that NZ's success is based around poaching the best players from pacific island teams is BS. Also NZ is no different from anyone else in that every other top tier nation has at least 5 players born elsewhere (other than the argies)
Anonymous September 17, 2008 2:08 pm
Technically this is Wales' most recent squad: http://www.wru.co.uk/15264_18010.phpNow that's probably not Wales' full squad, so the next most recent and more indicative of Wales' full strength side is this: http://www.wru.co.uk/63_16467.phpEither way that's a maximum of 4 players who weren't born in Wales, altho 3 of them have strong Welsh links.-Dune
robert September 17, 2008 2:52 pm
all sorted out then ... Dune, your boys might just catch the ABs a bit ragged at the end a long campaign, then again they might be a very well-oiled machine, I'm looking forward to it.
Anonymous September 17, 2008 5:08 pm
If we do beat them, then that will probably be the reason, coz they're so knackered from playing so many high quality test matches in the last few months. Unless Gatland is even further ahead of schedule at making Wales a good side - which is what I hope for. NZ is probably the team we most want to beat, but the team we least expect to beat. Should be a good game and I cant wait for it either.
Anonymous September 17, 2008 7:01 pm
Anonymous said... "England have no foreigners in their team"Riki Flutey was born in England was he?And he is in the England elite squad for 2008/09. http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=20314-Dune
Sharky September 17, 2008 9:27 pm
Lesley Vainikolo was a first choice player on occasion last season. Not sure he's English is he? Nick Abandanon is basically South African (not first choice but first choice changes weekly in international rugby). Mike Catt is 100% South African.. Matt Stevens, English? I think not.
felix September 18, 2008 1:01 pm
this year's award for most poorly thought out comment goes to.... the muppet above who said that england don't have any foreign born players. there have been loads of RECENT england internationals that weren't born there.simon shawmatt stevensdylan hartleyriki fluteyperry freshwatermike cattlesley vainikolodavid paicejason hobsonnick abendanonnot quite as recently -stuart abbottkieron brackendorian westthose are better known players. there's some who have had one or two games like michael horak orgeoff appleford
Anonymous September 20, 2008 8:47 pm
kazakhstan rugby team has no foreign players in it neither has georgia, portugal, Russia, Spain, Korea... Whoever said that there was no international rugby team that had no players born in a foreign country was wrong!!!
Azamat September 20, 2008 8:53 pm
I agree, there are loads of teams like it, the idiot who said the comment 'that i can find 5 internationals in any current training squad from any rugby playing nation that were not born in that country.' is wrong!!
felix September 20, 2008 11:39 pm
i said i'd be bold and try to find 5 players in each TOP TIER national squad, excluding Argentina, that were born elsewhere. so far i've done it and even found a few rumanians who were foreign born. as for you 'anonymous' claiming that portugal, Russia, Spain, Korea - don't have any foreign born players - this is basically pointless as it's impossible to verify. however, some very cursory research suggests YOU MUST HAVE BEEN JEALOUS OF THE AWARD I GAVE THE OTHER MORON:Portugal - Andr da Silva - born in france Ruben Spachuck - born in argentinaDavid Penalva - born in franceJuan Somoza - born in argentinaPaulo Murinello- born in MozambiqueLuke O'Callaghan is irish and plays for the Kazakhstan teameven a quick look before you opened you mouth would have really helped you not make a fool of yourself. i suppose that's why you decided to remain anonymous.
john smith September 24, 2008 6:35 pm
'Felix' you are so sad, lookin up the portugal team to look for foreigners. Have u got a life!!
felix September 24, 2008 8:10 pm
haha, yeah it is pretty sad. but in fairness it literally only took me two minutes. that's what annoyed me - the tool above saying portugal have no foreigners when it only took me two minutes to debunk his nonsense. why come out with ridiculous statements like that without checking?
Anonymous December 03, 2008 10:36 am
Some people are obviously posting a comment before reading the whole thread. If your gonna have some input at least know whats going on. Love what your doing Felix! :D
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