The game was a total paradox to Monday’s game against the Aus A’s at the Southport School.
The Australian forwards came out swinging, figuratively and totally dominated the New Zealand opponents from the get go – for the first half. Couple of tight heads, stolen line outs and Australia looked the goods.
An early penalty attempt to New Zealand #15 Albert Nikoro – FROM HIS OWN 10M LINE had the crowd laughing until it cleared the crossbar and landed at the dead ball for the first 3 points of the match and the Australia heads dropped big time. Australia and New Zealand traded penalties all second half, Australia missing 2 and New Zealand one for the half time score 12-6 in favour of Australia.
Poor discipline by the New Zealand forwards was the culprit with a number of high tackles and some uncontrolled aggression. Australia points by #10 Rohan Saifolo and New Zealand by #15 Nikoro and their brilliant #10 Lima Sopoaga. The game was close to half time – no one looked dominant enough to score a try and it was a great forward battle with Australia #7 Liam Gill leading the way – be had a blinder and played his typical game – it’s been a while since we have seen this level from him – welcome back Liam.
It did seem however that New Zealand were massing the troops and it wouldn’t be long before they just dominated. And so the second half – nothing like the first.
In the first, backs rarely saw any useable ball on both sides such was the display by both sets of loose forwards. In the scrums it was beautiful – pure frontrowers paradise.
The second half saw the New Zealand attack return. Back came the crisp unchallenged passes from #9 Thomas Perenara to Sopoaga, whose attack found gear and it wasn’t long before #12 Francis Saili crossed after a great break and pass by Sopoaga near the Australia posts.. Score Australia 12 – NEW ZEALAND 13 and it was on. New Zealand again committed a number of illegal tackles and eventually it was their #12 Saili see the yellow after the referee showed great patience so far in the game. Unfortunately I don’t think this yellow as warranted as Saili foresaw the oncoming calamity and actually stopped and the Australia player soaring high in the air actually floated across Saili and it was ruled against. Unfortunate but it sent a clear message and it worked.
Another penalty to New Zealand saw the score go to 16-12 and the inevitable looked most likely. Another great try to New Zealand swathe score go to 23-12 and they looked unstoppable. Then came the class of Sopoaga – an New Zealand attack off a stolen lineout on the Australia 15m, play back to the Australia 22, an uprushing defence, a 30m lateral kick pass over a plethora of New Zealand and Australia players in a huch to the right wing position found a lurking #8 Antonio Kiri Kiri for a great try in the corner and the score was 28-12.
Australia looked down and out. Replacements were coming thick and fast BUT NO MITCH FELSMAN – where was Felsman?
Time was getting away, Australia attacked and we saw play on the New Zealand 22 on the far 15m, a backline move and Australia #10 replacement #22 Kyle Godwin found himself midfield, infront of the opposition posts 22m out andin all sorts of bother – surrounded by raiding New Zealand players– nowhere to run when miraculously a teeny weeny hole opened up, he ghosted through most Larkham like, could have scored himself but made a 15m pass over the 4 centre three quarters to a waiting and unmarked Chris Sautia/Feauai and he showed great skill and adeptness to catch the ball and put it down for the opening Australia 5 pointer. Score 28-17.
Full time minutes away – an unscripted and very spontaneous Australia attack to the far corner saw finally, a very late replacement #15 in #23 Mitch Felsman score very wide.
Quickly he took the ball back and drop kicked the conversion – score 28-24 and it looked minutely possible that Australia might steal the game.
From the kick off – 24 seconds remaining and the obvious Australia attack, the ball spun across field to the far wing, Australia running, passing and looking possible when Felsman in a great rush of blood when a try was needed kicked the ball – gameover as they say.
Australian players of notes:
The Australia backline ineffective – massive breakdown 10-12-13 – just didn’t happen at all.
Liam Gill – massive game, absolutely smashed their back row and was the main reason we were on the front foot for so long in the first half. Absolute bulldog. Was also responsible for restraining their 10-12-13 combo in the first half. Now if you can grow 6 or more inches in height.
Australia front row – brilliant and dominated all game – Paul Alo-Emile wonderful. He singlehandedly destroyed their scrum on their feed.
Chris Feauai – some good runs, made good ground but showed he is more a finisher than a creator. He is only 79kg (albeit only 15ys old as well) but seems to be outmuscled in the tighter stuff and is easily restrained.
Kimami Sitauti – for those that don’t know he can be brilliant but can be easily shut down by taking his space and he then becomes singularly posessed. More often than not his defect is as noted many times before on this forum – He will not pass the ball no matter what and all too often runs across field for no gain at all, again all too often into isolation - and for a mercurial winger who can get away from the opposition into isolation – this is a curse – did more harm than good tonight. Kimami is talented- of that there is no doubt but he is not a team player.
Disappointment of the night – not seeing Mitch Felsman until 5 minutes to go – he could have made a huge difference if on much earlier – he offers far more opportunites and potential in attack than does Woodhouse who was very quiet tonight.
A quiet game for Saifolo and his size difference to his opponents would not have helped. Solid all the same and kept Australia in the hunt with some good goal kicking.
Finally, my Australia MOTM - #9 Nick Stirzacker – the Queenslanders finally got to see him. Magnificent passing, always there – great performance. We were a little concerned here as we thought Ruka Hanlon may have been the better option to attack but – alas – the rugbywhisperer was wrong. Stirzacker had a blinder and is class.
For New Zealand;
Sopoaga – again brilliant, #12 Saili and #13 Edwardson very solid and when given good ball are very dangerous, #15 Nikoro – very solid and attacks well, the New Zealand backrow – very impressive and does the job brilliantly.
On a personal note – after having one as a billet for 2 nights, thank you New Zealand. A lovely, polite bunch of lads who have wonderful skills and talents – they did you all credit.
