Wallabies have seen the future, and they're sure of beating Blacks GREG GROWDEN
August 9, 2010
CHRISTCHURCH: The Wallabies are gutted they have lost the Bledisloe Cup for another year but know they will beat the All Blacks … sooner rather than later.
That was the message from the Wallabies players before they left Christchurch for home yesterday, vehemently arguing they are not mentally scarred from their ninth straight trans-Tasman loss but had shown enough at AMI Stadium on Saturday night to start believing the drought will end soon.
The Wallabies made a considerable improvement on their Melbourne meander, showing impressive purpose and passion.
The All Blacks' incredible defence, which effected 110 tackles to Australia's 75, was the main reason New Zealand kept the Cup for an eighth straight year.
It is a gloomy moment for Australian rugby but there were encouraging signs, such as the performances of numerous Wallabies - particularly twins Anthony and Saia Fainga'a.
On the evening when they became the third set of twins to start in a Test for Australia, the brothers both had mighty performances.
Saia again showed he is developing into a quality international hooker, while Anthony's fearless work delighted Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, who indicated yesterday that the Reds utility has a substantial Test future.
With Quade Cooper returning from suspension for the South African leg of the Tri Nations to regain the five-eighth spot, it is debatable whether Anthony will topple Matt Giteau from the inside-centre spot. At least Deans is encouraged there is now serious competition for the No.12 jersey.
''For a first-up start, that was a great effort by Anthony,'' Deans said. ''Clearly we have choice now, which is great.''
And yesterday Anthony talked it up a treat, admitting that during the Test he and his brother had sledged each other in the hope of better effort.
''When one of Saia's lineout throws went astray, I just blew him up,'' Anthony said. ''I ran over and sprayed him. And he sprayed me when I dropped the ball from one of the kick-offs.
''He was into me over that. We are pretty hard on each other. But that's why we are here at the top, because we drive high standards.''
Saia said it was all true.
''We've been brought up to be honest with each other,'' he said.
''So when I missed that lineout throw, all I could hear was him yelling at me. So when he missed that tackle on Ma'a Nonu, I gave it to him, explaining to him that he was a better player than that.
''There was a lot of banter between us but it was good. We were encouraging each other. As he is my best mate, for him to give me a mouthful is pretty cool.''
Both plan to triumph over the All Blacks. ''We have three games left in the Tri Nations, including one against the All Blacks … so hopefully we can get redemption,'' Anthony said.
''Hopefully I did put my hand up out there last night and Robbie keeps picking me. It was really tough but I will do whatever it takes to win, especially when I put that Australian jersey on.
''I truly believe [the All Blacks] are beatable, and if there is a team which can beat them, it is us.
''We've got the faith, the hunger - everything that it takes to have a good team with good character. And we also know we can do it.
''We were feeling down in the dressing room but it was positive, because we know we have it in us.
''Take away those first 10 minutes when we gave them two easy tries, and it is a whole different ball game. So we just have to get smarter.''
Apart from Cooper again being available, injured winger Peter Hynes could be in contention for the Tests against South Africa in Pretoria on August 28 and Bloemfontein the following weekend.
But Hynes should not expect to walk into James O'Connor's spot.
Deans believes the utility back looks more comfortable there than at fullback.