Australia bounced back from their tepid display against Ireland but although they had a commanding second half, and kept NZ scoreless, the Kiwis defended well and won the game 14 -10.
The match
First half
Although they looked sharper than against Ireland, Australia could not exit from their half early in the game to cause damage in NZ territory, and were forced to infringe.
After 16 minutes Kiwi flyhalf Simon Hickey had already kicked three penalty goals, for a 9-0 scoreline. In hindsight that period was the winning of the match for them.
NZ scored their single try when Oz fullback Placid kicked the ball away after 20 minutes and their left winger Fa’asu Fuatai ran up near the touch, kept his balance after a couple of attempted tackles and dished out to blindside flanker, Joe Edwards, who scored near the corner post. Fuatai should have been stopped a couple of times, but what a terrific try !!
Australia didn’t have a lot of possession or territory but they were showing skill and starch, and at 25 minutes NZ went off their feet and Aussie flyhalf Reece Hodge kicked the goal.
There was no more scoring in the first half and at oranges NZ led 14-3. They were not to score again in the match.
Second half
Australia got the territory and possession they craved in the second half but errors were forced by NZ and they had to reload several times.
Once they got in front of the NZ goal posts but knocked the ball on after contact. Then the NZ half-back, Rangihuna, made a dumb mistake. NZ had received a scrum penalty, but instead of kicking for touch, he tapped the ball and spun it wide. NZ were stopped near their 22 and Aussie skipper Curtis Browning counter-rucked the ball and the attack was on again.
NZ infringed under their goal posts and Browning tapped the ball and went for it. He was stopped short but had attracted defenders and Aussie replacement centre Luke Burton scored a try when the ball was sent wide. After an excellent conversion by Hodge it was game on: 14-10 NZ with 19 minutes to go.
But that was it. Australia had a few good chances but could not transform them into points. With a couple of minutes to go a penalty kick to touch, to launch a maul drive from near the NZ line, did not go out.
One last chance: after the siren the Aussies had the pill 18 metres out but lost the ball in the ruck.
Game over; NZ win 14-10.
The teams
Australia
It was a much better performance from the Aussies who had only two forwards and two backs changed from the Ireland game. All the same, the lads could brood over some might-have-been moments.
The scrum was better than last time with the same front row and only two changes in other places. The lineouts were a problem again and they lost five, though the Kiwis lost three. Apart from the lack of discipline in the first quarter of the game, their biggest team black mark was missing 17 tackles (to eight).
The backs were better especially on midfield defence which was breached repeartedly by Ireland, but on attack they should have cleared the ball quicker when it was possible. Too often the Aussies had good ball at rucks but delayed picking it up.
New Zealand
NZ won the game in the first quarter when earning the points from penalties through pressure in Oz territory, and in the last quarter when their grand defence repelled Aussie raids. But they were out of sorts for a lot of the game and performed below their best, both as individuals and as a team. And they had two bonehead plays that defied belief.
Co-commentator Simon Mannix, a Kiwi himself, said with 10 minutes to go, and the game in the balance:
Some of the New Zealand big players, the bigger names, have gone missing when the pressure has come on.
After seeing Ireland play two games and South Africa play England I wouldn’t be surprised if the New Zealanders don’t win the tournament this year if they keep playing as they did in the middle of the match.
Wouldn’t be surprised if they improved and won it either.
The Players
Australia
Jack Dempsey had another top game, especially in the first half, and so did hooker Maile Ngauamo, apart from his lineout throwing. LHP Tolu Latu was in everything (sometimes too many things) and Patrick Sio was an improvement at no. 8 after being on the bench last time. Sometimes he looked like brother Scott when he played 8 at school, occasionally.
The big improvers were 6. Curtis Browning, who was quiet against Ireland, and 3. Ollie Hoskins who had the best game I have ever seen from him, including scrummaging.
Browning was a one man battering ram and counter-ruck bruiser on several occasions Hoskins once ran through Kiwi Super Rugby players Ardi Savea and Jason Emery on a long run. Had he tucked his shirt in so he didn’t have to drag a third Kiwi along with him, the Aussies might have scored another try.
The backs were better than last time and Foketi, who contributed to a horrible midfield defence on Thursday, was sound today. Reece Hodge was an improvement on Jake McIntyre at flyhalf and Alex Northam looked fast and smooth whenever he got a chance; but should have got more ball.
New Zealand
The Kiwis had several electric backs who fizzed around but apart from Fuatai, when he set up the Kiwi try, they didn’t bother the Aussies a whole lot. There were glimpses of 14. Penikolo Latu and the zippy fullback Joe Webber but they were covered, in the main.
The Kiwi forwards were impressive in making their decisions to stay out of battles for ruck ball – to be part of the defensive line – or to whale in and get the hit in the ruck. Their technique at the tackle and ruck when they got involved was more scientific than the Aussie effort, and they had a rugby slyness that belied their tender years.
At the same time their tight five was a far cry from that of other scary Kiwi tight fives in this tournament in years past.
I though Ardie Savea was outplayed on the openside by the younger Aussie, Jack Dempsey, for some of the game, as he missed a few tackles, but he came into his own when Australia was raiding in the second half, Amongst other things he was like an immovable David Pocock over the ball and doing some poaching when it had to be done. Well played that man.
Wrap up
The Kiwis march on and should improve when they play their top team in the coming days. The Aussies will miss the play-offs as they did last year but they will have their pride restored to set them up for their final game against Fiji and their ratings’ contest later.
Scorers:
[one_half last=”no”]New Zealand — 14
Try: Joe Edwards
Penalty Goals: Simon Hickey (3)[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]Australia — 10
Try: Luke Burton
Conversion: Reece Hodge
Penalty Goal: Hodge
[/one_half]
