Planet Rugby takes a look at how the New Zealand media reacted to the All Blacks’ triumph over the Wallabies in the second Bledisloe Cup Test at the Accor Stadium in Sydney on Saturday.
After retaining the Bledisloe Cup for the 24th successive year courtesy of a 50-19 win at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand were determined to hammer home their dominance over their trans-Tasman rivals in the rematch on Australian soil.
The men in black did just that as they raced into a 36-7 lead at half-time in Sydney before eventually securing a 43-21 victory.
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie and the rest of his troops will now turn their focus to next month’s Nations Champions Tests against Scotland, Wales and England – in the United Kingdom.
New Zealand’s rugby writers believe their team showed against the Wallabies that they are still a force to be reckoned with in the international arena and hailed the All Blacks’ all-round display, especially during the first half and the early stages of the second stanza.
‘This was about as good as it gets from the All Blacks’
“For 50 minutes, as a blueprint for high-tempo attacking… rugby that was direct, confrontational, creative and highly skilled, this was about as good as it gets from the All Blacks,” wrote The New Zealand Herald‘s Gregor Paul.
“They ran rampant in a way they haven’t for years. They dominated collisions, offloaded out of and before contact, had support runners popping up everywhere and pulled Australia every which way until their fibres unravelled and they were in pieces.
“The first half was a stunning demonstration of attacking rugby from the All Blacks, orchestrated by the unflappable Cam Roigard, and delivered by the likes of Peter Lakai, Fabian Holland, Scott Barrett and Wallace Sititi.”
Paul hailed the efforts of Damian McKenzie, who was shifted to fly-half from full-back in the first Bledisloe Cup clash, as well as fellow experienced playmaker Beauden Barrett, who both shone against Australia.
There was also special praise for Rennie’s “vision” for the All Blacks.
“Damian McKenzie buzzed around again with great effect and Beauden Barrett wound back the clock and showed that he can still run with the spirit and speed of his youth,” he wrote.
“There was also a captain’s innings from a rejuvenated Codie Taylor, whose desire to get involved was undeniable, and his speed with the ball in hand more than a little surprising.
“It all looked so effortless and yet it was anything but. The work rate was incredible to ensure that once again the deadly Wallaby openside Fraser McReight barely featured in the first half.
“It was all New Zealand. Wave after wave of flowing attack where the Wallabies had no idea how to stop it. If it wasn’t Sititi, Lakai, Barrett or Holland smashing hard and straight, it was McKenzie or Barrett pushing the ball wide, where the underappreciated Josh Moorby demonstrated the value of timing and footwork.
“It was so destructive that the game was over by halftime and the Wallabies were genuinely on their knees as they headed back to the sheds for the break – the speed and aerobic content of the game having left them gasping them for air.
“It was the most impressive 40 minutes of rugby the All Blacks have played in a decade and it went a long way to resetting expectations and potential horizons.
Dave Rennie’s vision is starting to be seen more clearly now. The pace of game he wants his team to play and the skills he wants them to express are all starting to make sense and become second nature for most of the players.
“There is a flow and confidence building and a better understanding of how to balance the kick-pass-run ratio and where to play and when to take risks.
“It would be easy to say that the Australians afforded New Zealand too much time and space in which to play, but it was more the case that the All Blacks earned their momentum.
“They fought their way through the first line of Wallaby defence and then exploited the space they had worked to create.”
Meanwhile NewstalkZB‘s Liam Napier highlighted the improvements in the All Blacks’ game after their recent series defeat against the world champion Springboks but also pointed out the rising injury list while praising the likes of McKenzie and the Barrett brothers, Scott and Beauden.
“The benefits of the brutal, gruelling South African tour are beginning to emerge for the All Blacks,” he wrote.
‘The All Blacks have reset and reinforced their threats’
“Three successive defeats cast a dark cloud over the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the Springboks but in the last two weeks, through their depth and sweeping game improvements, the All Blacks have reset and reinforced their threats.
“Many other nations in world rugby, other than the Boks and France, would struggle to survive the mounting casualty ward the All Blacks have endured this season.
“Shannon Frizell and Samisoni Taukei’aho are expected to be the latest troops to join Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson, Leroy Carter, Caleb Clarke, Ruben Love, Billy Proctor and, potentially, Richie Mo’unga in suffering season-ending injuries in the 43-21 victory against the Wallabies in Sydney.
“Using 48 players in South Africa allowed coach Dave Rennie to expand his depth pool and to expose that enlarged group to the ongoing quest for an uptempo attacking style that demands sharp skills and supreme conditioning.
“The spinoffs of the All Blacks’ growing depth are now widely evident.
“Eight forwards who featured in the South Africa tests did not play in Sydney.
“Against the Wallabies, the All Blacks also lost starting midfielders Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea, with Timoci Tavatavanawai and Rieko Ioane promoted in their place.
“Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi continue to stand tall in the loose forwards without Savea and Jacobson.
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“Damian McKenzie, the All Blacks’ third-choice No 10, has seamlessly run the cutter.
“Scott Barrett’s return has been invaluable – it looks as though he never left. And brother Beauden Barrett, who didn’t feature in July and played one of four tests against the Springboks off the bench, is savouring a form revival after excelling in the last two weeks from fullback.
“As he approaches the 150-test milestone and closes in on Richie McCaw and Sam Whitelock, while moving into third on the All Blacks’ tryscoring stakes, one behind Doug Howlett and eight off Will Jordan, Barrett is reinvigorated.”