Undefeated in the Tri-Nations, Undefeated in the Bledisloe, and Undefeated in the year of 2010… to date… Yes, an impressive and satisfying record in Union, which has given and offered every All Blacks bleeding heart fan, a healing balm after the multiple travails of 2009.
However, the ‘run in the sun‘ for this present All Blacks team is more impressive than even these results suggest. It had been 14 Inter
In the final Tri-Nations Test between the Wobblies and the All Blacks, live from Sydney, with 14 minutes remaining, the All Blacks were trailing the Wobblies by 13, needing to score 14 in 14 to continue this All Black run to 15… even the commentators knew it!
If you’re a regular at this blog, you will know that I backed our boy, Double “A” Ron Cruden, to step up to his latest challenge, but with some other shuffling on the All Blacks deck, most notably, Double “V” for Victor-y Vito, and a Wallaby team drinking in the unlikely… a victory in the Republic, there were more variables than a Pakistani betting syndicate… and that was before kick-off!
This prospect was further encouraged as the game resembled the frantic, unstructured exuberance of an Under 10s game… Well, at least for the first 60, as each side played hot potato with the pill, passing it round so that no one felt left out.
The result being that while disorder reigned, this better suited the ‘wet-behind-the-ears‘ Australian outfit who lack the comprehensive cohesion of the All Blacks unit, therefore rely more on individual brillance, which their backline is indeed blessed with!
Seeming to also feel sorry in the first 60 for the Wallabies travel schedule, the All Blacks evened up the challenge by offering up Gifts!
First, a slight over-read of an Aussie scrum move by Vito in his first big Test start, gifted the Aussie Number 8, McCalman, a Moses moment, as the All Blacks blindside parted, giving James ‘Bieber’ O’Connor a free run to score in the corner, in the first half.
The second piece of generous gratuity came about early in the 2nd half, when the 1 Tribe of Israel Dagg, took us back twelve months, as he decided to run the ball from everywhere, launching a counter-attack, which turned, very quickly, against the All Blacks. The Wobblies were able to steal the ball… they are Convicts, after all, and moved it through a handful of phases, and with the Ref’s assistance, Will Geniawas able to find the running hyphen A-dam Ashley-Cooper, who scored near the corner!
The song says life begins at 40! It’s just fortunate that we age with grace, as our life waited till 60!
Up to the 60th minute, there had been much individual All Black determination, but little team cohesion, and with the All Blacks on the wrong end of possession and territory statistics, it may be fair to say that the only individuals who kept the All Blacks within touching distance were one Captain McCawesome, one Kicking Weepu, and one Aussie Git-head.
Remember, Life Begins at 60!
While the last 20 would prove pivotal, things began to take a turn in the All Blacks’ direction right after the Wallabies scored through Ashley-Cooper, in the 10th minute of the 2nd half, with this scoring play signalling to Henry and Co. to bring on the bench.
Three Substitutes would add such impetus, each providing more drive, until the Aussie Life would expire at 60, and the All Black Life Would Kick In!
1] Substitute #One entered the arena, with the Wobblies up 19-6, and all the scoring momentum. However, the worm was soon-to-turn!
In the 50th minute, Jerome T-KainO showed us how important he is in the loose forward mix. When he was substituted for Victor, he gave the All Black loose trio its right mix, providing that tight, hard, uncompromising wall, both plugging any gaps in the inside defence, which also allowed and encouraged both Richie and Kieran to reign supreme out wide, with both Cantabs standing tall!
2] Substitute #Two would take place10 minutes later, with 20 left, as Aaron Cruden was pulled for another of Canterbury’s shaken sons, Slade, Colin Slade, making his International debut… into the earthquake zone once again!
Cruden would leave the field of dreams with the All Blacks down 22-9, with 20 on the clock!
A couple of words on the Cruden Debut… While I thought Aaron’s performance was good with ball in hand, in distribution, and even in defence, as he has acknowledged, his complete kicking game needs some work. Nevertheless, Cruden’s performance needs perspective, as he was behind an All Black forward pack not at its best, and a surging Wallaby unit that was on the prowl!
However, coincidence or not, at the time of the Cruden exit / Colin entrance, the Wallabies were on the wane, momentum was beginning to turn, and the All Blacks’ forward pack would begin to build momentum and intensity, giving the back-line good front-foot ball. One will never know what would have transpired had the roles been reversed!
Life was indeed beginning at 60!
One area where Slade did make a clear impact came to the fore right away, as his first kick-off was messed up by the Wobblies. This Second Substitution would be rewarded with 12 mins to go as Richie McCaw, who had the blow-torch, turned it on the Wallaby hide. Taking a high pass from Read in an attacking scrum, McCawesomeness would score… GAME ON…with Piri Weepu proving flawless from out-wide, in stark contrast to scatter-kick-Giteau.
This made the score 22-16, with 12 minutes to play!
The All Blacks would only need one more converted Try to be in Front!
Feeling Nervous… again?
3] Substitute #3 would step onto the Stage right after this Try was scored as, there’s no Stranger Danger with Rene Ranger, the portable SBW edition, would replace Cory ‘Not so Plain Jane.’
At a time when mistakes would be heretical, the introduction of Ranger to the advantage line, stressed an already stressed out Wobbly nation. As the clock was ticking, there is no better example than his lead-up work to the Kieran Read winning score, as the All Blacks unleashed phases for days.
When Read scored, and Piri converted, the All Blacks had hit the lead 23-22, and while the Wallabies were still breathing, their self-belief had been suffocated… again!
The All Blacks had done it… again!
Life Does Begin at 60!
While these Substitutions were Significant toward an All Black victory, Let me Close with what I Believe may be Ultimate!
One Word – Belief!
Remember, the All Blacks did not dot down until the 66th Minute. However, the Boys in Black stayed true to what they knew, they did not allow the circumstances to define who they were, who they were, in the end, would define their circumstances, and the final result!
This BELIEF has not happened over night, and like any relationship, it has formed over time, been strengthened through adversity, and validated and underscored through much positive fruit.
For me, vision of McCaw and Mils, arm in arm, walking around the ground represented a team drunk on relational belief. Watching on, you could see there were some pretty special things being said between these two old heads, who were more than just rugby friends. McCaw has also subsequently spoken about the “oldheads” and their impact in this performance.
What can you say about Captain McCawesome who put his body on the line?… again… for a record 52nd caps as All Black Captain, passing Fitzpatrick for the record. Once again, I think he proved the difference. Honestly, if he was not on the field, I don’t think we would have won. He is one of the few Test players whose will, will be done. He is able to assert himself on the game, in his team, and onto the opposition, with his persona providing the impetus to press on.
McCaw would also be joined by Weepu and Read, who made their mark on a Sydney skyline, which surprisingly, was All Black!
All Blacks win 23-22!
All Blacks 15th win in a row!
*SCREAM OUT LOUD*
Now, I have had my say… Yes, we got that impression, quips a helpful member!
Therefore, now, we want to hear from all of YOU on this Sydney All Black Belief Back!
Pass on any thoughts about the game, who played well, or anything in response to any and all of what iamjonnyking has offered!
The Floor is Yours, and you have Freedom to Speak!
What Say You?
Until Next Time
iamjonnyking
