Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: New Zealand comeback ensures Tri Nations clean sweep

Saturday, September 11, 2010

New Zealand comeback ensures Tri Nations clean sweep

The All Blacks showed what a quality side they are as they achieved a Tri Nations clean sweep by coming from behind to beat the Wallabies 23-22 in the final test in Sydney. New Zealand have now beaten Australia for the tenth time in succession, and have a 15 Test unbeaten run.

The hosts got things off to a good start as they seemed in control with the score at 22-9 following a try from James O’Connor after eighthman Ben McCalman broke off the back of the scrum.

Matt Giteau had a poor night with the boot, kicking only three from seven attempts, but extended their lead before Adam Ashley-Cooper went over early in the second half.

New Zealand stayed composed though and gradually fought their way back into the game, first through a Richie McCaw try then later through Kieran Read. Piri Weepu converted, giving them the lead and taking his record on the night to five from five.

Australia had under ten minutes to attempt to recreate another late win as they tried to get within penalty range, but came up short and were resigned to the narrow loss.

"We were on the back foot for a fair bit of the match but we stuck to the gameplan, kept pushing, and to come out on top was very satisfying," said McCaw.

"It's easy when you get behind like that to try and throw miracle passes but we kept faith in the game plan. We stuck to the game and we got there in the end."

McCaw has now surpassed Sean Fitzpatrick as New Zealand’s most capped skipper, with his record now sitting at an incredible 46 wins from 52 Tests as captain.

The two sides will meet next in Hong Kong on the 30th October.

Time: 05:04

Game seemed to lack the intensity of the earlier tri-nations tests, which is understandable.

Although it was aus playing their third in a row it was the all blacks who seemed more lethargic for much of the match.

Felt we were pretty fortunate to win in the end, aus were probably more deserving.

By Anonymous, at September 11, 2010 5:17 pm
New opponent, same story: it takes 80 minutes to beat NZ, Australia played 65. This team just knows how to win. When they were down 6 and McCaw passed up the shot at goal...just shows a team that backs themselves massively. A lot of that simply has to be put down to McCaw, just a rare captain.

Also, Cruden is nowhere near a test-quality #10 yet. I liked what I saw a lot more from Slade, he should be Carter's backup.

By Anonymous, at September 11, 2010 5:26 pm
22-9? wasn't it 23-22? :P

Anyways congrats to the allblacks, deserved the win in the end... they never do give up! Gotta love a team who plays for the full 80.

By Anonymous, at September 11, 2010 5:35 pm
Cruden was just bad. Is he the best no. 10 replacement NZ have?

By Anonymous, at September 11, 2010 5:42 pm
at least the referees are pinging McCaw for cheating now. A few years late but at least its actually happening.

By 2020, at September 11, 2010 6:16 pm
hey hey can we get the quade cooper step on corey jane?! thanks!

By Anonymous, at September 11, 2010 7:21 pm
McCaw is so good he doesn't even have to bind onto scrums! Or stay onside at the breakdown. Or keep his hands out of rucks. Amazing player!

By Anonymous, at September 11, 2010 7:23 pm
Enjoyed the game but the McCaw try was a shocker. He clearly broke from the scrum early, took the scoring pass.

Well done for him for getting away for it. Poor decesion.

By Toby, at September 11, 2010 7:49 pm
Yep as a KIWI supporter...I thought, we were pretty rough tonight....

Better luck next time Australia...

By Unknown, at September 11, 2010 8:29 pm
quick question: if flankers aren't allowed to break from scrums until the ball is out/played, why was mccaw allowed to make the run off the scrum before read picked to feed him for his try?

NZ awesome all campaign, jane has developed and dagg is a serious find, very potent backline again now

By Patrick, at September 11, 2010 8:36 pm
sorry just realised toby and anonymous above made the same point re mccaws try. should have been disallowed then?

By Patrick, at September 11, 2010 8:38 pm
Is McCaw not offside for his try by breaking from the scrum before Reed did with the ball?

By Anonymous, at September 11, 2010 9:33 pm
Australia can come away from this Tri nations with their heads held high - They have shown that they can match the AB's and beat the Bok's - which they havent done so well in recent years. They know they should of beaten the AB's atleast once and were unlucky not to win twice.

By BigBucks, at September 11, 2010 9:49 pm
richie mcCaw's try shud of been disallowed at 3:31 (66:31 in de match). Richie broke his bind on the scrum b4 de ball was out. how cud de linesman nt c dat! .. de ref wud of penalised the australian's back row if dey had of done dat while defending dat scrum.

gud cumback from NZ although nd a super tri nations 4 dem.

By kevin, at September 11, 2010 9:56 pm
in fairness though,what was o'connor doing for mccaw's try,rushing reed like that?complete brain fart

By Anonymous, at September 11, 2010 10:17 pm
Lucky to get away with that one. Australia's development into a class team and world beating outfit is almost complete - at the right time too. The improvement since the beginning the 3Ns has been remarkable, though I think its fair to say that they've been working towards it since last years NH tour.

NH teams are going to have to do it tough to beat these SH teams in a few months.

Go All Blacks!!

By running rugby, at September 11, 2010 11:08 pm
People are talking alot about McCaw's 'try' but I noticed that noone has said anything about the Oz 'try' which came off a scrum following a 'forward pass'

By Craig, at September 11, 2010 11:39 pm
I also noticed that no one is saying commenting on the incidents following Daggs kick to Mils. Mils was tackled just short of the line (fair play) and then the tackler played the ball while off his feet (preventing mils from poping it to another attacker), and then another Oz player tackled Jane without the ball.
2 professional fouls 2 metres out from the line, I would say a penatly at the very least.

By Craig, at September 11, 2010 11:45 pm
it was oconnor who tackled jane and it was a penalty that resulted. you cant get technical while watching highlights

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 12:54 am
What was it, 13 points that Giteau missed? Just wasn't his night, I guess.

It was good to see the McCaw/Pocock battle going on - you saw why McCaw is one of the best players out there...Pocock's age/inexperienced betrayed him I think. Give him half a dozen years and he'll be one of the greats hopefully.

As for the people complaining about McCaw breaking the scrum, being offside, etc. - yeah, it's exactly what almost every single number 7 in the game does at that stage. Pocock did the exact same thing all night as well. Alan Quinlan, Schalk Burger, James Haskell, Dusautoir - they all break the laws at the scrum by either breaking their bind early or not binding at all (a hand grasping a jersey is not a full-arm bind).

By fullback john, at September 12, 2010 1:00 am
Yeah in fairness two tries (McCaw's and O'Connors) weren't really fair (one offside, one non-existent forward pass) and in a perfect world wouldn't have occurred.

The All Blacks didn't seem to turn up for much of the game. More of an escape than a great victory for them.

Cruden didn't have a great game, and the All Blacks created a rod for their own back with bad handling and sloppy lineouts. Australia seems to be developing well, they looked very threatening on offense and Quade Cooper didn't seem to resemble a revolving door so much on defense this week.

By BadGame, at September 12, 2010 1:12 am
NZ are obviously a great team but I think alot of the comments here are a fair indication of the frustration Rugby fans are starting to feel in regards to how the ABs win

-constantly (and I mean contantly!) falling over the ball in order to prevent quick play in defence

-constantly falling over the ball in order to prevent the defending team from stealing the ball

-constantly playing the ball of their feet (looking at you McCaw)

And

-their referees apparent inability to discipline the ABs like they do other teams and of course missing blinders like McCaw breaking away from the scum illegally and scoring.

Sorry to any AB supports who read this but I assure you your team is diserving of their position in world rugby but I just can't enjoy watching them win anymore, they are hollow victories.

By 2020, at September 12, 2010 3:01 am
If you're not going to give McCaw's try you can't give AAC's try either because it came from a ball which hit the ref. If you watch more replays it shows the ball hits the ref, he then goes to blow his whistle but for some bizarre reason decides he'd rather gift australia an easy try. On the balance though fair result.

By Bazz, at September 12, 2010 3:50 am
Bazz, even if he did blow the whistle after the ball hit him (the ref) it would have gone to the Wallabies. He did the right thing and allowed the advantage to be played. It was good refereeing.

By 2020, at September 12, 2010 3:55 am
@2020 said .. Sorry to any AB supports who read this but I just can't enjoy watching them win anymore, they are hollow victories.

No need to apologise 2020, but I have no doubt that if your team was winning by playing exactly the same sort of rugby you would not be calling them hollow victories. If you don't enjoy it then don't watch, problem solved.

And the whole "McCaw is a cheat" singalong is just getting too boring. Some people seem to only watch this one player for 80 minutes and don't notice any of the other stuff that all loose forwards must do, or try to do, to get an advantage. McCaw is just the best at his position and the constant criticism of him by losers is really a criticism of every single ref on the international panel. It's rubbish. He got penalised in this test when he clearly should have, and like Pocock and others, he got away with a few things as well. That's rugby.

@Craig .. you're totally correct about the interference by Turner on Muliaina's attempted off-load on the goal line and the no-ball tackle. A penalty try would not have been out of order, but I think that overall the ref had a pretty good game.

By secondfive, at September 12, 2010 3:59 am
Lawrence is one of the top refs in rugby, no doubt about it, but I was wondering why he never really seemed to give either Pocock OR McCaw a warning. Both got pinged plenty of times - Pocock getting penalized like three times in a row. You'd think he'd threaten to go to cards, but he never really did.

Not a complaint really, since I hate to see cards. Just something I was wondering during the game.

By me, at September 12, 2010 4:12 am
the McCaw is a cheat singalong has been around for so long because there is something to it. call him brilliant if you like for being able to get away with some much but when it all boils down its cheating

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 4:15 am
I know the ABs have to find quality backups, but Cruden simply did not look like an int'l flyhalf to me. His physical presence is poor, his tactical kicking a mess, his decision making questionable. Also, anyone else notice the vast improvement once Kaino came on to the field? Vito is a very talented player, but in the core roles of being a blindside -- physicality, defense, hitting rucks -- Kaino is way ahead of him. That error off a defensive scrum was awful, simply unacceptable at test level. Corey Flynn also is nowhere near the level of Mealamu, but I understand that with Hore hurt Henry doesn't have a lot of options.

I guess my point is that the current ABs are the best side in the world by a mile, but there are a good three or four positions, especially backrow and flyhalf where there is very questionable depth

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 4:15 am
@secondfive
I have the benefit of being raised in SA until I was 12, living in Aus for the past 13 years and having a NZ father. I support the southern hemisphere teams and Rugby so there is no bias only my opinion that the ABs are starting to lose some credibility with their style of play (at the breakdown)

By 2020, at September 12, 2010 4:18 am
Umm actually 2020 there is no room for interpretation because the rules clearly state that if the ball hits the ref a scrum is given to the attacking team. There is no advantage to be played. It should have been scrum to australia, not try to australia. The fact is, as the replay clearly shows, the refs interference not only effected the flight of the ball but it also prevented All Blacks players from making a potential tackle before the ball even reached AAC. Case closed.

By Bazz, at September 12, 2010 5:39 am
Bazz man sorry but your wrong about the ruling. It's at the referees discretion.

By #10, at September 12, 2010 5:54 am
LAW 6.A.10 THE BALL TOUCHING THE REFEREE

(a) If the ball or the ball carrier touches the referee and neither team gains an advantage, play continues.

...

By #10, at September 12, 2010 6:06 am
my mistake its actually

6.A.9 not 10

By #10, at September 12, 2010 6:25 am
Good work, #10 - I hate it when people state "the rule says..." without citing anything. Really, it takes 10 seconds to find the lawbook on IRB.com...never knew the bit about 6.A.9.b, though - good reason for referees to never cross into the in-goal area.

By ross, at September 12, 2010 6:38 am
The Walabies got the best from the ref last night. A few beneficial calls, as well as getting away with the fouls to stop a try from Muliaina's run, the imaginary forward pass that led to the O'Connor try, the will I - won't I playing of the ref interference...

Plenty of falling over the ball from the Walabies too.

New Zealand didn't play well though.

By Gordo, at September 12, 2010 6:53 am
its more about the coaches player choices than a lack of depth, rutledge, de melmanche and hika elliot are all players id choose ahead of flynn, guys like adam thomson liam messam, whitelock and daniel braid, colin bourke are all very good back row players, and as far as cruden goes he was a star in the under 21's world cup a couple years ago so the ab coaching staff have fast tracked him as some sort of saviour, the reality is that hes physically out of his depth and has been brought in too soon. colin slade would easily be my first choice backup to carter, then theres guys like stephen brett, robbie robinson, mike delaney and luke mcallister in my books would be better choices.

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 7:09 am
Ok I've now checked it and @Bazz and @#10 you are both right. The ball touched the ref and play should have stopped because it gave australia an advantage. At 2.29 you can see the ball was intended for Beale at which point #16 (corey flynn) would have made what was an easy tackle. What instead happened was the ref deflected the ball to genia, thus redeeming the initial poor wallaby pass and giving them a try. At the end of the day though each side scored a try they probably didn't deserve so it works out fine.

By Nerk, at September 12, 2010 7:59 am
How the hell does corey flynn keep getting in the all blacks!!!

By Larry, at September 12, 2010 8:07 am
Most of the comments I read about NZ, talk about McCaw cheating. However, every game I watch with NZ, there are just as many players from the opposite team guilty for similar offences. Somehow, someone started picking on McCaw, and they have been joined by a chorus of other rugby fans that look very intently at his game, while missing everything else illegal by other players on the field.

Unfortunately I think teams look at what McCaw does and use that as the excuse for them losing the game. But if they took into context everything illegal that happened on the field, they would realise that it all evens itself out, and that perhaps NZ wins a lot because they are good rugby players.

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 8:19 am
@anon what a novel thought... a team winning because it is made up of good players? I don't know if I can quite get my head around it. No it must be cheating.

By sam, at September 12, 2010 8:22 am
Agree wit Nerk. ashly coopers try wasnt legit. also there was the one where the aussie held on and ruined a try.

By 8==o, at September 12, 2010 8:32 am
Anonymous said...
the McCaw is a cheat singalong has been around for so long because there is something to it. call him brilliant if you like for being able to get away with some much ...

OK I will .. McCaw is brilliant, because he is better at doing the things that every other loose forward tries to do but doesn't do so well. Hope that clarifies things.

By secondfive, at September 12, 2010 9:07 am
If Mccaw was offside for breaking off the scrum, what about Rocky Elsom?

And what about what should've been a penalty try for illegal entry into the ruck by James O'Connor to disrupt the ball for Jane to score a try? You all know what I'm talking about.

All Blacks were hard done by, a penalty against Nonu for a ''high tackle'', a forward pass by Jane that went about a metre backwards, ''illegal entry from the side'' when Mccaw went through the gate and Pocock playing the ball off his feet all the time, then getting away with it.

Pocock is brilliant, but he is no Mccaw. He gets pinged too often because he cheats.

By Les Bleus, at September 12, 2010 10:05 am
yeah mccaws try should have been disallowed, then again in the first half when dagg made the break and kicked infield, all jane had to do was pick up the ball and fall over the line which he couldnt because he was taken out illegally by oconner, if the refs had picked up that it would have been a penalty try and a sin bin for a professional foul. so it sort of evened itself out.

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 10:12 am
#10

you are missing an important line from the IRB rule book. below is the full rules for 6.A.9.a

6.A.9 THE BALL TOUCHING THE REFEREE
(a) If the ball or the ball carrier touches the referee and neither team gains an advantage, play continues.
AND
If either team gains an advantage in the field of play, the referee orders a scrum and the team that last played the ball has the throw-in.

And in this instance australia clearly gained an advantage and scored a try

By 32 below, at September 12, 2010 10:39 am
It was a try by Mccaw, Rocky Elsom and Pocock had been doing it all bloody night and if you look at the replay Rocky Elsom unbinds before Mccaw does. Binding isn't putting your arm on the scrum by the way.

So Rocky Elsom cheated first.

I'm not going to debate this, all I'm going to say is 10-0 baby. You lost, whatever. Cry about it all you want, you can't win and the All Blacks have won ten in a row. Blame the ref or cheating on that.

By Josh, at September 12, 2010 10:58 am
Another match, another AB victory, and on cue, all the freaks come out and with their two cents worth.

Why is it when the ABs win a game, their detractors suddenly cry foul over McCaw's so-called cheating? Perhaps it's because these whingers are so one eyed, they seem ignore the other 14 players in this very good AB team. The last time I saw, rugby is a team sport, one man does not win or lose a game, its a group effort.

McCaw may bend a rule or two (no more than any of his opposite number), but his rule bending has nothing to do with the ABs success. The ABs win time and time again because there are 15 world class players that make up the ABs, and individually and cohesively they are better at what they do than any other team.

So to all you McCaw/AB bashers out there, the next time the ABs gives your team a spanking, don't just focus on McCaws antics, broaden your vision and perhaps you'll just see what others are seeing... your team just didn't have the cojones to do the job.

Nuff said

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 10:59 am
Oz definitely gained an advantage when the ball hit the ref. No way wud beale have been able to do anythin with that ball. Giteau realised this and so kindly missed the kick like the gentleman he is ;)

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 11:05 am
ahaha Australia took advantage from that ball??
Not actually!
Giteau stepped inside, giving the ball back from where it came, the ball hit the referee but it kept the direction that Australia wanted BEFORE (no advantage).
The ball went to Genia, and an ab was very close to him and tried to tackle him (no advantage), FAILING.

The advantage must come immediatly after the ball touches the referee, the advantage is not something gained after 3 passes!!!

Good (no) call by Lawrence!

Even though McCaw try was not legal, I think Australia hadn't lost the match in that episode!

Lawrence refered well!

By Madflyhalf, at September 12, 2010 12:38 pm
Everyone's assuming the ball hit the ref in the lead up to the try- IT DID NOT HIT LAWRENCE there was a replay on Fox that clearly showed the ball hitting COREY FLYNN'S ARM as he went in for the tackle and NOT Mark Lawrence.

Maybe someone on RugbyDump can dig up that clip...

By Tom, at September 12, 2010 12:41 pm
Ball was going to KB, hit the ref, deflected to Genia. Genia spreads it. Try.

I'd call that advantage. But I mean, that's just logic talking and logic is sooo overrated. Besides, McCaw probably cheated somewhere in the lead-up to it anyway.

By Captain Obvious, at September 12, 2010 12:47 pm
@Tom the ref is between Flynn and the ball so suggesting it was Flynn is plain silly. Also in the replay you blatantly see the ref go for his whistle, he's obviously thinking, "shit I've made a mare of this one, should I stop the play?" In the end he decides he hasn't affected the run of play and drops the whistle. As many here have noted however, he clearly has affected the run of play.

By Max, at September 12, 2010 12:54 pm
@Max, yeah I was convinced it hit lawrence too until I saw the replay... the angles on this video aren't great, but you can kind of see the ball balloon up at 2:12 after flynn's made the tackle... I'm pretty sure that's because it goes across the face of lawrence and hits flynn and gets deflected back to genia... the other replay not on this video shows that more clearly though

By Tom, at September 12, 2010 12:59 pm
2:30 shows it hitting flynn as well, albeit unclearly... it could have hit lawrence as well, but I think it's unlikely... he raises his whistle because I think he's wondering whether to blow it up for a knock on and then decides to play the advantage instead

By Tom, at September 12, 2010 1:02 pm
RICHIE MCCAW WOT A INSPIRATIONAL CAPTAIN. OZ PLAYED A WIDE GAME AND THE AB'S WERE CAUGHT OUT ON THE FLANKS. THE CRIMINALS DEFENCE AROUND THE RUCK'S WAS NOT UP TO THE TASK!!.
RICHIE CHANGE THE GAME WITH HIS LEADERSHIP BUY TAKEING TO THE HEART THROUGH THE TIGHT 5 AND............
THE BARBARIC KANIO!! LAY OF CRUDEN !! OZ WERE THERE TO WIN.. POLOCK SHOWED CLASS ROCKY LEAD FROM THE FRONT!! AND BEAL... LOOKING LIKE A GAME BREAKER!! CRUDEN_ AS KIWI'S WE ARE PROUD OF HIM!! THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL MAYBE ITS SURVIVING CANCER?
BUT MR HENRY SEE'S IT AND THE TEAM BELIEVE IN HIM!! WELL THIS ALL BLACK UNIT MORE OF A BROTHERHOOD THAT HAS THE MIX OF CULTURE HAS SOMETHING TO PROVE!! NOT TO YOU!! NOT TO THE WORLD!! BUT TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE FAMILY'S OF ALL BLACKS AFECTED BY THE EARTHQUAKE'S THE PEOPLE OF ..
CRISTCHURCH( ONE LOVE!!! SBW LOOKING GOOD IMAGEN CORRY JANE RUNING OF ONE THOSE OFFLOADS OR SITI HE WILL BE THE MEAN SUPER SUB ID SAY THATS WOT MR HENRY WILL HAVE IN STORE!!

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 1:11 pm
Anonymous @ 1.11pm
STOP SHOUTING

By mooloo, at September 12, 2010 1:49 pm
MOOLOO HOW THE FARK AM I YELLING!! ITS A COMPUTER BOY!!!

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 3:23 pm
The AB's win because no one seems to be able to play an entire 80min against them. Australia had kept them at bay for the first 40, but loosened up in the second half and paid dearly for it.

And yeah, the ball definitely came off of Flynn and not Lawrence. Watch the replay in slow-mo and Flynn's forearm is what deflects the ball upwards. "Back, and to the left...back...and to the left". Unless there was a second ball thrown into play from the grassy knoll, of course.

By minnow, at September 12, 2010 6:20 pm
people getting frustrated with the allblacks. only the New Zealanders back up the all blacks. even the NH people started to hate them

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 6:26 pm
Only problem I have the AB's is the fact that for some reason they clearly are allowed to get away with things no one else is. As for McCaw's "try", saying that Elsom broke his bind first was a) farcical, and b) no defense for what was clearly a rehearsed play. He did the same thing before but the scrum collapsed. That's the worst part about it, it was a rehearsed move outside the laws of the game, but you're still going to say that he and his team don't cheat? Arguing that JOC deserved a YC isn't the same as observing planned cheating by the AB's.

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 8:37 pm
sorry but can somebody or RD upload the video of quade cooper steps cory jane? tyvm

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 8:42 pm
Ball hits the ref not flynn. To say otherwise is wishful thinking. You want to think that the wobblies are only 1 point behind a kiwi team playing shite. Sadly not the case.

By JBok, at September 12, 2010 9:03 pm
so how did the boks do in the tri nations? whens combatcocks next video coming out?

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 9:04 pm
lololololololol you think AACs try wasn't real?! what homos the all gays only won becos they cheat lololololololol

By Bluey, at September 12, 2010 9:29 pm
Let's keep things civil and mature please. Anything else will be removed. Thanks

By GMC, at September 12, 2010 9:38 pm
Wow, Bluey. Aren't you such a clever one. Your mother must be so proud.

By delete this comment too please, at September 12, 2010 10:18 pm
NZ so hard done by lol.

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 10:29 pm
to say that mccaw was deliberately wanting to break the law when he scored his try is whats laughable, the move is obviously set up so that reid breaks first or at worst the same time, mccaw obviously jumped the gun by accident.

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2010 11:35 pm
This thread has turned me into a Christchurch house.....

......All cracked up!

'Shaky' start by the All Blacks to say the least but they 'rumbled' on to victory

By Anonymous, at September 13, 2010 1:01 am
Anonymous said...
ITS A COMPUTER BOY!!

Congratulations, and please pass that on to computer mother.

By mooloo, at September 13, 2010 1:28 am
Tough on the aussies, very tough.
The ref wasn';t helpful at all for Australia (refs are terrified of reffing the All Blacks, who the hell knows why, but they simply don't treat them the way they treat other teams), but ultimatly we lost for one reason.
Matt Gitaeu cannot kick anymore. He has lost Australia several games (vs England, Scotland and now NZ) simply because he can't kick at all from the right hand side, he's suddenyl hopeless at it.
The frustrating thing is that there are three other guys on the team (O'Conner, Cooper and Beale) who can all kick better than he can! Why the fuck hasn't he had the kicking duties taken away yet?

As to Australia, we were the better team but fucked it up by letting the kiwis back in aand leaving about 15 or 20 points behind because Gitaeu cannot kick.

The ref was frustrating as well, why are the All Blacks allowed to kill the ball on their own try line all the time? Why are they allowed to get away with it?

By Jono, at September 13, 2010 3:50 am
Interesting definition of 'better' there Jono. I hadn't realised that losing was actually the desired outcome for these players and therefore the distinguishing factor in which team is considered better. I can now die a happy man- Scotland's been the best team in world rugby all along, I just didn't know it.

By Anonymous, at September 13, 2010 4:40 am
Jono said... Why are they allowed to get away with it?

Maybe it's because all the rugby union referees in the whole wide world are corrupt, stupid, blind, secret Maoris and McCaw huggers, biased, did I say corrupt?, cheaters who don't know the laws and if they did they are so blind and corrupt (have I said that yet?) that it wouldn't make any difference anyway.

Or maybe NZ are just better at doing those things that all other sides also try to do including playing at the edge of the laws. That's the way rugby and other top sports have been played for decades so if you can't handle it then watch something else. When your team gets better at pushing the envelope they will probably win more and you'll love them for it. Don't be a hypocrite.

By secondfive, at September 13, 2010 5:11 am
You're dead right there @anon, Scotland's got the losing thing down pat...except they didn't quite win the losing game against australia did they?

Seems the Wallabies are even better at losing than we are :)

By Murray, at September 13, 2010 5:19 am
You see McCaw cheat and get away with it @ 3:32 in the clip.

By Anonymous, at September 13, 2010 6:07 am
Lets face it. Mccaw is the best number 7 in the world and theres nothing you moaners can do about it... I dont think elsom should be captain either.

By Bugger it, at September 13, 2010 6:18 am
@Bugger -- completely agree, Elsom is no international captain. The last 2 weeks the Aussies have folded their tents when it mattered. The last 2 games for the ABs? Tough, gutty come from behind wins. A lot of that has to be put down to McCaw, and the fact that the guys in black will simply not quit on this guy. What Kaino said after the match:

"Richie felt their forward pack was starting to tire a bit and we could test them with our lineout drive. We also had fresh legs on the park, so whatever decision he made at the time the boys were keen to get into it."

Like him or not, cheater or not, you gotta tip your hat to the guy.

By Anonymous, at September 13, 2010 6:34 am
McCaw's try should have been a penalty to Oz. Refs are kak, the IRB needs to start reviewing them or something.

By Unknown, at September 13, 2010 6:51 am
Look I'm annoyed at the result, so I may have come across more upset than I am at the ref and the kiwis.
Let me say for the record that the kiwis are clearly the best team in world rugby, Mccaw is an awesome player, as are all the All Blacks, Australia probably wouldn't have been as good in this game as they were if Carter had been playing for the kiwis (he makes them a much better team, almost unbeatable), and it's the Aussies fault for throwing away a game in which they had more than enough opportunities to win the game.
Fact is Gitaeu missed four or five kicks (can't remeber), some of which should have been easy as pie for an international class goalkicker, which we would have got us the victory.
Australia were the better team for tha majority of the game and had more opportunities to score points.
We threw away a game we should have been able to win (it's a habit we seem to have developed).

Secondfive, over 65% of the kiwis penalties this year have been given away on defence, they kill the ball all the time.
They do it on their line all the time, they never get carded. It's annoying, I'm not saying it's a conspiracy or all refs are maoris, or any of the other garbage.
I'm saying it seems like refs favour the kiwis a bit on defence, they let them kill the ball. And I'm far from the only person to say it, so get off your high horse.

By Jono, at September 13, 2010 7:14 am
Hey Murray, Scotland are ranked where in the rankings? Australia's no 2 right? How many world cups have Sctoland won? Think they have any chance in 2011?

By Anonymous, at September 13, 2010 7:20 am
McCaw is an outstanding player, and a gentlemen. There's reasons he gets away with a lot and one of those how he conducts himself on the field. That brings me to my second point - Rocky Elsom is a useless captain. He acts like a crybaby and does his side no favours with that sulkish behaviour. Refs must hate dealing with him, as opposed to McCaw.. See the point now? :)

That decision was marginal anyway. The ball looked to be out with Read having stood up.. Richie mistimed his break away if anything. To call that cheating is absolutely absurd.

Re. the Wallabies, they've got some amazing backs.

By Benson, at September 13, 2010 7:42 am
Hey, Anonymous, the guy was just making a lighthearted comment/joke about Scotland and/or Australia. Lighten up, buddy.

By marv, at September 13, 2010 8:30 am
Also, regarding Elsom, I think of him as the Aussie Paul O'Connell insofar as his attitude towards referees. Like most have said: about as useless as letting PdV speak at a press conference.

By marv, at September 13, 2010 8:32 am
For those who din`t have the advantage of more camera angles. The Ashly try was totally legit. The ball hits Flynn on the arm and propels forward. Ref goes for his whistle but decides to play advantage. The result is a try which the Ref could have killed had he blown too soon. Good job if you ask me!

By Anonymous, at September 13, 2010 10:27 am
Ok here's my take on it (as an neutral welshman). Richie detached early, however you have to play the ref in any circumstance- that's rugby. JOC illegally stopped one AB try. Also the Ref getting in the way incident is very dubious. Another of Australia's tries came from a scrum awarded for an All Black forward pass that wasn't actually forward.

As it stands New Zealand scored one sketchy try, Australia scored two. Furthermore, Australia illegally hampered a near certain All Black try.

So please aussies, be good sportsmen about this. We are all frustrated with New Zealand's current dominance, however, it is clear to almost every informed observer that in this case Australia doesn't have a leg to stand on.

By Skint, at September 13, 2010 10:34 am
^ well said.

By Anonymous, at September 13, 2010 10:37 am
Arguing that the ball didn't hit the ref is pointless. For starters it probably did hit the ref. Secondly, the refs positioning prevents flynn from executing a tackle anyway so he should have stopped play for that also.

By Anonymous, at September 13, 2010 11:24 am
@Skint: well said, it's always good to have a neutral make a sensible summing up. Although it's a bit funny to regard a Welshman as a neutral historically re NZ.

The McCaw try was a tight bit of timing.. in a game where Oz got at least its share of 50/50 calls, if NZ got away with this one then there's others that went the other way and also affected the score. Weepu's earnest chat with his inside backs after the first false start was a nice piece of deception too.

@Jono: I wasn't aiming all that stuff at you and mostly I was obviously joking anyway .. it was more for all the idiots who have only one comment to make whenever McCaw and the ABs win.. just pointing out how silly it all is. I'll take your word on the stats but I always figure the ref is a hell of lot closer to things than you or me and this idea that they are all constantly getting it wrong just doesn't impress me very much. You will obviously disagree.

By secondfive, at September 13, 2010 11:40 am
thank you @Tom

I saw the fox footage too. the ball didn't hit the ref at all. It did come of Corey Flynn. The ref goes to blow the whistle because he impeded Beale's run.

There are sane people out there after all.

That said, it was a good match and even though the australians lost the best thing that they could have taken away from that was how the all blacks celebrated after the win. In all previous 10 trans-tasman battles not once have the kiwi's celebrated so much because they all knew they had really escaped from that one. They knew that that they had won one that they really shouldn't have, and not because of how close the score was or what errors the ref made on both sides but because they knew they were outplayed.

And if you don't agree with my logic. Bugger off out of bondi and take your jandals and imporster 20cent coins with you :D

Good luck in Hong Kong Kiwis, should be a belter.

By Swat, at September 13, 2010 12:32 pm
Fox coverage with Rod "meathead" Kafer telling you what you are meant to be seeing is hardly conclusive. Besides the fact that you are ignoring Lawrence impeded Corey Flynn from making a tackle.

By Reality Check, at September 13, 2010 12:55 pm
@Reality Check, I know! You can clearly see at 2.30 where Tom says flynn touched the ball that Lawrence is in his way so makes him miss the tackle. And at the end you can see Conrad Smith pointing it out but the ref doesn't listen.

By Anonymous, at September 13, 2010 1:03 pm
As an England supporter I really enjoyed the closeness of the match. Have to admit that the uncharacteristic mistakes by both sides when attacking made this one less exciting than the SA v aus match last week.

@Jono - Giteau is really pants at kicking the key points. I think you are right to say he should lose these duties quickly. Hopefully when Oz next play England he'll still have the kicking duties! :)

ABs are looking very good but must say I like the look of the Oz-backline better when they get going. Cruden was poor - Slater should be Carter's replacement for the ABs. Cruden just kept missing key kicks. Felt sorry for Vito Belfort too - Kaino came on and the forward movement of the ABs was much more positive - he must know he has got to improve (and I think he has the talent to do so).

I think with a more confident pack that grows through the autumn tests that Oz could be the winners for next worldcup.

By NiWiTa, at September 13, 2010 1:50 pm
Swat - there was plenty of reasons for NZ to celebrate big. They won a very close one that they nearly lost, they won 10 in a row against Oz, they finished a 6 games Trinations unbeaten for the first time by anyone and after a bad year last year. A lot of reasons to celebrate and NZ always rate the Aussies as opponents and any win against the old enemy is a good win.

By blueboy, at September 13, 2010 3:26 pm
Stop the debating, final score 23-22, your whinging can't change that.

By Josh, at September 13, 2010 5:34 pm
NiWiTa I'm sure the ABs would love to have Billy Slater playing for them but as he is Australian we will stick with home grown Colin Slade ;)

By Anonymous, at September 14, 2010 12:36 am
S, we are actually capable of beating the All Blacks, and if Gitaeu cvould kick we would have won this game, so don't ever compare us to the bloody Welsh.
We actually have a chance of winning the World Cup.

By Tommo, at September 14, 2010 1:07 am
I can't wait for the NH autum tour. southern hemisphere dominance. So too all tri nation supporters lets unite and give to these european supporters!! And lets let them no who's DADDY!! DIRTY SOUF IN YA MOUTH NH BICTHIES!!

By Anonymous, at September 14, 2010 12:21 pm
Anyone that mentions McCaw releasing early from the scrum should have a second look. I'm not denying that he wasn't bound, but Rocky Elsom was also unbound BEFORE McCaw came off the scrum. An arm on your locks back does NOT count as being bound, so all those dissing McCaw should STFU - he's an amazing player

By Anonymous, at September 14, 2010 1:32 pm
Oops yeah - meant Slade (plays at Canterbury) not Slater from NRL...

I am also looking forward to - as the exceptionally intelligent @anonymous poster put it - "DIRTY SOUF IN YA MOUTH NH BICTHIES!!"...

Am I right in assuming that "SOUF" is short for Souffle and "BICTHIES" short for bike thieves?....I suppose stealing bikes is step further in development than sexually harassing sheep....

By NiWiTa, at September 14, 2010 1:54 pm
Sexually harassing sheep? Leave that to the Welsh. We've moved on.... to dairy cows ;)

By Anonymous, at September 15, 2010 1:09 am
he he - indeed those dairy cows are sexy mama's. Sheep are just far too common for my tastes ;P

By NiWiTa, at September 15, 2010 1:58 pm
disculpen por no manejar el ingles pero se vienen los pumas el año que viene tiemblen muchachos tiemblen

By Anonymous, at June 17, 2011 5:28 am