Sunday 24 August 2014

All Blacks team thrash defiant Australia

I don't use the word 'thrashed' too often, because the reality is not always an unbiased opinion.
But it appears that the trend for All Blacks test win reporting today is that the Bledisloe Cup triumph was an outstanding display last night.
A team display, with some performances that are worthy of a 9 or more on your rugby scales.
"Awesomesauce" is also a good description, but however we write it, it was just a super game compared to last week.
Scintillating, Stupendous  (stop the hyperbole, I'm sorry) and it was lead by their talisman leader Richie McCaw.


If the weather was the difference, then it was a vast change if attitude from 7 days ago and in scoring opportunity conversion - almost 90% for the AB's who punished poor hands or poor ball support at the breakdown.
I can't name them all here, but there are two handfuls of players; including Hooper, that all contributed to a resounding victory and rugby was the winner on the day.
The Bledisloe Cup goes back into long-term storage, and the final game in Brisbane is now surely a 'banana skin' we must not slip-up on.
But last night, besides some minor irritations in handling for the boys to 'work-on' this week, was just what the NZ rugby public had demanded. And our conviction is now reinforced, the players reputations are back intact and the Championship is now a more likely prospect (than if we had lost any games)

Shear brilliance at times, disciplined defence and the home side were supported by some positive referee calls; along with two Yellow Cards, that helped the game.
It was combative, but once the contact was held, you could see for the majority of the game who had the upper-hand.
And that team are still un-beaten at Eden Park  (an impressive record the Brazil football team are now envious of)
Full credit.