All Blacks return to the coal face
NZPA
July 22, 2007

The All Blacks have unveiled a winning recipe if weather or backline mishaps count against them on a World Cup campaign that is back pointing in the right direction.

The 26-12 war of the trenches win over Australia ensured the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations Trophy will remain in Wellington for another year but also provided a riposte to critics who believed the All Blacks were losing their hard edge.

Gone were the risky passes, lateral running and handling woes that have earmarked this Tri-Nations campaign.

They were replaced by pick-and-go driving from outstanding forwards such as Rodney So'oialo, Chris Jack and captain Richie McCaw.

It was appropriate that perhaps the most consistently impressive player of the season so far, prop Tony Woodcock, should burrow over for the only try of the game next to a forward pile-up.

The All Blacks made just two linebreaks -- surely a record low under coach Graham Henry -- as they won the sort of arm wrestle they can expect in France come the knockout stages.

Springboks coach Jake White this week suggested the All Blacks lacked the defensive skill of past world champions.

That charge was also dismissed as McCaw's men kept their shape in the face of numerous green and gold waves in the first spell.

New Zealand held a flattering 12-9 lead at halftime, a testament to their resilience and ability to turn limited chances into points through the restored goalkicking accuracy of first five-eighth Daniel Carter.

Carter's seven from seven penalty shots came against a game Wallabies outfit forced into desperate infringing as the match wore on.

"Australia are a good side but our guys got better tactically and we finished strongly," Henry said.

"It was difficult conditions, it took us a while to play to the conditions well."

Key changes in the second half were to simplify the options at lineout time after a shonky first-half effort and to introduce sparky halfback Brendon Leonard and ball-carrying hooker Keven Mealamu.

McCaw said pragmatism was a must in his 55th test, passing Josh Kronfeld as the All Blacks' most capped flanker.

A deluge before kickoff followed by steady rain meant those in the packed crowd keen to see a spectacular World Cup signoff would have been disappointed.

"We perhaps didn't get off the line quick enough in the first half and Australia had a bit of time to play with the ball," McCaw said.

"If you shut down their time and space, they find it hard to get their game going. In the second half we hit them on the gain line and made it difficult for them."

Wallabies coach John Connolly -- happy with his team's fight but less pleased with key second-half rulings against his team from Welsh referee Nigel Owens -- believed the control of Carter in general play was critical for New Zealand.

The All Blacks No 10, who has admitted to some uncertain form in the opening tests this year, showed he was getting back to near his best.

Carter said he found it hard not to routinely move the ball to the clutch of gamebreakers outside him but managed to keep his instincts in check.

" You've got to be smart. It might be on at times but with the potential of things not working, it (kicking) is definitely the better option," he said.

"It was pretty much drummed into us. Anywhere back towards our line we wanted to turn the pressure."

Carter said his team responded to some "stern words" at halftime from Henry.

They vowed not to disappear into the void that saw them overrun 20-15 by the Wallabies in Melbourne last month.

"Perhaps we didn't play smart rugby in Melbourne, we just kept playing into their hands instead of changing things."

Henry emerged from a far happier dressing room last night, pleased the first two major pieces of silverware on offer in 2007 had been secured.

"They're very important to the team, important to the country," he said.

"The Bledisloe Cup is probably the trophy that people value the most."

Except for one, to be decided on October 20.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.