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Bledisloe Cup takes: D-Mac the game-winner, Jordan flat track bully
By Ben Smith
The All Blacks built a 28-14 half-time lead but held on for a 31-28 win to secure the Bledisloe Cup for another year.
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Losing Beauden Barrett to illness pre-match forced a reshuffle with Will Jordan going to fullback and Sevu Reece slotting onto the right wing. Blues No 10 Harry Plummer made his All Black debut in the 23 jersey.
After starting hot with a 21-0 lead, the All Blacks once again failed to fire in the second half with just a lone penalty to show for their efforts.
Here’s five quick takes from the first Bledisoe from a New Zealand perspective.
Damian McKenzie the game-winner
It might seem crazy to credit McKenzie as a match winner in the 31-28 win over the Wallabies after multiple tries went begging with his passes not going to hand or forward, but he was. Not through ball-in-hand but off the tee.
He nailed five from five to finish 100 per cent in a game where the All Blacks won by three points. Ultimately the sideline conversions he kicked in the first half proved vital in the final wash. Considering his second half misses in Cape Town contributed to the defeat to the Springboks, leaving nine points out there in a six point loss, McKenzie’s perfect day in Sydney made the difference.
With ball-in-hand McKenzie will want to have better execution on the open field opportunities. That’s a given. But McKenzie was New Zealand’s best goal kicker in Super Rugby Pacific. Subbing out an 85 per cent goal kicker at Test level will cost you games. Just ask South Africa.
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Young blood stepping up
Cortez Ratima and Wallace Sititi were two of the All Blacks’ best in Sydney, adding weight to the old adage if you are good enough you are old enough.
Sititi, just 22 years old, was once again powerful on the carry, savvy at the lineout pressuring multiple throws on defence, and clutch when it counted forcing an incredible holding on penalty right on the goal line as the Wallabies looked for a critical try in their fight back.
He finished with 19 carries along with 22 by Savea, forming a two-headed gain line machine in the back row. It’s still up in the air whether this is the best loose forward combination, with Sititi performing above his pay grade out of position.
The All Blacks pack could be even more dynamic with Sititi at No 8, Savea at openside and an Ethan Blackadder at blindside. That is a new combination to explore.
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Ratima had his best showing so far in black, bringing his strong running game to the table. He showed what he can do behind a pack winning the gain line, targeting tired defenders around the ruck with his speed. He’s strong enough to break tackles in the thick of it, handing off eight defenders in Sydney.
TJ came on late and performed extremely well as the closer. Given that most of his international career has been as a finisher, perhaps this is the best role for TJ to play.
No Beauden no problem
Will Jordan had his best game as a 15 for the All Blacks after Beauden Barrett was ruled out. He had room to run and so he took it, clocking up 104 running metres on the afternoon, scoring a blistering try and beating six defenders.
However, it must be said that the Wallabies’ defence is a passive work in progress with no ability to pressure. They don’t rush and they still end up outnumbered. Jordan ran all over them as did many other All Blacks like Caleb Clarke.
This was a flat track bully performance from Jordan.
Against France, England, Ireland and South Africa, he would need to show the kicking game required to relieve pressure and be able to deal with defenders flying up in his face on the edge.
That’s the true test of his measure as a Test fullback, not running wild over a weak defence, although it’s definitely enjoyable to watch.
Fourth quarter issues
Once again the All Blacks failed to score a point in the final quarter and managed just three in the second half.
Had a number of the disallowed tries been scored, Jordie Barrett’s on the final play of the first half, Cortez Ratima’s long-range effort, the All Blacks may not have needed to score in the final quarter with the game comfortably wrapped up already.
But as it wasn’t, and the Wallabies threatened to take the result, it is a problem that needs to be fixed.
The bench has continually failed to finish strong a unit, coming up with errors and penalties to allow the opposition to enjoy a strong finish.
The Wallabies are the toughest defensive assignment
Centre Rieko Ioane had an interesting comment in his assessment of the game, noting that of all the teams that they’ve played so far this year, Australia attack the most.
In Sydney the Wallabies played a lot of shape, willing to play inside their own half. In the first half they got it wrong, with an errant pass ending up with Sevu Reece who made them pay by linking with Savea for seven points.
But in the second half that same approach opened up the All Blacks on a long break with Fraser McReight finding Tate McDermott who just couldn’t finish. The Wallabies came up with a clever strike play that resulted in a try to McReight in the first half.
Argentina like to capitalise on opposition mistakes, as they did in Wellington, and South Africa are skewed towards a power game with an over-reliance on the maul for tries. The Springboks tried to play a bit against the All Blacks but made a million errors.
Ioane was quite right to suggest that the All Blacks had to do more work than the others to shut down this Australian side, who were good enough to put on four tries.
The Wallabies are the toughest test for the All Blacks defence in the Championship.
With Argentina beating all three and Aust likely to improve the SH Rugby Championship could become strongly contested across all games. Good news for SH rugby.
Test Two will be more a test of the respective coaches to see who can adapt and change their gameplan to suit test rugby. One has international experience, the other new and struggling to come to terms with the demands of international rugby.
As for crediting McKenzie as a match hero, when he blew 3 tries is ridiculous. Richie Mo'unga was a brilliant match winner and yet never got the patience given Damo. Thankfully Richie Mo'unga will be back from Japan, his 15/10 combo with Will Jordan is deadly. Foster barely used it, Beauden is only an impact player now.
"Never got the patience? Only year after year of Mediocre Mo at two W Cups and endless listless performances. Never got the patience - too funny.
Will Jordan has hardly played at fullback for the AB's. Ben Smith's comment it was a "flat track bully" performance is a cheap throw away line comment. Having watched him many times re Will at 15 , that is his best position.He hasshown season after season for the Crusaders how good there he is.. What does Smith want? , Beaudy back at 15 ? Give me a break. It is also insulting to Australia to say what Smith said. This is a team who nearly won and have won 2 World Cups. Surprisingly Ben Smith is right about one thing, Ethan Blackadder should be there if fit, with Sititi and Savea in the loose trio. Blackadder a magnificent player.
What about the match against England that BB rescued almost singlehandedly as fb? WJ has yet to prove he's as good as BB at fb, let alone better, but deserves his chance; Smith is right to suggest he has yet to prove he has the kicking skills of an international fb. I'd rather see him on the wing to replace his erratic Crusader mate , Reece. but yeah, that flat track bully shot was not warranted.
Last 20 mins is discipline and lack of leadership from Scott, Jordan and Savea….they are not delivering as leaders
Poor leadership selections from Robertson:
Scott soon to be overtaken by younger better locks. Ardie almost done. Jordie just not a 12.
Its hard to defend your goal line when your down on numbers.
13 playing against 15 with 12 left, then 14 with 8 to play...the Wallabies got 7 points but then panicked and were found wanting.
Especially after Andrew Kellaway turned Will Jordan inside out with the goal line open,
nek minit up strolls TJ Perenara to the rescue, smashed him and turned the ball over.
3 minutes to play the Wallabies were turned over again...Game Over...
Wellington seems a lot less stressful for the All Blacks now the Cup is safe...
Go the All Blacks...be brutal from start to finish...with 15 players still on the field...
Well I suppose you better be able to attack if you concede 21 points in 20 minutes. Nic White would have done better to give Will Jordan a big kiss on the cheek for the first try… basically gave him a congratulatory pat on the back as he ran in the first try.
Will Jordan has done it against big teams mate. Last year against Ireland in the QF, amongst other games. Don't be so stupid Ben, your lowering my credibility.
Well said. They have all ignored Sam Canes non tackle on the line that lead to a Wallabies try.
He doesn't create, he ran a good line off the brilliant break by Richie and then went invisible in the final quarter when it became a brutal slog.
Jordan feasted on the Puma's semifinals flop.
The big moment came and went against the Boks in the final and he was invisible.
Both tests against the Boks this year he was equally unimpressive.
Jordan looks awesome in open space.
Great wingers and fullbacks often have memorable world cup campaigns like Lomu in 95, Campese in 91, Kiwan 87, Robinson 03. Sure, Jordan's stats on paper look really good for RWC 2023 but I said at the time Leicester Fainganuku and Mark Telea needed to be the wings to beat the Boks as Jordan goes missing in the big collisions.
Sports writer Ben,, I wonder if there was an athletic Ben? A win is a win, whether it is by one point or forty! NZR financial position most probably isn't viable enough to keep adding new players to the roster, to many players on long term contracts(smart managers). In amateur days of old if a player did not perform, they were gone before sunset. With the current lot Coaches are stuck with the current lot. So, stop saying so and so should be playing and start maybe stirring up more effort from the current lineup!
Yes, too many long termers. Cane has been there since 2012. A long time to be the best seven found since then. Ardie. They just keep getting picked regardless of the results.
Razors got to turn this around and fast.
This one must play here, the next one there and the other elsewhere...
Bless your heart Ben, just another load of garbage no doubt a side effect of eating all those crayons when you were younger.
Never forget this All Blacks team shipped 30 points in 45 minutes at home to the Pumas, lost back-to-back matches to Springbok B/C teams and the only reason they got out of jail on Saturday is because of the Wallabies mistakes.
So, so desperate to now win a dead rubber in front of another half empty stadium that they are bringing in Wayne Smith to try and stop the rot.
How the once mighty All Blacks have fallen now that they have been exposed as ordinary and just another international rugby team.
All down to the fact that the current crop has lost their ability to cheat at a high level like their previous teams were able to.
Also lost their "diplomatic immunity" from being penalised and are no longer receiving the privileged treatment they used to get from the officials now that WR have rolled out TMO's on a permanent basis.
Time for the kiwis to embrace the suck, it's only going to get worse for those living in the past.
Thanks for the equally, unhinged diatribe. Head over to rugby365 if you're looking for a Springboks puff piece.
“Now that WR have rolled out TMO’s on a permanent basis”. First used in a test match in 2009 so what rock have you been living under Wayneko? Sort of blows your story apart about diplomatic immunity with the ABs achieving greatness SINCE the introduction of TMO’s!!
Wellington already sold out….
You continue to confirm the appalling standard of NZ rugby journalists. However it must be said you're the worst of a very bad batch. As an international analyst said you obviously get your opinions from watching the highlights reels.