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| | | Richie McCaw became the All Blacks' most successful captain but it was another rugby record breaker who stole the show in last night's unspectacular 29-10 defeat of Wales in Hamilton.
McCaw notched test win No 40 as skipper, moving one clear of the great Sean Fitzpatrick, as New Zealand maintained their 57-year hold over the Welsh.
However, it was a performance that lacked the dash of sizeable defeats of Wales in Dunedin a week earlier and, before that, Ireland at New Plymouth.
At fault for the stilted affair was a greasy surface, 15 All Blacks' handling errors allied with poor option-taking, more defensive resolve from the tourists and -- last but not least -- South African referee Jonathan Kaplan.
One of Kaplan's more officious displays came in his 17th appointment in charge of New Zealand, the most by any whistler with one team in the history of tests.
He issued three yellow cards and cracked down hard in several areas, most notably the messy scrums. He found fault with Wales over the middle part of the test, allowing All Blacks first five-eighth Daniel Carter to send his team clear with five penalties in a 17-point haul.
McCaw didn't mind that his own milestone was largely overlooked post-test, instead turning his attention to a performance which didn't match their two other June outings for quality.
"Turning over the ball and letting them off the hook was a bit disappointing," he said.
"When we did hold the ball and get down their end, it was penalties we were getting. We just kept it ticking over, taking the three points. It would have been nice to build pressure and score tries.
"But in the end it put them out of the game."
Tries in the final five minutes brought some life into the fixture, with Welsh second five-eighth Jamie Roberts' score followed by a maiden test try to first five-eighth Aaron Cruden on the hooter.
Winger Cory Jane, who scored the only first-half try and was a candidate with McCaw and centre Richard Kahui for player of the match, said players were too often guilty of throwing passes that weren't on or, conversely, holding onto it when numbers loomed outside.
A good example of the latter came when Rene Ranger -- making his test debut off the reserve bench at centre -- ignored three teammates outside him.
"Ranger's one, I think he wanted to score that try," Jane smiled.
"He's my roomie, he told me that the first opportunity he gets he was going to be greedy so we'll let that one slide."
Also putting on cheerful front was All Blacks coach Graham Henry, who preferred to judge his team's three combined efforts this month rather than last night, where seven personnel changes possibly disrupted their patterns.
"We've played better rugby during this period than we did this time last year," he said.
"W...Read the whole post...
- Tags:
- Record,
- Richie McCaw
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| | | Welsh coach Warren Gatland is more than happy to put a spoke in the All Blacks' rugby progress and believes they will start second favourites behind South Africa in the Investec Tri-Nations.
The former Waikato and All Blacks hooker reckoned his side earned the respect he craved with last night's 29-10 loss at Waikato Stadium here.
There was no second-half fade like in the 42-9 loss at Dunedin a week earlier as the Welsh defended stoutly, particularly from kicks, not allowing the hosts the same space and time to attack from deep.
That defence and a strong scrum exposed some chinks in the All Blacks game which Gatland felt wouldn't please them heading into the Tri-Nations.
"The pleasing thing about the performance is that New Zealand tend to get stronger from game to game, particularly at the start of their campaigns," Gatland said.
"That forward pack that started was last year potentially the No 1 forward pack that really put France to the sword (winning 39-12 in Marseille)."
Gatland's men were narrowly pipped by the Springboks in Cardiff this month and even though the All Blacks had run up bigger scores against Wales, he tipped the world champions to defend their Tri-Nations title, kicking off when the two great rivals meet in Auckland on July 10.
"South Africa are a very big team, they're very physical, they've got a lot of players who are incredibly experienced and they're coming into the Tri-Nations with confidence after the Bulls and the Stormers (reached the Super 14 final). And they're World Cup champions," he said.
"You've got to put South Africa as favourites at the moment but they're two different teams that play two different styles."
The Welsh were kicking themselves for letting New Zealand first five-eighth reserve Aaron Cruden score a try in the final act of the game, when fullback Lee Byrne failed to control a grubber into the dead ball area.
The final scoreline that flattered the All Blacks, Gatland added.
"If 22-10 had been the final result, it would have been one try all. I'm pretty gutted and pretty disappointed with the last try... it was soft seven-pointer at the end of the game.
"I thought we scrummaged well for the first 60 minutes and we didn't really get anything from the dominance of our scrum."
All Blacks counterpart Graham Henry struck back over the scrum, believing referee Jonathan Kaplan had continued a regrettable rugby trend of awarding too many penalties and free kicks. Constant resets also slowed the pace of the test.
"I still think there's too many people playing games up there. It just destroys the game as a spectacle and makes it frustrating for the guys playing," Henry said.
Meanwhile, Gatland said he had some coaching options available to him when his Welsh contract expires after next year&#...Read the whole post...
- Tags:
- Springboks,
- Tri Nations,
- Warren Gatland
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| | | The return of John Afoa, Corey Flynn, Liam Messam and Ma'a Nonu and the axing of Aled de Malmanche, Neemia Tialata, Adam Thomson and Zac Guildford are features of the All Blacks squad named for 2010 Tri Nations rugby series against Australia and South Africa.
The squad is made up of 15 forwards and 13 backs.
The forwards feature the return of New Zealand Maori captain loose forward Liam Messam and Canterbury hooker Corey Flynn, subject to a medical and fitness test, who returns to the front row alongside returning Auckland prop John Afoa.
Ma'a Nonu returns to second five eight following his recovery from a posterior cruciate ligament injury while lock Sam Whitelock and wing Rene Ranger, who have provided injury cover for the All Blacks during recent test series against Wales and Ireland have now made the official squad.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry said players not considered for selection due to injury include: Mike Delany (shoulder), Stephen Donald (shoulder), Jason Eaton (knee), Andrew Hore (shoulder), Sitiveni Sivivatu (shoulder), Isaia Toeava (hip) and Ali Williams (Achilles).
The All Blacks squad for the upcoming Tri Nations rugby series against South Africa and Australia:
orwards: John Afoa (Auckland), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Tom Donnelly (Otago), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Ben Franks (Tasman),Owen Franks (Canterbury), Jerome Kaino ( Auckland), Richie McCaw (capt) (Canterbury), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Liam Messam (Waikato), Kieran Read (Canterbury), Brad Thorn (Canterbury) Victor Vito (Wellington ), Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour),
Backs: Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Aaron Cruden (Manawatu), Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay), Cory Jane (Wellington), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Mils Muliaina (Waikato), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Rene Ranger (Northland), Josevata Rokocoko (Auckland), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Benson Stanley (Auckland), Piri Weepu (Wellington).
Tri Nations match schedule:
Saturday July 10: All Blacks v South Africa Auckland
Saturday July 17: All Blacks v South Africa Wellington
Saturday July 24: Australia v South Africa Brisbane
Saturday July 31: Australia v All Blacks Melbourne
Saturday August 7: All Blacks v Australia Christchurch
Saturday August 21: South Africa v All Blacks Johannesburg
Saturday August 28: South Africa v Australia Pretoria
Saturday September 4: South Africa v Australia Bloemfontein
Saturday September 11 Australia v All Blacks Sydney
- NZPA
- Tags:
- Squad,
- Tri Nations
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| | | Wales coach Warren Gatland praised the character of his players after their hard-fought 29-10 loss to New Zealand in Hamilton, but bemoaned the concession of a late try.
Just a week after capitulating 42-9 against the same opponents in Dunedin, the tourists went the distance with the All Blacks and even scored a late try thanks to Jamie Roberts to finish their season on a more positive note.
"The pleasing thing about today's performance is that the All Blacks tend to get stronger from game to game,
particularly at the start of their campaigns, and these guys could have thought about getting on the plane tomorrow and going on holiday for six weeks and they didn't do that," Gatland said.
"That is what I was really proud of. They showed some character out there and they wore that jersey with some real pride and as coaches that's what you're looking for."
But having seen his side keep the All Blacks to just one Cory Jane first-half try and 17 points from the boot of Daniel Carter, the New Zealander lamented the try Aaron Cruden was able to score, which was converted by Piri Weepu.
Gatland felt a try apiece would have been a fairer reflection of the game and his team's performance.
"We're pretty gutted with the last try," the Wales coach said.
"We've had a couple of yellow cards, the penalty count has been quite heavy against us but I think it was a step up from last week.
"We've worked really hard on areas to stop the All Blacks counter-attack and making sure defensively we're stronger and I thought we made a big improvement in that area.
"I think if it had ended up with one try all we would have been more than happy. It's disappointing with that little kick through and Lee Byrne has fallen over and it's a soft seven-pointer at the end of the game."
Gatland also admitted his side needed to improve their discipline after Carter was able to keep the scoreboard ticking over early in the second half to stretch the All Blacks lead from 13-3 at the break to 22-3 just 15 minutes in to the second spell.
"At 13-3 Dan's kicked a few penalties from 40 metres out and from our point of view there were a couple of discipline areas. There were two or three soft penalties that we need to look at eliminating from our game," Gatland said.
But he had no issues with the yellow cards shown to Byrne and Gavin Thomas.
Byrne was sin-binned by Jonathan Kaplan on the stroke of half-time for lifting lock Tom Donnelly in the tackle, while Thomas - and All Blacks replacement lock Sam Whitelock - missed the final nine minutes of the match after Whitelock held back the Welsh openside who threw a punch in retaliation.
"Lee has come and apologised," Gatland said. "It's one of those things that happens in a game. He lifted him off the ground and he's b...Read the whole post...
- Tags:
- Wales,
- Warren Gatland
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| | | New Zealand coach Graham Henry is fretting over both selection and scrum issues ahead of the announcement of his Tri-Nations squad on Sunday.
In the immediate aftermath of his team's 29-10 win over Wales on Saturday, Henry went on the offensive over the scrum - where his team struggled against the Welsh - saying there were too many penalties at the set piece.
"I think we can do better, just for the game's sake. I think we've got to be very strong about heads and shoulders above hips, everybody pushing square and if we do that I think we will have a better game," he said.
"I still think there are too many people playing games up there in the front row. It just destroys the game as a spectacle and it makes it frustrating for the guys who are playing.
"I think we've got a lot of work to do in that area generally in the scrum."
Looking to Sunday's announcement, Heny didn't give much away beyond admitting that he now had a deeper well of players to choose from than before.
"We've developed a lot of new players which has added depth," he said.
"It was good to see Mils Muliaina and Tom Donnelly get through their work today. Mils got a bit of a shock playing 80 [minutes] but he's delighted now.
"He's back on track and that is great for the All Blacks."
Less great for some All Blacks in that well of players will be the missing out of a squad spot for the Tri-Nations and the natural subsequent fear that they may be away from World Cup plans. Some excellent players are set to miss out on Sunday.
"What the good thing is, is that there are a number of options," said Henry.
"And there wasn't that number of options at the start of the year. So we've developed some depth."
Captain Richie McCaw said the game had been frustrating, especially when holding the ball, getting down the Welsh end and then being given penalties and while the side was able to keep the score ticking over, it would have been nicer to build pressure and score tries.
"Being put under pressure like that [when Wales scored their try] looking forward for the next few weeks, I thought we defended pretty well and it was probably pretty good for us to have to withstand that," he said.
From: www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_6231594,00.html
- Tags:
- Graham Henry,
- Tri Nations
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| | | OPINION: Mils Muliaina knew it had been time to end his exile when the All Black baggage man started to chip him about his lack of activity. The words "food bill" had been mentioned more than once.
So Muliaina came back to the All Blacks this week, his calf finally healed enough to allow him to slip back into that cherished black No 15 jersey, and contributed solidly to another emphatic victory for the New Zealanders which lacked the polish of Dunedin, but was still convincing..
As a final hitout ahead of the Tri-Nations - and back-to-back home matches against those fearsome Boks - it was solid rather than spectacular stuff. Graham Henry had made seven changes, and it told really, the fluency disappearing from the New Zealand game as they stuttered to a 29-10 win. Though the defensive machine rumbled on, the attacking one spluttered a bit as the All Blacks lost just too much ball in the contact (13 handling errors all up).
It was a performance that bore a passing resemblance to last week's in Dunedin, just without the spectacular finish.
Again the Welsh offered plenty in a spirited opening half, but again the visitors turned down at the break (13-3) after the All Blacks defence had more than their measure. And then over the run home, the fitter, deeper and, frankly, better All Blacks simply squeezed them out of the game. The Welsh did manage their first try against the All Blacks since 2006 when Jamie Roberts slipped across late but Aaron Cruden snuck his first test touchdown on the final hooter to restore the margin to something more deserving.
But back to the men on their mission. Muliaina was one of them, for sure, having played just four matches for the Chiefs in the Super 14 before a broken thumb ended his season prematurely.
Since then he'd waited for his bone to heal, and watched as Israel Dagg and Cory Jane had put together such compelling campaigns at fullback for their franchises. A calf strain further complicated matters for the veteran (last night was his 83rd test) and by the time his home-ground test rolled around, well he was jumping out of his skin to get out there.
Muliaina admitted he'd been surprised when he heard his name read out by Henry in the starting XV - "I didn't hear anyone else's names," he said, "I was so shocked to be starting" - but the coach later confessed he felt he had no choice. He needed long-term absentees like Muliaina and lock Tom Donnelly to get back on the field if they were any shot of playing in the Tri-Nations.
The fullback talked about the need to repay the faith of his coach, and also to get that chippy baggage man off his back. "I've just been trucking along being a spare part, and even the old baggage man was getting into me - things like 'food bill', 'you're getting old' and 'only the players get that food, mate'."
Muliaina wasn't the only...Read the whole post...
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- Mils Muliaina
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| | | OPINION: Wales were never going to stop Captain Fantastic Richie McCaw achieving a significant All Blacks record last night, even with his team in patchy form.
McCaw notched up his 40th test win in charge of the All Blacks, passing Sean Fitzpatrick as New Zealand's most successful captain.
It's a wonderful achievement, testimony to his durability and and his abilities as both a player and a leader.
But McCaw's mind will quickly switch to the much tougher task of defending another impressive record against the Springboks in two weeks.
The All Blacks open their Tri-Nations campaign against the world champions at Eden Park, a venue they haven't lost to the Boks at since 1937.
The July 10 showdown at World Cup headquarters looms as crucial to the psychological warfare that will build in the leadup to next year's tournament.
South Africa have shaken off their Kiwi bogey in recent years, gaining a historic win at Carisbrook in 2008 and handing the All Blacks a lesson in Hamilton last season as they swept New Zealand on their way to the Tri-Nations title.
They simply don't fear New Zealand in New Zealand any more, an attitude that has flowed into the Super 14 teams.
To win at Eden Park, an All Blacks fortress, would be a major achievement and huge boost 14 months out from their defence of the world title here.
The All Blacks have won 52 of 64 tests at Eden Park for an 81.25% success rate at the famous ground.
Everything suggests the Boks will give their long drought in Auckland a decent shake. Their Super 14 domination went up a level with the Stormers involvement in the final against the champion Bulls.
That confidence and efficiency has flowed into Peter de Villiers' test team.
What can the All Blacks take out of their Steinlager Series against Ireland and Wales?
A decent boost in confidence themselves after a mixed Super 14 effort by New Zealand.
Graham Henry has unearthed some interesting young talent to bolster his stocks in the absence of some injured stars.
Some of those older heads made timely returns last night in Hamilton where New Zealand beat Wales 29-10 in a mixed performance where they had to rely on Dan Carter's boot for too many of their points.
But lock Tom Donnelly had a storming game, fullback Mils Muliaina chimed in regularly, Richard Kahui's resurgence continues and senior props Tony Woodcock and Neemia Tialata pushed their claims.
Handling blues meant they didn't always succeed, but the All Blacks tried to push on with their high-tempo game based around pace and offloads.
That's well and good against the likes of Wales and Ireland. But will it stand the ultimate test against South Africa?
The Boks have tremendous defensive systems and they also have a more pragmatic approach.
Just as the Bulls showed in the money matches, they will make heavy use of t...Read the whole post...
- Tags:
- South Africa,
- Tri Nations
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| | | New Zealand's All Blacks at Waikato Stadium during the captain's run ahead of the second test against Wales, in Hamilton June 25, 2010. The two test series concludes Saturday June 26.
              
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- Pictures,
- Richie McCaw,
- Training
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| | | New Zealand wrapped up their two-Test series against Wales with a tight 29-10 victory in Hamilton on Saturday.
Once again, it was New Zealand's ability to turn pressure into points that counted, but this time it was from the boot of Dan Carter as the Welsh allowed no repeat of last week's five-try demolition.
Both sides tightened up considerably from the first Test, but the Welsh considerably more so. While the records will show a three-try game, two of those tries came in the final three minutes, one from Wales when they were 19 behind and the game was up, one from New Zealand in the final minute against a Welsh side still too happy for just having scored to think about defending properly.
But for the preceding 79 minutes the Welsh had stifled the All Blacks well enough, only their inability to cope with the new tackle law policy, strictly applied by refere Jonathan Kaplan, gave New Zealand a steady stream of kicked penalties from Dan Carter, which was the game-winning aspect.
Otherwise, it was good news for the Welsh. Their scrum was still the better, despite New Zealand's attempts to change this by installing two new props - that has to be a worry for Graham Henry.
Dan Biggar played a solid game in his first outing against a major nation and showed enough flashes to suggest that more is to come. Rob McCusker, on for the injured Ryan Jones after just twenty-odd minutes, also did not look out of his depth.
And again, the Welsh enjoyed plenty of possession. But this time, the difference between those used to the new law policies and those still finding their feet (as opposed to being caught off them) was glaring. New Zealand's defence was lightning fast to organise at all times, Wales' often left stretched and just plain slower to align. Dare we opine this is because NH players are more used to slower ball as a result of their being used to slowing it down up north, while SH players don't bother any more? We think we do.
The other difference between the teams was New Zealand's consistent ability to at least get to the gain line with the ball in hand. Even from a standing start, their players know how to step and accelerate instinctively towards the gaps and just get that extra yard forward. Wales, on the other hand, just looked hesitant before trying the same, as a result, they kept being tackled behind the gain line and struggling to build momentum, even with a stack of possession.
The same can be said of counter attack: from long kicks, New Zealand players would set off at pace before darting inside and haring at a gap. Later in the game, Leigh Halfpenny's attempt to do the same was marked for its lack of pace and its self-doubt. There was no doubt about it in this game, the SH team was simply half a yard faster everywhere.
Wales made a solid...Read the whole post...
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- News,
- Wales
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