Bledisloe Cup takes: D-Mac the game-winner, Jordan flat track bully

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.

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.

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.

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.

Player Carries

1

Ardie Savea

17

2

Harry Wilson

16

3

Wallace Sititi

16

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.