‘It was s*** for us’: Wallabies reflect on another loss to ‘special’ All Blacks
When the Wallabies raced out to a surprisingly comfortable 17-3 lead against the All Blacks in Dunedin just over a week ago, the 28,000 fans in attendance were left stunned.
Other than small groups of Australian fans – who certainly made their voices heard as the Wallabies took control – you could’ve heard a pin drop at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
‘This wasn’t how it was supposed to go,” All Blacks would’ve surely thought. Things hadn’t gone to plan, and the New Zealanders needed a rugby miracle to avoid defeat.
Enter Richie Mo’unga.
Mo’unga was the understudy to starting flyhalf Damian McKenzie, but the replacement was the hero that Aotearoa had longed for since practically the opening whistle in Bledisloe II.
The All Blacks were trailing by just seven points when Mo’unga entered the fray in the 49th minute. Mo’unga, 29, was practically perfect on that Saturday afternoon – and he needed to be.
Eventually, it was Mo’unga’s right boot that decided an enthralling Test between two great rivals.
Mo’unga kicked the match-winning penalty goal inside the final minute, and the All Blacks hung on for a hard-fought 23-20 win. The victory secured a sweep of the two-match Bledisloe Cup series.
As for the Wallabies, who were leading by 14 points inside the opening 10 minutes, they were left to rue another missed opportunity. The Aussies could be proud of their efforts, sure, but were still winless after four Tests under coach Eddie Jones.
“It was a hard one,” Wallabies prop Angus Bell said on YKTR’s Ebbs and Flows.
“I felt like the first forty minutes was so much fun aye. That’s probably the most fun I’ve had played a footy game in a long time.
“If you’re winning as a team, it’s unreal… obviously it’s against the All Blacks in Dunedin. All they do down in Dunedin is play footy, it’s all rugby so the atmosphere was unreal.
“We had so much going for us and they just chased us down.”
Young Angus Bell replaced former Wallabies co-captain James Slipper in the Australian starting side ahead of Bledisloe I, and retained his spot for the following Test in Dunedin.
Bell, if he isn’t already, is quickly becoming one of the best loosehead props in international rugby. At just 22 years of age, Bell has shown that he’s worthy of the ‘world-class’ moniker.
Another player very much on the rise is electric winger Mark Nawaqanitawase – otherwise known within the Australian rugby community as ‘Marky Mark.’
Nawaqanitawase experienced the Bledisloe Cup rivalry for first time in Melbourne last month and, like Bell, had the chance to run out again the following week.
“Just seeing the haka, to think that we’re the ones standing there now watching it is pretty special,” Nawaqanitawase said.
“Also the big crowds, how they get around this game, the Bledisloe how special it is, it’s pretty crazy.
“Versing the All Blacks in the period that they’ve been so dominant… you can see why they’re so special.
“To come back from where they had been, it was s*** for us. It shows you how good they are and we’ve got to step it up if we want to take them on at the World Cup.”
Inside the opening few minutes of this podcast, both players were asked about whether they’ve had any “that’s him” moments against the All Blacks. In other words, had they been starstruck.
Both Bell and Nawaqanitawase had the same answer.
It’s rampaging loose forward Ardie Savea.
“The way he’s been going the last few years,” Nawaqanitawase added. “We’ve versed him sometimes in club but I guess when you put on the jersey, he changes.
“The try-saving tackle he did, I reckon we could have won if we got that. The things he does… goes to show hoe special he is.
“It’s pretty crazy to think we’re going up against him.”
The Wallabies have named a youthful 33-man squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, with 25 players set to experience the biggest tournament in rugby for the first time.
Both Bell and Nawaqanitawase, unsurprisingly, made the cut.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments