WATCH: Remembering the only time the Wallabies won in Dunedin
In over a century of trans-Tasman rivalry, the Wallabies have only managed to win one test in New Zealand’s southern-most city. It was back in 2001, a lifetime ago in rugby terms.
They were coached by none other than Eddie Jones and captained by the great John Eales. Their first five was Stephen Larkham and outside him was Nathan Grey. At the time they were the current World Champions.
By contrast, the All Blacks were at a low ebb – by All Black standards. They hadn’t had the Bledisloe Cup since 1998, were still somewhat reeling from the shock 1999 World Cup exit, and were going through players at a great rate of knots to try and fix the problem. The test before they’d managed to scrape past the Springboks in Durban 12-3, in a match that featured no tries and a scoreless second half.
However, hopes were high. The All Blacks had never lost to the Wallabies at Carisbrook, the old ground in Dunedin before they built their wisely roofed Forsyth Barr Stadium across town.
It was a typically cold winter’s day in Dunedin. The test was the great Jonah Lomu’s 50th, and he didn’t take long to get into the game. He scored after only two minutes and it seemed that the All Blacks were back on track to regain the Bledisloe. However, that’s about as good as it got for the home team.
But then Matt Burke answered, scoring one of the best tries you’ll ever see in a Bledisloe Cup game to open the Wallabies’ account. The World Champs then flexed their muscles and ground out the game using an excellent kick chase, dominating territory and possession.
By the last 10 minutes, they’d opened up an unassailable 23-8, three score lead – helped by Ron Cribb giving away the first penalty try in All Black history.
Jeff Wilson pegged that back with a converted try, but the game was in the bag for the Wallabies. There was one last curious decision by All Black captain Anton Oliver, who turned down a shot at goal on the last play of the game that would’ve given them a bonus point. Instead the ball was tapped and the futile attack smothered by the Wallaby defence that had been safely doing that all day.
Final score 23-15 and the Bledisloe Cup was retained. A few weeks later the two sides played out another epic in Sydney, when Toutai Kefu scored on the final play to win the game.
Eddie Jones now coaches England, while Larkham and Grey are assistant coaches of the Wallabies. Jonah Lomu has sadly passed away and Anton Oliver now lives in relative obscurity in London.
That win at Carisbrook wasn’t only the sole victory for the Australians in Dunedin, it also marks the last time they have beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand.
16 years. If it seems like a long time, it’s because it is.
Comments on RugbyPass
You’d think the first step would be taking responsibility for the stupid sh*t you did and to stop blaming other people. Does he seriously think that people believe him when he says it just magically got into his system without him knowing anything about it? You’re gonna notice if you’re on the juice, bruh.
2 Go to commentsI watch the Reds now, and many of their players, and think back to watching London Irish in their last two years under Michael Kiss. I recall Nick Phipps looking a very competent scrumhalf, Rob Simmons a lynch pin in the lineouts. Both men writen off by many on the rugby sites. There is no question in my mind that Kiss has a very different touch to any coach the Reds have had in years. It will take time, but this team could develop into a very good team, hard to beat by any one down here in the SH. You highlight two players especially, Nick. Vunivalu and Paisami are thriving this year, especially the latter. And so many others. The now heavier Fraser McReight, his great mate Harry Wilson, and the “Fardy” man, Liam Wright. That is only three, ut in reality every player is acroos the whole squad is the better for the new regime.
10 Go to commentsRecord Score Downloading…………..
1 Go to commentsWonderful insightful interview with Crusader Johnny McNicoll. He was exceptional in the wins over the Chiefs and Rebels and I am sure he will get a contract again for 2025. He was an excitement machine for Canterbury and the Crusaders in 2011-16 and he still is. He has added to the attack particularly. Had a fine career with Wales in the intervening years.
1 Go to commentsAmazing what decent coaching can do! I always felt Folau never improved much as a player and never had a great coach using his talents. Suli seems different at qld this year.
10 Go to commentsI’m sick to death of waiting 3 years for league players to become half decent. It cripples Australian rugby in the meantime. The Reds actually looked half competent without Vunivalu not starting last week. He’s just a liability of errors. Paisami is looking better than he has in previous years but I’d have Kerevi back in a flash. A kiwi wont tho …...
10 Go to commentsExcellent analysis Nick as we have come to expect. I was not really aware that NFL strategies have been adopted by rugby teams, especially in defence. One point I would make is that the Northhampton attacking player on the end of the chain in the video examples has not maintained the correct depth to be effective. In the footage shown the outside player is too flat to make the best of the opportunity his inside players have provided. In each case they have to reduce speed and turn their body backwards to secure the ball, losing all momentum and giving the impressive scrambling defence the chance to shut down the threat.
1 Go to commentsMorning, John. Do you think that it may be a good idea to rest both teams from the Madrid comp leading in to the Olympics
2 Go to comments« I am preparing myself for much more, something much bigger. I’m focussing on the next cycle, » You don’t say…
2 Go to commentsGeez plenty of time to come right before test season starts. Dont panic mr Mannering!!!!!
1 Go to commentsGreat read Nick. The Reds really have been great to watch this year, and the improvement of not only the players you mention, but the squad in general has been obvious. The Reds 10/12 play making axis is a nice counterpoint to the 10/15 partnership at the Brumbies and Rebels. If Schmidt was to pick say, Lolesio, Paisami and Wright / Kellaway, would this be too many play makers? I notice in a lot of those clips Tim Ryan playing across the field in support of Vunivalu. Is this a feature of Kiss’s structure?
10 Go to commentsSo sad, god rest him. Too young to be gone. RIP
2 Go to commentsRIP big man 🙏
2 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
4 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
10 Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
4 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
7 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to comments