Aussies not so cocky as some think

ALL BLACKS coach Graham Henry is apparently not known for his smiling face.
(He reminds me of current St George rugby league coach Wayne Bennett, who will be even more stern after the weekend's season-ending loss to the Broncos).
But Saturday's test win over the Wallabies would have brought a smile, even one of relief, to New Zealand's rugby coach (report, page 12).
The knives were well and truly out for coaching staff and players.
The selectors wielded the axe and it obviously worked.
The win may have earned Henry a short-term reprieve from weeks of harsh criticism.
Rugby critics and fans are particularly demanding on this side of the Tasman.
I have come to realise that All Blacks fans expect and demand perfection.
Nothing less than total dominance is accepted.
Failure is simply not an option.
Before Saturday's Air New Zealand Cup game between Hawke's Bay and Otago, former All Black Taine Randell said he had faith in the side.
It was good to hear something positive before the test, but he also accused the Wallabies of being "too cocky".
This comment surprised me, as Aussie international sporting confidence has taken a real nosedive in many codes.
"We" couldn't retain the Ashes, the holy grail of cricket, or the rugby league World Cup, which the Kangaroos used to "own".
Even the Aussie Diamonds are struggling to beat the Silver Ferns on the netball court with the 3-1 test scoreline not reflecting the closeness of the matches.
The Wallabies have only managed to win one match in the current Tri Nations competition.
Yes, it was against the current world champion. But it was just one win among six tests.
The Wallabies are a young side and some looked particularly unnerved during the haka.
This does not surprise. With the weight of a nation's expectation of their shoulders, the All Blacks were not going to leave the nation's capital without a win.
I rang Australia at the start of the delayed coverage and was simply told "don't bother watching". I suspected it was going to be bad despite Randell's comments.
Thumbs up: To the high-flying Magpies who scored their first try as some spectators were still taking their seats (report, page 10).