Rugby: Sydney test must rank as one of the greatest matches of all time

By JOHN DRAKE

The Sydney test was an historic occasion for rugby.

It was the best test I have seen, and undoubtedly one of the greatest matches of all time.

Australia certainly sees it that way, even though their world champion side was defeated.

Rugby followers across the Tasman generally regard the All Blacks' match against the Barbarians in 1973 as the greatest game.

But those I talked to believe Saturday night's match deserves that accolade.

Ironically, the most stunning aspect of the All Blacks' victory was Australia's comeback from 0-24 down.

No other team in the world, including the All Blacks, would have been capable of stemming the early flow against them and come back into the game the way Australia did.

The speed, intensity and range of skills turned it into an absolutely brilliant match.

People such as Graham Henry - who was at Stadium Australia - must be shaking their heads over how sides like Wales can get even close to that high a level.

It was a tribute to the players' skills that referee Andre Watson blew his whistle only five times in the first 15 minutes.

The match was also a major triumph for the game's rule-makers after an often stodgy World Cup.

The 100,000-plus crowd showed that rugby is also on an incredible roll in Australia. The crowd could have been 150,000 if the stadium was big enough.

Two World Cup triumphs have helped rugby's cause in Australia, but it is no coincidence that the sport's rise has come when rugby league is self-destructing.

Apart from what is happening on the field in rugby league, things such as the amalgamation of clubs do not seem to have worked for the game.

The great thing from rugby's point of view is that the players are trying to get the ball a little bit wider than they were last year and the tries flowed on Saturday, despite the high quality of the defences.

It almost seems unfair to pick out any players for special praise because even those who did not dominate the game played pretty well by ordinary standards.

But the two No 8s, Ron Cribb and Jim Williams, were particularly good.

It is terrific to see the enthusiasm Cribb brings to the game.

The Australians were even relaxed about the result afterwards. John Eales made some outstanding comments along the lines that while you never like to lose, it didn't matter so much when you had been involved in such a game.

Who knows what lies ahead, and whether Saturday night is a taste of things to come.

The match has certainly raised the bar for test match rugby.