Dan Carter and Aaron Smith of the All Blacks look dejected after defeat in the Bledisloe Cup match between the Wallabies and the All Blacks. Photo / Mark Metcalfe.
Dan Carter and Aaron Smith of the All Blacks look dejected after defeat in the Bledisloe Cup match between the Wallabies and the All Blacks. Photo / Mark Metcalfe.
Three things we learned from the All Blacks' 19-27 loss to the Wallabies last night in Sydney.
1 - The All Blacks are human
After months of looking like they have ice running through their veins, the All Blacks looked fallible last night. If it wasn't Brodie Retallick throwing dreadfulpasses in the backline or Dan Carter missing touch with penalty, it was Sonny Bill Williams knocking on or Aaron Smith making a head high tackle and being pondorous on the ball.
They still played with intensity but lacked the cohesion and fluency we have come to know and love about this side. This All Blacks side seemed to have learned how to win under pressure -their record has been exemplary - but they made uncharacteristic errors and missed too many tackles. If nothing else, a good wakeup call.
2 - The Wallabies most definitely shouldn't be written off at the World Cup
The All Blacks might have been scratchy but some of that was down to Australia. They might be ranked fifth in the world and have been drawn in the same pool as England and Wales at next month's World Cup, meaning progression to the quarter-finals isn't guaranteed, but they are still dangerous.
They harried the All Blacks into mistakes with their rushing defence and often put the visitors under pressure. They even coped when down to 14 men on two occasions after prop Sekope Kepu was sinbinned early in the contest and Nick Phipps was marched in the second spell.
The All Blacks selectors have an amazing knack of not only integrating newbies but also picking them at the right time. Last night Nehe Milner-Skudder shone on debut. He was dangerous from open play, making four clean breaks, and scored two tries.
