Video nasties perfect motivation for All Blacks

All Blacks 13 Australia 9

The All Blacks used footage of the Wallabies gloating over their Bledisloe Cup triumphs to inspire them to retain the famous silverware.

During the week the Wallabies mocked the All Blacks about issues ranging from security to the haka. It was a tactic the visitors' coaching staff decided to harness for their advantage.

Team mentor Sir Brian Lochore delivered an impassioned speech to the team while some old clips of the Wallabies, exulting over Bledisloe Cup successes, played in the background.

"We did not want that to happen to us," tryscorer Joe Rokocoko said after the victory.

They had become more resolute, much more confident their defensive line would hold in the final quarter.

"That was a game we might have lost before," he added.

But there were to be no collapses like the John Eales penalty in 2000 or the Toutai Kefu try a year later which stole Bledisloe Cup tests.

The All Blacks gave the Wallabies nothing, not even a glimpse of the Kapa O Pango. They did not complain about the Wallabies' gamesmanship when they went through a series of tackle bag drills, delaying the start of the test.

Referee Alain Rolland hesitated when he needed to step in with the same haste he ruled the breakdowns. When the game did begin the All Blacks got two early clear chances to score and nailed one.

Rokocoko skirted the flailing tackle of Rocky Elsom after a useful offload from Jerry Collins and turned on his turbo.

By rights he should have been nailed in the narrow channel. But Matt Giteau tracking back and especially Chris Latham coming across messed up the tag and Rokocoko broke 500 tryless minutes in tests.

Soon after Daniel Carter fended his way clear but muffed his intended kick for the chasing Rokocoko. Apart from several late Wallaby breaks that was the extent of the attacking chaos.

Beyond that was a defensive slog.

The All Blacks were asked to make more tackles but did not crack.

They dominated the scrum. Tony Woodcock said that set-piece confidence helped the rest of the side.

Several times the All Black shunt disrupted possession at the base of the scrum for George Gregan who, tellingly, passed 40 times and did not run or kick once.

That lack of variety hurt the Wallabies, but they did damage the All Black lineout.

Late in the first half and after the break, the Wallabies contested so fiercely they stole eight lineouts.

It was not a death knell on Saturday but that frailty is going to hurt the All Blacks.

It may be later rather than sooner but it is going to happen, when McCaw is not quite at his best securing those turnovers which allowed his team to deflect the Australian pressure.

"We got in the red zone and turned it over three or four or five times," Wallaby coach John Connolly lamented.

A week ago it was Carter who took centre stage against the Springboks, on Saturday it was McCaw. They are the star turns among a range of top quality All Blacks, so good they can make the difference in a team sport.

KEY MOMENT
54th min

For the only time in the match, the Wallabies split the All Black defensive line. Stirling Mortlock charged between Aaron Mauger and Mils Muliaina and fed the flying Mark Gerrard. He ducked inside Rico Gear's attempted tackle but couldn't get past Richie McCaw. The All Black captain stopped the burly Gerrard within metres of the tryline and snaffled the ball too at the breakdown. The score was 10-6. The game had some way to go, but had Australia taken the lead at that point, they'd have been desperately hard to overtake. So, a matchsaver from the man of the match.