Will Genia is a problem the All Blacks are beginning to have no answer for. The Wallaby halfback was the point of difference last night, deciding the game with an electric break that tore the All Black defence and led to Kurtley Beale touching down for the winning score.
It
was the second major game Genia has won with an act of brilliance - the first being the Super Rugby final a few months back.
And it wasn't just that break; Genia was the dominant figure for most of the game. Tactically he pulled all the right strings and his execution was outstanding. The Wallabies fed off his brilliance and in these tight encounters, one man can make all the difference.
For Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, the satisfaction was obvious. What pleased him was the fact that his troops closed it out.
"We haven't gone 80 minutes in the past and we had to tonight," said Deans. "In terms of the World Cup, the win was irrelevant. But in terms of the Tri Nations, very significant. The All Blacks came back into it, they were building and it was looking ominous. But our blokes held their nerve and that is very pleasing. I guess if anything, we might have raised the bar for the World Cup if we are fortunate to meet the All Blacks."
