There was a time there in the game where in a break in play, when the national captain of Australia was asking the referee when might be an opportunity for me to talk to you and he absolutely ignored him. That would have been in contravention of World Rugby rules, as the other team should have been alerted to the meeting.
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Hansen said the Wallabies’ approach came as no surprise after their listless Sydney effort.
Ref would not engage with Wallaby Stephen Moore.
Hansen hailed the resilience and composure they showed in beating Michael Cheika’s Wallabies.
“The skill level of our guys was really good tonight, under extreme pressure at times, and at the moment that’s probably where we’ve got a little bit of an edge”.
“The wind and the rain will not have any affect on the things that are important about winning this game”, Cheika said.
But with injured trio Matt Toomua, Matt Giteau and Rob Horne not expected to be back for Australia’s next Rugby Championship assignment against South Africa, Cheika said he would be sticking with Cooper and Foley for the foreseeable future. I’m not sure why they didn’t dig deep last week, but you would hope, for the sake of global rugby in general, that the Wallabies will put up a fight and defend their line and – at the risk of being overdramatic – their country.
Australia have called upon New Zealand’s public enemy No.1, Quade Cooper, to keep the dream alive of regaining the Bledisloe Cup.
Hansen’s team have never lost to the Pumas, but have been pushed extremely close in their last few encounters, particularly in their opening game at last year’s Rugby World Cup.
Eddie Jones was sacked as Australia coach after suffering seven losses in a row back in 2005 and reports have suggested a similar fate may await Cheika if their poor form continues.
A sold-out crowd of 35,372 was on hand at a windswept Wellington Stadium, where the Wallabies have not won for 16 years. There will be question marks over his defence in that position, especially with a renowned poor defender in Quade Cooper covering him on the inside.
The All Blacks were not as clinical as last week but were still far too good for Australia.
Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett took turns at carving through the defensive wall to set up Dagg for the All Blacks’ two first half tries. The Wallabies can be applauded for the resolute defending, but there was simply no attacking threat.
The visitors failed to muster a try, with their points coming through penalties dispatched by Bernard Foley (2) and Reece Hodge. But they expressed that determination through unprofitable aggression, losing Adam Coleman to a yellow card in the first half for a late shoulder charge on All Blacks fullback Ben Smith.
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The final match of the Bledisloe Cup, which is now a dead rubber, is in Auckland on October 22.
