Capitulations and Commiserations

The All Blacks' 33-6 victory over the Wallabies was an interesting affair; but not as interesting as all the hot air that escaped afterwards.

Spiro Zavos notes on the Roar that the crowd leaving the stadium were surprisingly muted, and actually that's how I felt watching it. I saw a lot of toil and endeavour from the All Blacks - and an improvement, with the error count down, a good loose trio and, at last, CORY JANE on the field. But Nonu's try was a relief, and Rokocoko's just a little mouthwash after swallowing an awful home season where we'd have much rather seen this performance in the first game than the last.

It was only once I read my first NZ-based news item that I realised that I had apparently been watching a game of majesty and excellence from the All Blacks.

Indeed, it was a story repeated throughout the press here, and I was reminded yet again that many of these papers and writers RELY on our love of rugby to cash their paychecks. The after match reports are always so uncritical of obvious game-turning decision by referees these days, of the blindness to offside, forward passes, and the reporting of penalty counts are a thing of the past... It's not in the media's interest to get too down on their cash-cow.

And so, this win has been blown out of all proportions. You want to see a real NZ-AUS thrashing? Try 43-6 in the wet at Athletic Park in 1996. Saturday's All Blacks were strong, but the Wallabies limp - as they have always been when they are favoured in the professional era. Other than the "John Eales" era of influence, 1998-2002, the Wallabies struggle after posting a big win because it places expectations on them. They then kick and fight like underdogs, occasionally dragging the bigger dog down - South Africa this year. That was the damage they caused at the 2003 World Cup, and it will be their biggest threat at the next.

In the performances of Cory Jane and Adam Thomson, the All Black coaches have, I hope, learned a small lesson in picking the best players. But I doubt it, because Rokocoko was still there for no good reason, and their every comment and decision smacks of pride and "we know best". This earned them a serve this week in the media, which sold papers at Steve Hansen's expense, but now the press are leading the up-tick in our rugby zeitgeist.

There's money to be made from our rugby smiles. There should be some research into how many homes buy Sky just so they can watch our national game.

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In other sport:
A tear for the Wellington Phoenix having to settle for a draw after a late goal by the North Queensland Fury in the A-League.

Sighs for the Silver Ferns, who again let the Australian netballers run out leads before hauling them back in - to lose by 1.

Shake of the head for the Wellington Lions, who lost to Waikato, and can barely score a try this year. It seems they were just way ahead of the pack in 08; all the other teams have caught up.

A yawn for the Black Cap Cricketers who are still overpaid, over-exposed and under-perform, despite a warm-up win against India.