“Wallabies on the ropes”
The Aussies are officially on the ropes (at least according to the Guardian).
I’m sure it’s coincidental, but has anyone heard from the Robbie Deans fan club recently??
Anyway, but to the Wobblies. And the rope.
Australia were struggling to paper over the cracks after suffering their seventh straight defeat by New Zealand in their Bledisloe Cup test in Tokyo.
Sorry don’t know what happened to the rope but perhaps the sub-editor was just stringing us along?
Yep, those Wobblies are definitely having some problems.
But don’t worry. Dingo Deans has officially become a bleating Aussie:
“Can anyone tell me what the penalty count was?” Deans tetchily asked reporters, accusing the All Blacks of negative tactics under a fierce Wallaby assault late in the first period.
Answer: Can anyone tell me how many tries the Aussies have scored this year? Actual tries (not make believe ones because the video ref can’t speak English and doesn’t under the rules).
It’s not just Robbie who’s bleating either:
Australian playmaker Matt Giteau also took a swipe at perceived All Blacks spoiling tactics under pressure.
“We got in their 22 a number of times, especially in the first half, and ball was killed when we had the opportunity to play wide,” he said, icing his right hand.
“All we could take was three points rather than seven and I think that had a huge bearing.”
Anyway, Robbie wasn’t completely unhappy:
As Deans was left scratching for positives, a first try against the All Blacks since their first Bledisloe Cup game of the year at least brought the hint of a smile.
“I was very pleased,” said the New Zealander. “We threatened a lot more and could so easily have scored more.”
Ah Robbie, the only try you’ve tried since the first game was a try that wasn’t.
Not that Teacher Ted is letting this get personal.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry, who got the nod ahead of Deans for the All Blacks job in 2007, grinned when asked if he felt his “foot was on the throat” of his opposite number.
“That’s a very interesting question,” said Henry. “We take all our tests very seriously and there’s a huge amount of pressure in New Zealand to perform — whether we’re playing Australia or South Africa or Wales or whoever.
“It just happens it’s 4-0 against the Wallabies this year which is pleasing but it’s not a personal thing. It’s a win-loss thing. They guys should be proud of their performance.”
[Tui Ad]This game wasn’t personal. [/Tui Ad]
