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The Wallabies have Australians falling in love with rugby all over again as their Bledisloe Cup test draw with the All Blacks continues to grab some much-needed headlines across Tasmania.
Australian media are already talking about the chances of the Wallabies finally reclaiming the giant silver cup after their opening effort with new New Zealand coach Dave Rennie in Wellington on Sunday.
As rugby writer Julian Linden noted for news.com.au: “The code has gone to hell for the past two years, but Sunday’s exciting draw with New Zealand on Sunday 16-16 has ushered in a new era of hope for suffering Wallaby supporters.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
All Black George Bridge is too late to prevent Filipo Daugunu from scoring for Australia.
“True to his word, new coach Dave Rennie delivered in his first game in charge, devising what should have been Australia’s first win over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil in 19 years.
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“It was just the failed umpiring and a coat of paint after Reece Hodge’s long-range penalty hit the post that caused the teams to share the spoils, but make no mistake about it.
“This was a moral victory for the Wallabies and a dagger in the hearts of the arrogant New Zealand officials who said Australia’s players are not good enough to share the same field as them.
“The All Blacks aura has been tarnished, but they will come back stronger than ever in the second round next week at Eden Park, but with the final two games of the four-game series to be played in Australia, the Cup Bledisloe could return to Australian shores sooner than most people expected. “
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New Zealand referee Paul Williams drew the ire of Australian commentators and analysts following the Wallabies’ 16 draw with the All Blacks.
But there was outrageous fury against Australian media whistleblower Paul Williams after several crucial missed calls in the final minutes of the Bledisloe Cup opener on Sunday.
Williams’ late-game refereeing drew the ire of commentators and analysts on the other side of the ditch.
After Hodge’s failed penalty, Australian supporters were furious that the Wallabies did not receive a penalty after several indiscretions by the All Blacks in front of their own posts.
“It has to be offside. It has to be out of the game. Oh my gosh, “said former Wallabies fullback Matt Burke in a comment on Channel 10.
“This arbitration has been terrible. I can’t believe Sam Whitelock was there. “
On Fox Sports, former Wallaby Justin Harrison called Williams’ arbitration “prison rules.”
Fox Sports rugby writer Zac Rayson wrote that Williams had denied the Wallabies a possible victory.
“The clearest of all was when New Zealander Ardie Savea came in from the side of the ruck, then left his feet and continued playing with the ball. The referee was on the other side of the ruck and couldn’t detect the incident. “
Sky sport
All Blacks center Rieko Ioane finds himself on the touchline in the run-up to Jordie Barrett’s first try.
Refereeing was a hot topic and Australian assistant referee Angus Gardner was also criticized for missing Rieko Ioane and putting his foot on the touchline, leading to the All Blacks’ first try for Jordie Barrett.
“But Gardner missed the call, despite being in a perfect position, and the Kiwis quickly extended the ball from the left wing to the right to take the first five points of the trans-Tasmanian rivalry,” Rayson wrote in Fox Sports.
Writing in Courier mailJulian Linden said the Wallabies had earned a lot of respect and staged a tantalizing rematch at Eden Park next Sunday.
“The record books will say that the 2020 Bledisloe Cup opener ended in a 16-16 draw, but it was the Wallabies who came out as the real winners.
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The score says it all in Wellington after a throbbing tie at 16 between the All Blacks and Wallabies in the first Bledisloe Cup game.
“Crushed 36-0 by the All Blacks last time they played in New Zealand, hardly anyone gave the Wallabies a chance, but they proved to rise to the occasion when the new era of Australian rugby under Dave Rennie got off to a brilliant start. “
Linden believed the tie could be pivotal for the Wallabies as they look to capture the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.
Australia only needed to win two of their tests in their homeland to regain the silverware that has eluded them for so long.
It was a near perfect start for Australia’s New Zealand coach Rennie, whose team played with a hunger and determination that is sometimes not seen on these shores.
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Wallabies coach Dave Rennie and captain Michael Hooper speak to the media after the first Bledisloe Cup game in Wellington.
If the Wallabies could take advantage of their display, Linden said the future under Rennie was clearly bright.
“This was a game that the Wallabies won everywhere, but on the scoreboard, and it should lift the spirits of both the players and their loyal fans after the disaster of the last two years.”
Sydney morning herald Rugby scribe Tom Decent described the opening match of the Bledisloe Cup as one of the best results of a test match in recent times.
Decent wrote that it was an encouraging display from the Wallabies at Rennie’s first test in charge. Most had advised the All Blacks to walk away from Australia in the second half and continue their dominance of the Bledisloe Cup, but the Wallabies had other ideas.
“Talk about exceeding expectations,” Decent wrote.
John Cowpland / Photosport
Australian Filipo Daugunu is in the air when he scores a try in the opening match of the Bledisloe Cup.
“Rennie was underrated in preparation, he never gave the impression that he or his squad were overconfident.
“But what a performance was this, under the circumstances, that will convince even the most skeptical of the Wallabies fan that something special might be in the works with Rennie.”
Decent praised the top five Australians James O’Connor, who stood out in the draw. Australia have tried and failed in the number 10 jersey in recent years, but O’Connor could be the answer to their problems.
The All Blacks were “lethargic, lacking in discipline and rusty,” while coach Ian Foster, in his first game since replacing Steve Hansen, seemed a “nervous wreck” as Australia grew in confidence, Decent wrote.
