All Black power clinches rugby series win in pulsating encounter

Press, 13 September 1982, Page 21

All Black power clinches rugby series win in pulsating encounter

By

J. K. BROOKS

The type of rugby from which All Black legends are born carried New Zealand to a convincing victory against Australia in the all-important third test at Eden Park on Saturday. If this match is to mark the end of several international careers, as has been hinted, the men in black could not have chosen 1 a more appropriate way to bow out.

The awesome strength and superb control of the New Zealand forwards sealed the fate of the match, and the full-back. Allan Hewson, kicked brilliantly for goal to set a world record of 26 points in the team’s 33-18 triumph. All credit must go to the Wallabies, who were true to their code in moving the ball swiftly from hand to hand and who rocked the All Blacks back on their heels by an audacious yet splendidly contrived move which yielded six points in the first minute. But in the final analysis the tenacious tourists were squeezed out of contention by an All Black pack which, in controlled power and cohesiveness, was fit to rank with the great forward combinations of the 19605. New Zealand won exactly twice as much possession as Australia, and put enormous pressure on the Wallabies by driving through the middle with the intensity of a battering ram. Seldom in recent years has an international pack given such a convincing display of the driving game. Against this kind of highly co-ordinated strength, the Wallabies could do little. Behind their magnificent pack, the New Zealand inside backs played efficiently, and Bill Osborne, in his last test, snuffed out Australia's lingering hopes with his decisive tackling in midfield. In spite of the high score, the match produced only three tries. Both teams defended extremely well, and many well devised moves foundered on the widely de-

ployed cover. Yet this was one of the most fascinating of tests, and the pulsating mood generated by the Wallabies' skilful try at’ the start permeated the match until the end. The crowd of about 51,500 stayed spellbound to the finish.’ swarming across the pitch in front of the main grandstand to watch Graham Mourie, the All Black captain, clasp the Bledisloe Cup, which had been prised from his grasp by the Australians in Sydney three years ago. There were special cheers for Hewson, whose wonderful goal-kicking converted the All Blacks' forward control into points. The slim full-back kicked eight goals from nine attempts. including a dropkick, and his first and only miss came when the match had only lOmin to run. It was a day of spectacular kicking, in spite of a capricious breeze and a pitch softened by morning rain. As well as 'Hewson’s recordbreaking efforts. Roger Gould succeeded with four out of five attempts at goal for Australia, and his compatriot. Michael Hawker, astounded spectators by sending a sweetly struck dropkick across the bar from 2m inside his own half. Later in the match Wayne Smith chimed in for New Zealand with a graceful drop-kick, and then narrowly missed with an even more artistic effort. Both sides sought to play the 15-man game, with reasonable success. But the Australians’ attempts to discover avenues of advancement in midfield were destroyed by

the dreadnought defence of Osborne. The New Zealanders moved the ball prettily at times, notably when Hewson scored his try through slick passing by the men inside him. in spite of intense Australian pressure. But there were more calculated attempts to move the ball infield on the scissors.

ing a line-out deflection. Paul Koteka seized and shoved him through the first line of Australians, and the rest of the pack drove him over the line. Gary Knight and Andy Haden were at the peak of their form. Haden dominating the line-out and Knight finding lime and energy to make several shuddering tackles. Behind these mighty men. Dave Loveridge and Smith controlled the ball coolly, and exercised a careful hand on developments. In contrast, the ebullient Mark Ella was largely hamstrung, because Phillip Cox. his half-back, was under sustained pressure as he sought to clear the ball. Gould and Hawker played with spirit and imagination, and Steve Williams soldiered on magnificently in a battered and buffeted pack, but one that never gave up trying. The Australians were unfortunate that an impromptu move of about 90m which ended with Williams "scoring" between the posts failed to win the approval of the referee, Mr Alan Hosie, of Scotland. The Wallaby left wing, David Campese, set the move alight by side-stepping past two tacklers after catching an appalling dropkick from Stu Wilson. But his pass infield to a line of supporting players was ruled forward by Mr Hosie. Ella said he was "amazed" at the referee's decision, because he was about 10m behind Campese at the time. An angry rugby enthusiast from Perth later telephoned Eden Park to dispute the ruling, saying that he had

played the move four times on his home video and was certain Mr Hosie had erred.

A try at that stage. 30min into the first half, might have made the All Blacks' task difficult, even though they played downwind in the second. But Ella admitted that, in a way. the Wallabies were their own worst enemies. Three of the penalty goals kicked by Hewson were from "silly" offences — Peter Grigg's throwing the ball out, Gould's back-chat, and a punch by Simon Poidevin which caused the recipient. Shaw, to smile broadly, in anticipation of the penalty.

Osborne, the chief protagonist. admitted candidly afterwards that he hated this ploy, and would much rather see’the ball swung out to the wings. "But when the forwards are your strength you have got to move the ball back to them." he said.

The only occurrences to mar a colourful, exciting afternoon came from the fiery New Zealand left wing. Bernie Fraser. He gave Hawker a black eye with a flurry of punches after apparently being' impeded in a chase for the ball, and later almost decapitated Gould with a head-high tackle.

The All Black packmen certainly knew what to do with this precious possession, and a valiant Wallaby forward effort failed to wrestle the ball clear. As well as the spirited driving, which had sections of the crowd bellowing in ecstasy, the scrum exerted enormous pressure on the Wallabies, who consequently had great difficulty in clearing the ball, especially in the first half. this momentum was maintained by Murray Mexted’s punishing charges from the back of the scrum, and although this move seemed to be overdone the All Blacks persevered with it because the opposition failed to find an effective counter.

And. wonder of wonders, although these incidents occurred in front of the main stand, and out in the open, Fraser escaped censure by the referee. In the context of the match, this ill-tempered behaviour was unnecessary and deserves to be forgotten — for as Mr Ron Don. the Auckland union’s chairman, said after it was all over, "this is truly one of the great days in New Zealand rugby.”

Mourie had, for him, an unspectacular game, but Mexted was an imposing figure and Mark Shaw, who went from strength to strength in the series, played dynamically. The try he scored mirrored the All Black forward power. He lowered his head after snar-

For New Zealand: Hewson, Shaw tries: Hewson. Smith dropped goals; Hewson five penalty goals and two conversions.

For Australia: Gould try, conversion and three penalty goals; Hawker dropped goal.