THE PRESS, Wednesday, December 5, 2012 SPORT B15

RUGBY Forget the nonsense, is still better than England Folau

England is not remotely as giving up the game of cricket. defence. Sunday’s match was hurried away a kick that was not have bullied those two Blacks are still a much better good a team as the All Blacks. Mark Ponting can still score the odd startling because Carter returned for a score and men and Tom Wood would team than England. For one They might be when they go big hundred but, like the missed a couple of crucial and slipped off the odd tackle. But not have been man of the thing, New Zealand knows swaps 12 months unbeaten. Owen Reason Black Caps, he can no longer relatively easy kicks at goal. he was on the winning team match. who its best players are. The Farrell is not even a five do it week in, week out. These are very rare events, and therefore he was They may be IRB team of England team that won on compared to ’s 10. It is risible when New like England beating New portrayed as a genius. the year, but New Zealand Sunday had seven changes He might be when has spent Comment Zealand cricket says that its Zealand. probably got have a long, long way to go from the team that lost to codes nearly 10 years teaching other batsmen have proved that Yet Carter’s botched goal it right when he said: before they are even close to Australia. That is another teams how to play the game. they can do it at the top level kicks and one missed tackle ‘‘Though it hurts like hell at being historical world- reason for their But you wouldn’t know do. Come back at the end of each time they score a have led everyone to say that the moment it won’t do us any beaters. Aaron Smith needs to inconsistency. England’s much of this from the 2013 and say: ‘‘This year we century. Above any other the All Blacks first five was harm. It will stop people achieve a far greater level of coaching staff is – again hysterical reaction to proved it.’’ Such things are game cricket is about appalling. Fair enough. By his telling us we’re the greatest consistency. When the men in inexperienced and makes too Sunday’s game. We live in a tested over months, not days. consistency, it is about own very high standards he team ever and all that crap. front of him struggle, so does many mistakes. Frustrated by protracted world of hyperbole. Suddenly Sport at the top level is averages, it is not about one- was. But there was a beautiful We’ll get down to being an All Smith. At the moment it On Sunday England’s negotiations with NRL club England are world-beaters about consistency of off tons. A batsman proves he cross kick in the first half that Black team that worked ranks him light years behind management got it right for a Parramatta, and the All Blacks have an age performance. The current All can do it at the top level when, would have created a try but hard.’’ Will Genia. change. They picked signed to make crisis. It is all complete tosh. Blacks have it and the current like Michael Clarke or for a very marginal offside The All Blacks said many The front five is something close to their best his third pro football code After Sunday’s victory England team do not. If Stuart Hashim Amla, he keeps call. There was some vital sensible and gracious things lightweight. I have long team (1, 6, 8, 9 and 10 are really after feeling he had to settle Farrell junior said: ‘‘We don’t Lancaster’s men start rolling getting big scores at the top defence, a break over the gain after the match, another suspected that the South quite important positions to his future and being impres- think there is a gap at all the opposition in the Six level of the game. line and a terrific long pass difference between the Africa front five of 2007 or the get right in that respect) and sed by new New South Wales between Northern and Nations, star in a Lions The All Blacks are still that helped set up scores. hemispheres perhaps. But England front five of 2003 they altered their defensive Waratahs coach Michael Southern hemisphere. Today victory in Australia and boss light years ahead of England But these moments have Hansen’s point about the would have smashed them. As system from the Cheika. we proved it.’’ next November’s because they have proved, gone unacknowledged greatest team was spot on. was indicated on Sunday, malfunctioning Announcing his one-year It is a forgivable statement. internationals, then Farrell month in and month out, that because Carter has set such The current New Zealand still has some outside press that had been a deal to play with It is the sort of thing that a can talk about equality they can do it at the top level. very high standards. Farrell team is not even better than growing up to do, Sam shambles against the Aussies. the Waratahs yesterday, 21-year-old should believe in, between the hemispheres. Sunday’s match was startling didn’t completely outplay the All Blacks team of 12 Whitelock is no more than a But all of that doesn’t make Folau said he had made no along with his own Ricky Ponting will tell you because and Carter, as has been suggested. months ago for two simple decent international player England world-beaters. That promises to Parramatta coach immortality and the senility about consistency of had a The England No 10 missed reasons: and and the front row is average. title still belongs to the All Ricky Stuart, who has of anyone over 40. But it won’t performance. It is why he is communication breakdown in touch with an early penalty, . England would But that’s all right, the All Blacks. It has all year. declared the Eels are ‘‘genu- inely better off without him’’. While Folau told Parramatta last Friday he would not be returning to All Blacks sidestep ‘pool of death’ the NRL, Cheika revealed he David Long we get through there it’s a had his first knockout competition and Israel Folau meeting with The All Blacks will face a each game is seen as a final.’’ Folau three familiar problem at the 2015 The All Blacks beat Los weeks ago. Folau was so World Cup, but it’s one that Pumas 33-10 in the quarterfi- impressed by Cheika, he other leading nations will nal stage of last year’s World agreed to join the Tahs, with look at with envy. Cup. After an early grind, aspirations to play for the The draw for England 2015 they eventually ran away Wallabies. was made at the Tate Modern with the match, thanks to The deal ends a month of Gallery in London yesterday, tries from Kieran Read and intense speculation about the and for the fourth straight Brad Thorn and seven Piri 23-year-old former rugby tournament the All Blacks Weepu penalties. league star’s future since he have avoided the favourites in But what is already evident cut short his multimillion- the pool stage. is that will con- dollar, four-year deal with New Zealand have been tinue to improve because of AFL club Greater Western pitted against Argentina, their participation in the (GWS), citing a lack of Tonga and qualifiers from Rugby Championship. passion for the game after Europe and Africa, likely to ‘‘No doubt they’ll get better struggling to adapt. be either Russia, Romania, as they play big games and ‘‘It [rugby union] kind of Georgia and Namibia. have the opportunity to play came out of nowhere,’’ Folau So while there will be an together for longer periods,’’ said. ‘‘It wasn’t on the cards almighty fight in Pool 1 where said Hansen. [on leaving GWS], but when I England, Australia and Wales ‘‘We have already seen in thought about it more, it will scrap it out for two November that they’ve been started to be a bit clearer to quarterfinal places, the All good enough to go to Wales me. When I met with Michael Blacks’ issue will be that and beat them.’’ [Cheika], it felt good and right they’ll only get the Argentin- Meanwhile, Hansen for me, the type of person that ian game to test themselves revealed he wants to have he was. out in before the interesting Richie McCaw involved in the ‘‘I spoke to Ricky [Stuart] stage of the World Cup. World Cup, even if he’s no about the possibility of com- The All Blacks are likely to longer playing. ing back to play rugby league. play Ireland in the quarterfi- ‘‘I’d like to think he’ll make ‘‘But throughout the times nals, who should finish sec- it, but nothing is guaranteed,’’ that we were dealing with ond to France in Pool 4, and Hansen said of McCaw, who’ll them, things didn’t come to then the winner of the match be 34 at the next Cup. plan for both parties. between South Africa (Pool 2 ‘‘We have already talked ‘‘I couldn’t wait any longer, probable winners) and either about it and he’s the sort of sitting around. It was uncer- England, Wales or Australia person who will always put tain for my future, so I had to in the semifinals. the team first. If he doesn’t move forward. Getting match hardened feel like he can contribute he ‘‘I won’t go into detail what for the knockout stages could won’t go. happened. But, obviously, be an issue and was their ‘‘The next six months are things didn’t work out the undoing in 2007, but yesterday Richie McDraw: All Blacks captain Richie McCaw draws the first team during the IRB 2015 pool draw in London. Photo: GETTY IMAGES going to be important for him, way I’d like them to. Steve Hansen, was just happy we know he’s probably the ‘‘That’s why I’m here to avoid anything approach- we’re on,’’ Hansen said. carried away with ourselves. staying in the tournament, it’s France. If you don’t respect right to go through to the greatest player to have played today. I met with Parramatta ing a ‘‘pool of death’’. ‘‘We’re also realistic to ‘‘The World Cup is either sudden death. somebody then you’re going quarterfinals. the game from a consistency on Friday, met them face to ‘‘We are reasonably satis- know that a lot of things can about being first or second in ‘‘Everyone is going to test to get your rear end spanked ‘‘So we’ll work hard at it point of view and having him face and told them how I was fied with where we’ve ended change over the next three your pool and then you go into you. Tonga have already and we’re not of the opinion and we’ll try to prepare the in the group will be a huge feeling. I have nothing to up and what side of the pool years, so we won’t be getting knockout rugby and it’s about shown that they can beat that we’ve got a God-given best we can to do that. Once bonus.’’ hide.’’ AAP Clean sweep of rugby awards for All Blacks Make gift buying easy

David Long ‘‘From a personal point of view, the coach’s award isn’t just about with the It came as no surprise when New Steve Hansen, it’s about a group of Zealand rugby swept the major players who have committed them- trophies at the annual IRB awards selves to the team and a manage- winners named in London yester- ment that have supported and done day. some fantastic work. While dignitaries at the Tate ‘‘From a team point of view, if you Modern Gallery yesterday were still work hard and you win your rugby Christmas Gift buzzing about England, Wales and you’re going to get your reward and Australia all being placed in Pool 1 we did that, it’s a shame that the for the 2015 World Cup, it was England game was one step too far, announced that Steve Hansen had but it will be good for us in the long won the IRB coach of the year, the run. All Blacks were the team of the year ‘‘Dan and Richie fought it out for and Dan Carter was the player of the player of the year and we all know & Shopping year. they’re world-class players. It was the second time Carter had ‘‘They have been huge for this taken this award, the last time being team for a long time.’’ in 2005. Wallabies coach ‘‘Obviously, it is very humbling to knows Carter as well as anyone from have the type of year we’ve had and I his time with the and says guess that’s why you get the he deserved to pick up the award rewards,’’ said Hansen. again. Guide 2012 BE IN TO WIN FOR SALE $448,500 a Nikon V1 camera with a twin lens kit and 4 GB SD Card from In The Press Kens Cameras, valued at $1675 Entry form in the Christmas Gift & Shopping Guide 2012 on this Friday Friday, December 7

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