(Photo by Robert Gray/Getty Images)
As the two somewhat dazed sides come into Bledisloe two, in the long run they may actually benefit from their recent losses in the build up to the 2011 World Cup.
Any particular comfort that either Graham Henry or Robbie Deans had regarding the status of their team has been erased in their recent matches. While a loss for either man unleashes the wolves, there will be cold comfort in the fact that it is better to have such problems now, and not in two years time.
For Deans, this Tri Nations has been an awakening as to his side’s pedigree. After going through their home tests on cruise control, with Australian media trumpeting their quality, back to back losses have revealed some glaring deficiencies in the side.
Of these, it would be the lack of composure that would be infuriating Deans. Not only is this uncharacteristic to Australian teams, it would be the last thing anyone would say about a Crusaders side.
Other aspects seem almost confusing, with the once vaunted Wallaby lineout having malfunctioned shockingly off late, but in the same breath, their once laughed at pack able to repeatedly shunt back a Springbok scrum.
Some have said that Dean’s philosophies may be the problem, and the above certainly backs this if there is an identity crisis. But equally this is somewhat irrelevant, as the Wallabies are forgetting the basic tenets of rugby, which would not be a gaffe by Deans.
Two of which are fundamental.
Win the collision, and play for 80 minutes.
The Wallabies principle of low commitment to numbers in the ruck is disrupting their rhythm, but their inability to play an entire match is a cardinal offence.
A sin that has haunted them against the All Blacks.
And of the visitors, it is almost a case of how the mighty have fallen.
At the beginning of June, New Zealand was undoubtedly the best team in the world. They had won everything on offer in 2008, were ranked number one in the world, and had supplied three teams to the Super 14 semi-finals.
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