3 Things which helped All Blacks overcome Australia: NZ Rugby Herald

 I know its a popular opinion, this game was a sign of Abs crumbling under pressure. But I find it ironical, Aussie are crumbling more so. Considering they have no National Coach, clearly a ton of internal issues. They came out and had a point to proove. NZ have beaten Aussie so many times the past Three-Four years. NZ had nothing left to proove. So I think they lacked motivation the whole match, a motivation Oz clearly had. I think Tuipolotu going off was a difference, it created more of an edge, and they started to D up. Reality is though NZ cannot escape defeat, or escape playing badly every now and then. It was inevitable that other teams were going to catch up one day, and they have. But that does not mean NZ have declined, quite the contary. I think if NZ don't win every game by 100 points, its a failure. I mean how many times has NZ wan a game in the end, they did not deserve? And you got some partic on this site saying it was a fluke. Well based on past record, it clearly was not. NZ were not playing Namibia I mean some minnow, they were playing Aussie it was always going to be a close one. SA won basically in the same fashion NZ did, with a Lambie kick, just like NZ wan with a Slade kick, which is very ironical. You diddn't hear SA fans or ppl going luckey win, because they deserved the win. NZ came back and wan, theirs a difference I get that, but their is no point of difference with either. Winnings Winning, it doesent matter if you win by 1 point or 100 points. To beat the Abs you need to go the distance, you can't just beat them for 70 mins and think thats enough. NZ have to many threats outwide and in their tight five and loosies, and so much Xfactor. Hence Fekitoa. And they are the best in the world, at closing out games. NZ k now no the pace they have set for Three years is no longer daylight, they are gonna need that Boost from Fast and Furious . 

 I don't think anyone can seriously say the ABs have declined. Other teams are playing a similar style these days and edging closer. There are a lot of games decided late in the match and there does seem to be a fair amount of come from behind wins. It is a testament to the all blacks that even when they seem to be outplayed they are still there towards the end and man they know how to win. Aus had the game plan they thought could beat the All Blacks and it went well for the 77 odd minutes they stuck to it. Some pressure from the ABs and out goes the game plan. The ABs deserved the win for the main reason there is in Rugby. They scored more points. I knew we would loose when we took the 3 points to go out to a six point lead. I just felt the ABs would score a try and said so to the Kiwi I was watching with.

 Yeah I think thats the thing, looks can be decieving. NZ are still the #1 side in the world, despite what some might say haha. Other teams are employing a similar style and gameplan. And Aussie did it well. But NZ weren't suddenlly going to dramatically decline, if they did Aussie should of wan by 50. NZ are still at peak performance, albiet not to their normal standard the past two weeks. They have been dominated at the breakdown, hence their ball being slowed down. They missed 31 tackles againgst Aussie which is shocking based on their standards. But its a good thing not a bad thing theirs still room for improvement. They need to peak before the wc, and its clear they haven't yet.