After yesterday’s controversy, we headed back to Eden Park for this year’s second semi-final between New Zealand and Australia.
If you’d like to get in touch with your thoughts on the game, please do.
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FT: New Zealand 20-6 Australia
I hope your alarm clock didn’t let you down this morning. This is one you won’t want to miss.
With just 15 minutes to kick-off, old buddies New Zealand and Australia are running through their final drills in the dressing room. At stake over the next two hours? A place against France in next weekend’s World Cup final. Yes indeed.
Get yourself comfortable. This is going to be great.
Alright, here are the team-sheets.
As you probably know, there is one major change to the Wallabies team as announced by Robbie Deans earlier in the week. Kurtley Beale has failed to shake a thigh strain in time to start, so Adam Ashley-Cooper switches from outside centre to 15 with Anthony Faingaa stepping into midfield.
It has been described in some quarters as a game-defining change. It’ll be important for sure, but are Australia at a huge disadvantage before a single ball is kicked?
New Zealand: Dagg; Jane, Smith, Nonu, Kahui; Cruden, Weepu; Woodcock, Mealamu, Franks; Whitelock, Thorn; Kaino, McCaw, Read.
Australia: Ashley-Cooper; O’Connor, Faingaa, McCabe, Ioane; Cooper, Genia; Kepu, Moore, Alexander; Vickerman, Horwill; Elsom, Pocock, Samo.
In the RTÉ studio, Hook, Popey and O’Shea have all gone for New Zealand, with the word “comfortably” bandied about a bit as well.
Personally, I expect this one to be a good deal closer. If you agree, Australia at 5/2 with the bookmakers might be a wise move.
Eden Park is absolutely shaking as both countries’ anthems ring out around the ground.
Step forward Piri Weepu, it’s haka time!
Wow, that was intense. While the teams are getting rid of their tracksuit tops, you might want to have a read of some of the key considerations ahead of today’s game.
Australia, for their part, haven’t won at Eden Park since 1986 (the year before the first-ever World Cup) and the home team haven’t been beaten by any nation there in 17 years.
A team that has lost a game during the tournament has yet to lift the trophy though – suggesting the odds are against Australia – but New Zealand have, incredibly, never beaten their neighbours at the World Cup. Simple really…
Go time. Craig Joubert is our man in the middle. Let’s hope a) that he is practically invisible today and b) that this one lives up to its billing.
I know it’s not strictly rugby, but I can’t be the only person who thinks of this whenever Cory Jane’s name is mentioned. Am I?
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Great start by the All Blacks who have been deep in Australia territory in these opening five minutes. James O’Connor is tackled after carrying back into his own in-goal area, but the ball is knocked on from the resulting scrum.
TRY! (Nonu, 6′) It’s no more than New Zealand deserve. Unbelievable running by Israel Dagg who darted inside Anthony Faingaa and powerfully handed off Rocky Elsom to break free. After that, it’s a foot race to the line and just before Dagg is dragged into touch, he finds the wonderful supporting run of Ma’a Nonu on his shoulder with a beautiful flicked off-load. Try time!
Weepu can’t nail a difficult conversion, but it’s first blood New Zealand. New Zealand 5-0 Australia
I wonder if Craig Joubert was listening to the South African criticism of referee Bryce Lawrence following last week’s quarter-final. The Boks were less than happy with David Pocock’s work around the breakdown and the Australian seven is the first player to be pinged for a penalty. Not supporting his own weight at the breakdown. Here’s a chance for Weepu to extend the lead…
MISSED PENALTY! (Weepu, 9′) Weepu’s pen comes back off the post. A let-off for Australia.
PENALTY! (Weepu, 12′) It doesn’t take long for Weepu to make amends though. Again, it’s Pocock who is penalised at the breakdown and this time Weepu’s kick bisects the posts. New Zealand 8-0 Australia
Here’s the state of the nation over on Facebook. Not a lot of love for the Aussies, it seems.
PENALTY! (O’Connor, 15′) For the first time this morning, Australia actually get their hands on the ball — it has only taken 13 or 14 minutes for them to achieve that much.
When they do, they look menacing and Digby Ioane shakes tackle after tackle after tackle before he is held up just yards shy of the line. The ABs’ defence holds firm as Australia probe and look for a gap, but Richie McCaw is penalised for not releasing the tackled player, allowing O’Connor to get Australia on the board. New Zealand 8-3 Australia
Keep sending in your comments and tweets. Here’s Jim’s take:
DROP GOAL! (Cruden, 21′) Are you watching, Stephen Jones? That is how you take your chances. The ball is fired back to the young out-half — who, it must be noted, isn’t that far inside his own 10-metre line — and he sweetly strikes it between the posts. New Zealand 11-3 Australia
Points to note after the opening 25 minutes:
- Quade Cooper has been absolutely appalling so far.
- Cory Jane has been untouchable in the air, fielding high balls like Jack O’Shea in his prime.
If you thought I was being unfair or having a bit of a go at Quade, I’m not:
Australia pound through the phases inside the ABs’ 22. Cooper slots back into the pocket, readying himself for a drop goal — or is he just getting out of the way? It’s hard to tell.
DROP GOAL! (Cooper, 32′) Coops gets his chance eventually and he seizes it to drag Australia back to within five points. Will that be enough to placate all of those (like Sean below) who are calling for him to be replaced by Berrick Barnes? New Zealand 11-6 Australia
PENALTY! (Weepu, 37′) That’s a silly, silly offside by Australia and it gives Weepu a chance to stretch out the All Blacks’ lead as we head towards the break. He’s only two out of five from his kicks at goal today, but it has been enough so far. New Zealand 14-6 Australia
I think this qualifies for a “bazinga”, but let me be clear — I will not be held responsible for any political innuendo which you choose to read into this. As far as I’m concerned, it’s strictly about Mr Dagg and his forays into the Australian 22…
I’m going to take a minute or two to finish this half-eaten bowl of Rice Krispies here beside me, but if you send in your thoughts on the first half, I’ll fire the best ones up before we get back underway.
If you’re interested, here’s some Blair Witch-style footage of the Nonu try. Personally, I think my description was more than adequate, but whatever floats your boat.
Before you ask, slow-motion replays have determined that Dagg was not in touch before he released the ball to Nonu.
We’re back. Australia need to score first here – file under “stating the obvious.”
It’s all about the small victories, eh?
PENALTY! (Weepu, 42′) Bah, another silly mistake by McCabe who gives away a cheap penalty by holding on deep in his own half. Weepu slams the penalty between the sticks. What was that I said about Australia needing to strike first? New Zealand 17-6 Australia
I know it’s early days yet, but you can’t help but feel this one slipping out of Australia’s grasp. Their good work deep in the New Zealand 22 comes to nothing as Ashley-Cooper is penalised for not releasing the ball on the deck.
You want stats? You got it.
Territory: New Zealand 59-41 Australia
Possession: New Zealand 55-45 Australia
That’s all I’ve got.
FYI, Ryle Nugent has just compared Richie McCaw to Peter Schmeichel. I have nothing else to add to that.
Heh.
MISSED PENALTY! (Weepu, 56′) Weepu takes on a rather ambitious effort in an attempt to put Australia to bed, but it drifts right and wide.
That’ll be his last action of the morning; he’s replaced by Andy Ellis and goes off to a massive ovation from the Eden Park crowd.
Ali Williams is on to replace Woodcock as well.
New Zealand look comfortable as we enter the last 20 minutes, but if Australia are looking for game-changers, it’s probably going to be either Genia or Ioane that provide the spark here.
A bit of the zip has gone out of the game as a contest, but that’s mainly because the All Blacks are content to pin Australia back deep in their own 22 and grind out the yards. Australia are refusing to give in, but the rugby is being played in the wrong part of the pitch.
Aaron Cruden is the preferred kicker now that Weepu has departed. He has a shot from half-way here now which would surely wrap the game up…
MISSED PENALTY! (Cruden, 68′) And, just like Weepu’s last attempt, it goes to the right and wide. There’s still only 11 points in it but time isn’t on Australia’s side and the ABs are not giving a single inch up cheaply.
Amazing, here comes Weepu again! He’s on as a blood sub — Andy Ellis looks like he’s been savaging some animal rather than playing rugby and he has to go off for some treatment.
I’m guessing that Weepu’s (unpunished) tendency for feeding the ball directly to his own second row is what has raised Fiachra’s ire:
PENALTY! (Weepu, 72′) That’s the game. Weepu kicks a penalty from a testing angle and New Zealand celebrate like a team who have just made it to the World Cup final on home soil. New Zealand 20-6 Australia
YELLOW CARD! (Williams, 76′) I didn’t even have time to tell you that Sonny Bill Williams was on the pitch, but it’s not that important now — he’s gone again. As Cooper was being wrapped up in the tackle, Williams flew in with a big shoulder. A definite yellow and New Zealand will be down to 14 for the last few minutes.
Australia are camped on the New Zealandline. A try here would certainly make for a nervy last few minutes…
No chance. The ABs’ defence holds firm, Richie McCaw leads the foraging, and Australia concede the penalty turnover. Less than a minute left now.
And so the New Zealand public breathe a huge sigh of relief — but if they thought that this week was nervy, one can only imagine what the next seven days are going to be like.
As with every other game in this tournament, we’ll be back to Eden Park next Sunday for minute-by-minute coverage of the tournament finale. It’s a repeat of 1987 as New Zealand face France in the very stadium where the All Blacks won their only World Cup to date.
History repeating? Or will Mad Marc and his merry men pull out one massive performance to cause an unlikely upset?
We’ll see you then.
Good point for United, move to within 37 of Liverpool
@Seàn Mc: Have to make up for the disappointment of yesterday somehow I suppose Seanie
@Seàn Mc: did u use a calculator for that remark??? Very surprised scouser lovers can use such a complicated machine. Well done to u!!!
@Thomas Rowe: we need a calculator to count the amount of VAR decisions United have got lately!
@Dave WR: and liverpool have never got a VAR decision their way…. the rules are the rules…..
@Paul O’Sullivan: course Liverpool have, but nowhere near the amount United have got…despite what people mite think!
@Thomas Rowe: Is a calculator really that complicated for you Tom? God help you
@Dave WR: it’s still the rules of the game. Yes we know VAR is flawed, but are you Liverpool fans seriously suggesting that there is some sort of conspiracy to give Man UTD VAR decisions in their favour ??
@Seàn Mc: and when Liverpool lift the title, how many will that be against Utd?
@Seàn Mc: True, and you can’t count how many EPL trophies Liverpool need to catch up to United on both hands either
@Dave WR: it’s ok if you can’t count no one will hold it against you. Maybe ask Santa for one at Christmas
@Thomas Rowe: don’t worry he’s probably from Norway
@chihuahua: Sky sports didn’t invent football!!
@chihuahua: Sky invented football in 1992…..
@Paul O’Sullivan: as if you Manc fans haven’t been banging on about that all season. Let’s just wait til the end of May and see which club has benefitted most.
@John Strahan: it doesn’t really matter who has benefited more.. its currently used in all premier league games… it is now part of the game,… people have been going on about referees for decades now we have this technology, to assist the referee, you complain….
It is not United’s fault if they benefit more than Liverpool from VAR, There is no hidden agenda.
@Paul O’Sullivan: hahaaa, when it works in your favour. LiVARpool has become VARchester United. Personally, I didn’t complain when Liverpool had a goal disallowed against Utd, home and away. It’s part of the game. It would not, in any way, change what Liverpool have achieved over the past 14 months. It’s does, however, reflect on Man Utds achievements, VAR has become like Ferguson’s watch, indicative of where the money men need Utd to be.
@John Strahan: you may slag Fergusson over his watch, but you have to admit it that he was the innovator of the exact injury time allocation with the fourth official uo to then it was up to the discretion of the referee. and you also must admit that Liverpool have benefited their share of injury time winners this season….. enjoy your success while it lasts because as you already know and fans of both clubs know you can go along time not winning the league after years of success.
But there is always 74,000 at Old Trafford you scouser will never match that innthe modern game…
@Paul O’Sullivan: a “bigger stadium” is that what it’s come to? Wow how the mighty have fallen. Fergie wouldn’t be impressed by tHt Paul
@Seàn Mc: great to see you sticking up for Everton your city rivals… On here last year criticising anybody who cheered on City. Hypocrite much? Your about to win the league don’t let your bitterness of utd spoil that.
@my name: bigger stadium for the bigger trophy cabinet .
@Paul O’Sullivan: that ain’t what you said though pauly is it. While you’re at it do a count on the auld trophy haul for both clubs
@my name: Manchester Utd have won 66 Trophys in Total Liverpool have 63, I have included the Community Shield.
@Paul O’Sullivan: as the charity shield has been shared at times on the official trophy haul count it doesn’t stand
@my name: both clubs are claiming Charity shields in their Honours list so it stands.
I’m sure if it were the other way round you would be happy to rub my nose in it…
@Paul O’Sullivan: not at all. The charity shield can go on a club’s honours list absolutely but when doing the official count, FIFA doesn’t recognize it due to it being shared over the years
@my name: get rid off all the Micky mouse cups then, andckeave it to Championships , Fa Cups , European Cups, UEAFA, and Cup winners Cups actual Tournaments Leafue and Group Competition UTD have more than Liverpool..
@Paul O’Sullivan: Ok we can dispute this till the cows come home after excluding one match trophies I make 43 a piece. But Liverpool will win the League this year.which will give the edge, Unless UTD pull of an FA Cup..
@Paul O’Sullivan: so back to your original post I replied to? Bigger stadium is that all you got now hahaha
Everton absolutely robbed at the end.
Everton were robbed by that VAR decision at the end
@Dow Dubrov: Incorrect. He is offside if he is interfering with play.
It’s not up to De Gea to know if he is offside or not and by pulling his legs in at the last second he has interfered with play. He was on a hiding to nothing because if he didn’t move he would have blocked the goal but regardless he has interfered with play.
Harsh on Everton but correct.
@Mark Coote: how many times do players move out of the way of the ball and are deemed to be not interfering with play. Goal should have stood.
@Mark Coote: How was he interfering with play? De Gea had a clear line of sight to the strike. He moved to his right to try and save it before the deflection. Once it was deflected, there was no way De Gea was going to get near it. Sigurdsson’s presence had no impact on the play whatsover
@Mark Coote: not so sure. The movement from DeGea when the ball was struck would indicate that Sigurdson didn’t obstruct his line of sight, and the deflection rendered the offside void. Moving his legs didn’t interfere with play as the ball was going in.
@Mark Coote: how can he be offside when the ball through deflected off a united player?
@Karl Cranny: its offside because it is in favour of utd simple
@Karl Cranny: He is still offside when the ball is struck before the deflection.
@Mark Coote: correct
@John Strahan: evidence you are wrong is that the referee and officals using var implement the rules and deemed the player offside – doesn’t matter if you don’t like it or disagree with the rules -he was offside
As a United fan, that was the first of the recent VAR decisions that I thought was incorrect. Everton could have had a penalty for the tackle of Sigurdsson and ruling the goal out was harsh. Completely got away with that
@Mossy: he didn’t touch the ball in the end. Not offside
@Ross: think it was given because the keepers view was impeded by an offside player
@Ross: was in an offside position and adjusted his body(pulled his legs away) to directly influence the direction of the ball. Rules are rules regardless if he touched it or not. If he hadn’t moved his legs the ball would have hit him
@A Cos: de gea was getting nowhere near it.. He didn’t touch the ball. Its a goal. United get away it it
@A Cos: seriously? Not touching the ball influenced it’s direction? That’s a new one
@Ross: you don’t have to touch the ball to interfere. That rules has been there a long time. Saying that I thought it was harsh De Gea was getting nowhere near it either way
@A Cos: how can he be offside when the ball through deflected off a United player?
@Karl Cranny: he was offside when the shot was taken. Offside all day. He moved out of the way of the ball therefor he interfered with play!
@Joe: how can you interfere by not influencing anything at all? The deflection had DeGea heading the wrong way (off a United player), he was on his arse (I wonder how that happened) and didn’t even touch the ball. United fans are bending and twisting the rules in their favour yet again. No offside and no interface.
@Karl Cranny: he was “interfering” with play, in an off side position. This is not a new concept.
@James Reardon: the fact the keeper moved, correctly, in the direction the original ball was struck would suggest that his view was not impeded by the opposition player on the ground. It was a weak call. But if I was a SKY executive, concerned about whether Man Utd or Sheffield Utd, or Wolves, got into Europe, it’s the call I’d make.
@Mossy: agree with you on that, but at Old Trafford thought the Everton goal should have been disallowed for the challenge on De Gea so maybe it all balances out in the end
@Karl Cranny: utd fans bending and twisting the rules??? VAR not make the decision?
How United fans can come up with LiVARpool baffles me, more like Varchester United, that was a perfectly fine goal at the end
@Karl Cranny: and I remember Liverpool getting a perfectly good goal disallowed for a push in De Gea.
@Ciarán Ó Dubhda: …for every flip up where De Gea costs United a goal, some ref saves him from conceding another at this stage.
@Ciarán Ó Dubhda: and uniteds goal in the 1.1 at OT had a foul on origi.. Also not even looked at by var
@Patrick Fitzgerald: that goal was looked at by var ffs, the the decision was no foul given as origi dived.
Robbed at the end Everton, de gea gettin nowhere near that ball even if a Sumo wrestler was in front of him!!
@Dougal67: what are you on about????
@devils avacado: I’ll type slowly for yeh dev, he wasn’t gettin to the ball anyway!!!
@Dougal67: They actually have it for blocking the view of the keeper on the shot. Replays clearly show DeGea had a perfect view. Poor decision
Varchester united… Thats the fourth time in the last few games that they’ve been bailed out by var, three times against chelsea and now against everton
@Eoin Murphy: and every time VAR was correct
@Sean Dalton: except for the Maguire red card, the 1st Chelsea goal and now the Everton goal!
@Sean Dalton: how so? It wasn’t offside as the Ball deflected through off a United player, that also eliminates the interference call. Varchester United strikes again.
@Karl Cranny: go away and learn the rules of football. Comeback when you understand the offside rule!
@Dave WR: jaysus if all you can do is be miserable and obsess about a 5th place man united when your team is winning the league by so much maybe its time you should find some other sport or hobby ffs
Varchester United again… If it was the other way around, goal
If it was offside them should it not have been brought back for a penalty. Sigurdsson got taken out of it when shooting. And it was a shocking offside decision. De gea was never getting and how could he have his view blocked
Utd are miles better with Bruno in the team, the whole team actually looks like they have a game plan now,, all the players are much more comfortable on the ball and the team look capable and of scoring goals. The difference a real world class player can make to the team,, Everton a little unlucky at the end, Carlo has them playing much better since he arrived, another team that has a good attacking threat. IMO.
@devils avacado: well said.
@devils avacado: they are playing Everton. Don’t get too carried away
I’m sure that would have been ruled out if it was a United winner at OT in the 92nd min……
@Dave WR: Similarly, Keane and Souness would have been singing a very different tune in the studio at the end.
Bruno best player on the pitch but credit to de gea and Pickford after the mistakes with World class saves.utd got out of jail.. Thank you var
De Gea is already beaten by the deflection and is going the wrong way. Sigurdsson does not effect his decision to go right in an attempt to save the ball.
Ill take that result all day. Bruno looked good again. Matic also had a good game.
@Brian Dunne: Matic good player but can’t run like he used to.
@Martin McKenna: matic never had pace hence why he was always a holding midfielder, never box to box has been bang in form last few months. Very underrated.
Can’t wait to hear the United mangers post game interview : Ole Gonna Sulk Sher
How easy a chance does igahlo need to score..
@Sean Murphy: he hit the target to be fair. Great save
Nothing to do with var,no var they would have disallowed it anyway,if it was for united they would have let it stand
@Thomas Ryan: it was giving before VAR were you watching the match or off at a gaa game?????
Mancs are now +8 with Var decisions this season more than anyone else, for comparison Liverpool and City are both +1, from ESPN.com.
Also have the most penalties awarded for (10) and only one against.
For the majority of the season so far, Manc fans have been consistently commenting about officiating decisions favouring Liverpool but as can be seen clearly from the numbers,they have benefitted the Mancs most who are still 37 points adrift.
@Peter Dunne: you do know it’s banter Peter? None of us play for either team… Congrats on been 37 points ahead of utd. I’m sure jurgan klopp has really appreciated your contribution this season.
@Peter Dunne: Refs have handed united many a league over the years, its obvious the FA is bent…..just thank god they are not up the top of the league because all of the above could be the difference between winning and losing a title, 10 penos and countless dodgy var calls going their way…..its not an accident.
@Peter Hughes: rather than come on here with this info maybe you should put a report together about corruption in English football? Go to the English police with this report. No room for corruption in sport of any kind. Particularly the var calls, your info could revolutionise the game in England possibly the world. I for one back you.
@Peter Hughes: tin foil hat stuff lads.
Football is obviously very emotive and especially when scoring, or conceding goals, but I wonder will it ever happen that players won’t be in such a rush to complain and berate the referee in the immediate aftermath, given that every goal now, is checked by VAR, and the ref, like everyone else, is just an interested onlooker at that point!
@Joe L: see the United players over to shout at the referee after goal was given, just like the game at Anfield. Some things never change
Everton, like many of the bottom half sides, are the Stoke of the premier league. Get stuck in and are constantly looking for a set piece to try and capitalise on. Not easy on the eye but effective all the same.