WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans believes a combination of being unable to match the All Blacks' physical intensity, his players relaxing at the wrong moment and the toil of playing three Tests in as many weeks worked against them in Auckland last weekend.
Although Deans, yesterday writing on the Australian Rugby Union website, said he was not perturbed by the magnitude of their 39-10 loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park, he did admit "enormous disappointment when you lose without playing to your capabilities". Deans explained that the Wallabies' first loss in his coaching reign was due to numerous factors.
"Firstly, we didn't handle the physical intensity that the All Blacks brought to the game as well as we'd have liked," Deans wrote. "Perhaps it was the fact that we were playing our third Test match in as many weeks, which is difficult, although not insurmountable. Maybe some of the players relaxed just a little bit, failing to appreciate that the All Blacks would come at them even more strongly in light of their setback in the first game."
Deans explained that the "crux of the matter was the contest in the contact zone around the breakdown".
"There, the All Blacks generally won the battle and physically imposed themselves, as we had on them the week before at ANZ Stadium," Deans wrote."Getting on the front foot there allowed New Zealand to dictate much of the game through the tactical nous of Dan Carter. We then compounded the problem with some of our decision-making under pressure.
"We were hesitant at times, and forced into taking poor options, which in turn increased the pressure that we were under. As a consequence, we were unable to build any consistent pressure through continuity of possession or field position, and you simply can't get away with that against the best teams. They will capitalise, and the All Blacks did."
Deans described the Auckland loss as a setback "but it need not be any more than that".
"I would like to think the reverse won't impact too greatly on the confidence that has been built up within the group, but that is something we'll really only be able to judge retrospectively," Deans wrote.
"As the players recharge their batteries, they will be able to reflect on an opening six Tests that have generally gone well. We have developed significantly as a group, both in terms of the tightness of the unit, but also with regards to the players' general understanding of each other and of the playing method that we are trying to develop.
"Encouragingly that showed through, even under duress in Auckland, where the players showed that they were still prepared to try things and still prepared to back themselves and play. It didn't always come off, but the approach said a lot about their positive attitude."
The Wallabies will return to training in Sydney on Wednesday, before heading to South Africa for two Tri Nations Tests.
¡ AAP reports Auckland halfback Taniela Moa will join the All Blacks squad in South Africa as a replacement for Andy Ellis, who has aggravated a rib injury.
Moa is set to play for Auckland against Taranaki in the Air NZ Cup tomorrow before flying to Cape Town next week. Halfbacks Jimmy Cowan and Piri Weepu are already part of the All Blacks 26-man travelling squad.
¡ South Africa and Argentina go head to head in Johannesburg on Saturday, in a repeat of last year's World Cup semi-final, with the hosts seeking to hit top form ahead of the New Zealand and Australia clashes. The world champions are in third spot on the Tri Nations competition points table having won one of their three matches in Australia and New Zealand, but a full points haul on home soil will almost guarantee the Springboks their third Tri Nations title.