Today the match Australia – New Zealand was played, which decided the winner of the 2011 TriNations.
This year the TriNations has been particular, primarily because it was played in a shortened version with only six games because the next month the rugby World Cup is starting but also because this is the last TriNations. In fact from next year the FourNations will be played, which will also include Argentina.
Undoubtedly the need to prepare for the rugby World Cup has taken away something from the TriNations: in 2007 New Zealand started the tournament dominating in a way never seen before against opponents who were working to reach their best shape at the right time and eventually it was South Africa who won the rugby World Cup. This year even the All Blacks have adopted a more cautious preparation and last week they played against South Africa with a team that was a little experimental.
Before this match New Zealand and Australia had the same tournament points so the situation was simple: whoever won today would win the TriNations title.
The game is very serious for the All Blacks because regardless of their rational preparation for the World Cup for them the only acceptable result is victory. As a result before this game their choice for the Haka is the “Kapa O Pango”, the one for the important occasions.
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However it’s Australia that starts the match well attacking New Zealand’s insufficient defense scoring first a penalty kick and during the first half also two tries. The All Blacks score only a penalty kick and the first half ends with a 20-3 in favor of Australia that calling surprising is an understatement.
In the second half New Zealand is more active: the team isn’t brilliant but it’s pragmatic and with the right attitude in twenty minutes it can break even at 20-20. Australia finally wakes up and scores another try shortly after, again thanks to a poor defense by the All Blacks. The second half becomes more and more intense but there’s no more scoring so the match ends 25-20 for Australia, which wins its first TriNations title since 2001.
When New Zealand doesn’t win the TriNations it’s an event and Australia arrives at the rugby World Cup with a cautious optimism. Instead The All Blacks have lost their last two matches and will have even more pressure on them.
There’s also South Africa. The defending world champions have played poorly the last two TriNations: their title defense will be difficult to say the least.
On September 9 the rugby World Cup will start: even the results of the TriNations must be taken with a grain of salt and in the next two months we could see some surprises. Surely we’ll have fun.
