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IT wasn't the result the Wallabies were after, but they showed enough against the All Blacks on Saturday night to suggest they're settling into Ewen McKenzie's gameplan.
Mistakes at crucial times gave the All Blacks the opportunities they needed, and the world champions punished the Wallabies with pin-point attacking raids to run out 41-33 winners.
However there was plenty in the Wallabies' performance to like, especially the efforts of Quade Cooper, and centres Matt Toomua and Tevita Kuridrani.
Check out our review of the match below.
Action-packed
The Wallabies made a fast start and looked good in the opening stages, only to repeatedly turnover possession through loose handling and poor communication. The All Blacks stamped their authority on the match with some brilliant tries to Julian Savea, Sam Cane and Aaron Cruden with fullback Israel Dagg showing his class in all three five-pointers. The Wallabies stayed in touch with their hosts through the boot of Quade Cooper and closed the gap to just 11 points at half-time when the fly half found Adam Ashley-Cooper with a wide ball after a Matt Toomua linebreak. The Wallabies had to be the first side to score after the break and they did through Toomua, the Brumbies star finishing off a crucial intercept from provincial teammate Tevita Kuridrani. The All Blacks virtually answered straight back through skipper Kieran Read however, and would maintain a comfortable margin until Kuridrani grabbed a late consolation try with three minutes left on the clock.
Wallabies' best
The Wallabies backline enjoyed one of its better nights this season and much of that was down to Quade Cooper. Not only did the Wallabies No.10 go perfect with the boot but he also rediscovered some of the attacking brilliance that made him one of the game's most electrifying players back in 2011. Cooper played up flat at the advantage line, which opened up space for the impressive Kuridrani out wider. His defence was solid and even when he was bumped by Ma'a Nonu, the much-maligned No.10 came again to assist with the tackle. Elsewhere, Toomua and Kuridrani showed they look like a centre combination worth persisting with while Stephen Moore overcame an early defensive lapse to get through a mountain of work up front.
All Blacks' best
There were two excellent Israels on Forsyth Barr Stadium turf, but the one wearing black probably just shaded the Wallabies' great attacking hope. Israel Dagg got the All Blacks on the front foot in the first half with a brilliant blindside charge that resulted in a try to Julian Savea and then popped up again to play linkman for the pick of the night's five-pointers, which was scored by Sam Cane. Dagg picks his opportunities to chime into the backline with aplomb while his positional play ensured the Wallaby kickers found little grass when they opted for territory. Honourable mention must also go to winger Charles Piutau, Cory Jane's late replacement having a fine game opposite Wallaby debutant Peter Betham. Cane, too, ensured the All Blacks lost little in the absence of Richie McCaw.
Wallaby woes
Handling errors, an inconsistent scrum and opposition restarts should be top of the agenda when the Wallabies prepare for their five-Test trip to Europe. The restarts, in particular, are of grave concern. Too often the Wallabies handed momentum straight back to the All Blacks in the first half after they were unable to secure the hosts' kick-off. Then, when restarting after All Blacks points, they kicked too deep and allowed their opponents a safe journey out from their own half. Some loose handling on the part of skipper James Horwill and halfback Will Genia will hopefully just have been an issue for a solitary Test while the scrum, it seems, is set to be a big talking point throughout the November action.
Heading north
The Wallabies can at least head to Thursday night's John Eales Medal – which is almost certainly going to be taken out by Michael Hooper – with their heads held high. When they held the ball they looked dangerous and, like the Springboks, showed the All Blacks' defence can be exposed if you move them around the park. The world champions remain a cut above the rest at the moment however, and you'd back them to sweep their spring Tests against Japan, France, England and Ireland to finish the year with a perfect 14-0 record.
The good news for the Wallabies is that they're done with the All Blacks for 2013. Ewen McKenzie will want five victories from the trip north and if they show more of what they produced on Saturday night, it might not be too far from reality either.
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