NZ v Aus: Third time lucky?
New Zealand play Australia in a World Cup semifinal this weekend. It will be the third time the two teams have met in World Cup semifinals.
On both previous occasions the Wallabies have won.
Apart from the 1991 brilliance of David Campese, the foundation for the Wallaby success was their relentless defence – which could again be a winning weapon in 2011.
In 1991 Australia went on to win the World Cup and in 2003 Australia lost in the final against England.
In both semifinals the Wallaby victory was clear-cut.
We look back at their two previous RWC semifinal meetings:
1991 – Australia won 16-6
In the quarterfinals that year Australia had squeezed past Ireland in a most dramatic match at Lansdowne Road. when two tries were scored in the last five minutes. The first by Gordon Hamilton chased by David Campese gave Ireland an 18-15 lead. There was still time for the Wallabies to win a scrum and for Michael Lynagh to scrape up a Campese pass at the goalline to score in the corner for a 19-18 victory. In the meantime, New Zealand beat Canada 29-13 to meet Australia in the semis.
Australia v New Zealand at Lansdowne Road, Dublin on 27 October 1991
It was Campese’s match. In fact he was named Player of the 1991 Rugby World Cup. The Wallabies scored two tries, both thanks to the great Campo. For the first Campese ran at a diagonal across the face of the All Black backs for a try in the left corner.
He made the second one with the boldest, most skilful pass Rugby World Cup has seen as he raced down for the right corner then popped the ball up into the air for Tim Horan to grab and score.
By half-time Australia led 13-0 and in the second half the All Blacks could manage only two penalty goals as they bowed out of the World Cup which the Wallabies went on to win. It was the All Black’s lowest World Cup score.
The scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Campese, Horan
Con: Lynagh
Pens: Lynagh 2
For New Zealand:
Pens: Fox 2
* The try was still worth four points.
The teams:
Australia: 15 Marty Roebuck, 14 Rob Egerton, 13 Jason Little, 12 Tim Horan, 11 David Campese, 10 Michael Lynagh, 9 Nick Farr-Jones, 8 Willy Ofahengaue, 7 Simon Poidevin, 6 Jeff Miller, 5 Rod McCall, 4 John Eales, 3 Ewen McKenzie, 2 Phil Kearns, 1 Tony Daly.
New Zealand: 15 Kieran Crowley, 14 John Kirwan, 13 Craig Innes, 12 Bernie McCahill, 11 John Timu, 10 Grant Fox, 9 Graeme Bachop, 8 Zinzan Brooke, 7 Carter, 6 Alan Whetton, 5 Gary Whetton (captain), 4 Ian Jones, 3 Richard Loe, 2 Sean Fitzpatrick, 1 Steve McDowell.
Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)
2003 – Australia won 22-10
Australia v New Zealand at Telstra Stadium, Sydney on 15 November 2003
At the same venue three months before New Zealand beat Australia 50-21. They had beaten South Africa 29-9 in the quarterfinal while Australia beat Scotland 33-16. The All Blacks were favourites to win this one.
The Wallabies thoroughly deserved to win as they starved the All Blacks of ball, keeping as much of their possession as possible and then tackling with vigour if the All Blacks got scraps.
Stirling Mortlock scored the home side’s try with an intercept and an 80-metre sprint. The Wallabies led 13-0 till Carlos Spencer did his clever thing to make a try for his captain Reuben Thorne. This did not herald a New Zealand renaissance as Australia dominated the second half. and Elton Flately carried on kicking penalties.
The scorers:
For Australia:
Try: Mortlock
Con: Flatley
Pens: Flatley 5
For New Zealand:
Try: Thorne
Con: MacDonald
Pen: MacDonald
The teams:
Australia: 15 Mat Rogers, 14 Wendell Sailor, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Elton Flatley, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (captain), 8 David Lyons, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 George Smith, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Ben Darwin, 2 Brendan Cannon, 1 Bill Young.
Replacements: 16 Jeremy Paul, 17 Al Baxter, 18 David Giffin, 19 Matt Cockbain, 20 Chris Whitaker, 21 Nathan Grey, 22 Joe Roff.
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Leon MacDonald, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Justin Marshall, 8 Jerry Collins, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Reuben Thorne (captain), 5 Ali Williams, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Dave Hewett.
Replacements: 16 Mark Hammett, 17 Kees Meeuws, 18 Brad Thorn, 19 Marty Holah, 20 Byron Kelleher, 21 Dan Carter, 22 Caleb Ralph.
Referee: Chris White (England)
* So, can NZ make it third time lucky come Sunday?
By Paul Dobson
