The Kiwis have spoken: Australia won't be winning the 2011 Rugby World Cup. This is the boast across the Tasman in the wake of the All Blacks' nation-building 33-6 walloping of the Wallabies in Wellington last Saturday.
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| That losing feeling . . . Australian players look on as the All Blacks celebrate their Bledisloe Cup triumph.
Photo: Reuters |
The game might have been a play-off for the Tri Nations wooden spoon after a glorious South African side took the trophy, but in New Zealand you wouldn't know it.
Forget that the Springboks romped home to take the southern hemisphere title after downing the All Blacks three times straight.
The point, if you listen to gleeful media commentators, is that in the end the Kiwis pulled themselves together and showed the Aussies who is boss.
The Australian side was described variously as "pampered poodles" and "powder puffs" that gave the rugby world a "good old laugh" on the night.
In the words of New Zealand Herald commentator Chris Rattue, "You'd find more spine in a worm farm convention".
Their losing streak will extend to the 2011 World Cup, says Rattue confidently, "because the Ockers don't have the heart or the muscle for a series of vigorous physical battles".
"Aussie World Cup supporters should forget making any long-term discount bookings in Auckland and stick to the overnight room rates," he warned.
Other headlines blared "Kiwis have the edge", "Aussies go down" and "We deserved it" as the country proudly resurrects its national sport.
New Zealand reporters boasted about their side's "attitude, aggression, commitment and intensity" and Australia being "out to lunch" on the night.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry's comments about the Wallabies' dismal showing have been enthusiastically replayed, and former All Black Jon Preston enjoyed sinking the boot in even more.
"The Wallabies aren't much at the moment," he told Radio New Zealand.
"They would have to be very, very gutted with their performance. There's no doubt about that."
But, while the All Blacks might have got it right, not so the Silver Ferns. The national netball team had the opposite problem, starting the trans-Tasman series strongly before three straight losses to their old foes.
Australia's third win, a narrow 47-46 victory in Invercargill on Sunday, handed the Diamonds the title even before this Wednesday's final match has been played.
The Ferns' straight-talking skipper, Casey Williams, was clearly unimpressed, signalling to Australia they're serious about re-joining their rugby comrades.
"We're pretty pissed off we've lost the series," Williams said.
"It's not acceptable and now we have to go back and see what we're going to do about it."
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