Deans' old mate McCaw makes the difference

Sunday, 03 August 2008 - NZPA

The return of one legend ensured an unhappy homecoming for another at Eden Park -- Robbie Deans identified All Blacks captain Richie McCaw as a prime contributor to the end of his unbeaten record as Wallabies coach.

There was no denying McCaw's tremendous influence over the All Blacks' redeeming 39-10 Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup victory -- both in word and deed.

"Richie was obviously an inspiration to the people around him. He was at the front end of everything, not just physically but verbally and they responded to that," Deans admitted of his former ally at the Crusaders.

Other than topping the tackle count, ruling the breakdown and supplying the crunching hit on Australian halfback Luke Burgess that facilitated Ma'a Nonu's 43rd minute try, McCaw also kept South African referee Mark Lawrence on side throughout the match.

While McCaw was ingratiating himself to the official, openside rival George Smith found himself on the backfoot all night as Lawrence frequently found fault with him at the tackle.

Deans, who had hoped to end the Wallabies' 22-year losing streak at Eden Park, felt for Smith.

"That's what happens when the tide flows the other way," he said.

"You're more exposed when you're going backwards. It's a natural result of the way the momentum was going."

Smith's sidekick Phil Waugh's contribution was also minimised by McCaw's accidental elbow to the head in the 11th minute -- not that Deans was searching for any excuses.

"It didn't help, but it wasn't a point of difference."

Instead Deans lamented a drop off in the Wallabies' precision kicking game and a malfunctioning lineout -- a facet of play usually considered a strength.

Australia lost turned over possession on their feed eight times while the All Blacks secured nine and lost just one.

"We weren't that accurate," Deans admitted.

"It happens when the tide turns and there's pressure built. They were prepared to take a bit of a risk (by contesting the throw). It snowballed on us, without a doubt."

Deans accurately described the contest as a mirror image of the Wallabies' 34-19 triumph in Sydney last weekend but with a different team in control.

"We didn't build any pressure with the ball we had, we didn't kick as good as we did last week. It was a good performance by the All Blacks, they were accurate."

Though disappointed he could not co-ordinate an historic night for the Wallabies, Deans was confident Australia were still in the hunt for two cups.

Their Tri-Nations campaign resumes on August 24 in Durban, a week after the All Blacks play the world champions in Cape Town.

The Bledisloe Cup is on hold until September 13 in Brisbane, where the Wallabies must win to keep that series alive when the teams meet in Hong Kong on November 1.

"There's a long way to go in this competition and the great thing is we're in a Tri-Nations that's wide open," he said.

"You've just had a vivid example of how one week is no indicator of the next."

Wallabies first five-eighth Matt Giteau described the setback as a "reality check" for a previously buoyant squad.

"It might be good for the guys and bring us a bit back down to earth," he said.

The Wallabies returned home early today with one serious injury concern to try-scorer Adam Ashley-Cooper who broke a bone in his hand.