All Blacks V Wales - Millennium Stadium - 2009

So Warren Gatland has spoken. The All Blacks have lost their 'aura'. (That is of course compared to Gatland's side of 20 years ago when Gatland himself played for the All Blacks). But - press rewind here. Gatland actually just warmed the bench for Sean Fitzpatrick so never actually played a test himself for New Zealand.

Don't get me wrong. If Gatland was the All Black coach now, I'd be having a chortle at all the digs he's making at the opposition. But in reality, as much as Gatland would like to think he knows All Black rugby now, sadly he doesn't. I mean, he played for the dirt-trackers in the late 80s. Yes - admittedly, the ABs definitely had an aura of invincibility then ... but Gatland wasn't part of that as he never played a test for them. He just stood, salivating from the sidelines, like any frustrated understudy naturally does.

Three hours out from the 2009 Welsh - NZ game at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and it could be anyone's game (that's if you believe Gatland and the Western Mail). Or it might just be the game that turns the table for those 'hopeless' All Blacks. (I mean let’s face it, at the moment it seems that only S.A have their number).

But I guess time will tell. . I’m in New Zealand. It’s half three in the morning and it’s time for bed so I don’t care anymore.The best team will win and I think, that like the last 53 years, that team will be in black. If I'm wrong, I'll eat my hat (or delete the post hurridly in the morn).

All Blacks 32 - Wallabies 19 - Tokyo

Tonight the All Blacks won against the Wallabies for the fourth time this year (although the tally does flatter the winners as the Wallabies took the AB's to the line on at least two occasions, and looked very much on par with the New Zealanders).

However, in the end with Dan Carter's boot and two beautiful tries (the first, the best I've seen from the All Blacks all year), the New Zealanders brought this game home.

The first half was incredibly even. I've always said - sagely since the mid 80s - never get the Aussies into your own twenty two as they'll pull one out of the bag. And Peter Hynes did just that, in the corner brushing off four desperate All Blacks, just before the second time whistle.

The try was awarded dubiously by the TMO after what it seemed like ten minutes of soul searching. To be fair, I would have awarded it too. (One must always give the attacking team the benefit of the doubt - even if it was grounded before it touched the chalk and then lost forward after).

The ABs weren't helped in the five minutes previous by the brainless and inept (ok, he finished with a try, but he's still inept) Sivivatu who pulled an illegal in-the-air tackle against Adam Ashley Cooper that looked distinctly malicious. Of course he was sent to the sin bin for a well deserved ten thereafter. (Why the AB coaches persist with this nutbar who can't tackle and can't catch a basic up-and-under is beyond me).

But at half time, the All Blacks got the 'talking to' and came out firing. Conrad 'runs a good straight line' Smith scored a 'good running at the line' in a straight pattern try, and then it was up to Dan and Giteau to exchange penalties for the next half hour.

Roll on the AIs.

Tri Nations 2009 - Still alive and kicking

It’s amazing how one game can change everything in world rugby. Less than a week ago and the Springboks were invincible world beaters that were so far ahead of the rest of the teams in the world, all we could do was stand back in awe and admiration. This week and the Wallabies with an injection of passion and desperation, blow that aura of invincibility to smithereens. How quickly the tables can turn with a fickle media and public.

Already the sniping at Springbok talisman John Smit has begun. (Maybe there is a point to this considering he was annihilated by a scrum that has up until very recently, been a world laughing stock). The murmur of usual clichés have started to gain in volume: ‘The boks are poor travellers, they don’t know what to do when someone applies pressure to them, they’ve got a stupid coach’ etc etc. It just goes to prove that any team, no matter how fearsome, is only as good as its last game.

Good news for the Tri Nations too. This means the last two games won’t be dead rubbers – although the All Blacks will have to play out of their skins and score four tries in each match to have any hope of retaining the trophy. Call me a pessimist but I can’t see how it will be possible with the current players in the All Blacks. Especially if Henry decides to continue tinkering with his backline and playing everyone out of position. Dan Carter is the world’s best number 10. Why would Henry play him at 12? And what impact can an out of form Mils Muliaina possibly make at centre? He has struggled in his own position, so what kind of cutting incisiveness will he make at centre? Not much I should imagine.

If Henry picks the slovenly Tialata who I see is back training with the squad, well then I’m going to trot off to the TAB and put some money on the South Africans myself. I thought the silver lining from the losses we have had this year would be that Henry would shave the players from the team who turn up but clearly look like they can’t be bothered. We need to get rid of the dead weight. Not keep on flogging a dead horse by playing inept players with no brains for the game or passion.