By TOBY ROBSON in Sydney – The Dominion Post www.stuff.co.nz

24/08/2009

Don’t pop the champagne corks yet, but put the bottles on ice.

The All Blacks current vintage aren’t a classic, yet.

The game’s still got issues, granted, but both parties took some steps in the right direction in Sydney on Saturday night when the All Blacks kept their Tri-Nations hopes alive.

Australia must beat South Africa at least once in the next fortnight, but Graham Henry’s men are back in the race.

They are there on what their coach called “intestinal fortitude” after their 19-18 escape act at ANZ Stadium.

Henry should still have concerns. Depth remains an issue in several positions first-five, centre and openside. Basic skills, such as the handling in the backs and the giving away of soft, kickable penalties, remain a frustration and the finishing is poor.

Joe Rokocoko’s place on the wing is difficult to justify, fullback Mils Muiliana is out of form and there are renewed injury concerns in the backs.

But to put the boot into the All Blacks would overlook positive developments. The scrum was strong enough to send Wallabies tighthead Al Baxter to the bench. The lineout gained parity and the defence kept the hosts tryless.

Most encouraging was confirmation that with a strong guiding hand at first-five the All Blacks can compete in the most basic tenet of the game – territory.

As corny as it sounds, the All Blacks achieved something more valuable to a team than any number of tries.

“I’m not saying today was the perfect performance or nothing, but it was a better performance,” husked Brad Thorn.

“It took 80 minutes to win that game. There were plenty of times we could have walked away, but we just kept showing up and to me that’s a real signature of the All Blacks jersey.”

South Africa are a case in point. They might be winning ugly, but it’s winning that counts.

Had their passes stuck in Sydney the All Blacks would have cruised home. Carter crossed from a forward pass, and Jimmy Cowan’s try was disallowed for obstruction.

Clean breaks from Andrew Hore, Isaac Ross, Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu came to nothing.

The All Blacks coaches have erred in trying to walk before they could run this season. Without Carter they have been a team collectively fumbling in the dark. Now they have a torch to guide them.

THE match itself was not the watershed moment administrators had wanted. Six Matt Giteau penalties, and referee Jonathan Kaplan’s constantly pursed lips, remain testament to ongoing problems with the rules.

However, this was not a terrible spectacle once the first half was over.

It was not the result most of the 80,228 fans wanted, but few will forget the night Carter broke their hearts again. Aussie fans talked long into the night about Cowan’s try-saving tackle on Nathan Sharp, Benn Robinson’s drop on the final play and Drew Mitchell’s failure to clean up Carter’s grubber.

They will remember the bruising hits that saw five bloodbins, debate Robbie Deans’ future as Wallaby coach and wonder how Sivivatu saw Ma’a Nonu on his outside shoulder.

Ad Feedback Had there been a few tries to boot it may have been a cracker. Had the players not dropped the ball, sealed off rucks and deliberately infringed to prevent tries it may well have been.

As Nonu said after the match: “We hung in there and luckily one of their blokes knocked it on. As All Blacks we pride ourselves on producing the best rugby we can and we haven’t this year, so there’s room for improvement.”

HOW THEY RATED

Mils Muliaina 6

Unforgivable decision to kick down the middle with time up in the first half nearly conceding a try and led to Matt Giteau’s fourth penalty. Not in vintage form.

Joe Rokocoko 5.5

Full of heart, but continues to struggle at test level. His timing is out and letting a high ball bounce in the second half summed up his lack of confidence.

Sitiveni Sivivatu 8.5

The best player on the park, Sivivatu is the All Blacks’ most potent attacking threat and strong under the high ball. Brilliant no-look pass to Ma’a Nonu for the only try of the match.

Conrad Smith 6.5

Only half a game, but in a rich vein of form at this stage in his career and continues to be a player with a low error rate and good vision.

Luke McAlister 6.5

Was lucky to be selected, but produced his best effort since returning from England before breaking a cheek bone. Looked sharp running into holes and defended strongly.

Ma’a Nonu 8

Superb off the bench making some crucial cover tackles and posing a threat on attack. Stayed alive after passing to receive the final pass from Sivivatu for his third test try of the season.

Dan Carter 8

Not bad for a test comeback. Most importantly Carter organised the All Blacks attack and for the first time this season there was pressure through territory. And of course he kicked the winning goal. All class.

Jimmy Cowan 7

His try-saving tackle on Nathan Sharpe on halftime may have won the match. Thrives in close, physical scraps. Unlucky to have a try disallowed for obstruction.

Kieran Read 7

Continues to rise in stature at test level. Good around the park, solid defence and a strong lineout option.

Richie McCaw 7

Rampaged around in typical fashion and got through a mountain of defensive work.

Isaac Ross 6.5

The lineout functioned well and a trademark burst in the second half. Still not the physical presence of some, but continues to progress. Big career ahead.

Brad Thorn 7

Gave everything in the tank and provided a physical edge that the Wallabies clearly didn’t enjoy. May need a rest in the next few weeks.

Owen Franks 7

A rising star who looks increasingly comfortable at test level. Part of a strong All Blacks scrum.

Andrew Hore 7

Still a few overthrows at lineout time, but a vast improvement. A strong match around the park and tireless in defence.

Tony Woodcock 8

Destroyed opposite Al Baxter at scrum time and thus laid the platform for an All Blacks win.

WHERE IT WAS WON

SET PIECE: When Wallabies tighthead Al Baxter got pulled after half an hour, the All Blacks’ scrum domination was official. Tony Woodcock did a job on Baxter and Owen Franks continued his rising stocks with another solid effort at test level. At lineout time the All Blacks simplified and threw most of their ball to the front. Moving targets were replaced by a quick hoist at two where Kieran Read provided a reliable option.

COMPOSURE: Dan Carter has ice in his veins and, despite missing a late drop goal, remained calm. Even more than his winning goal, Carter’s late prod into the left-hand corner of the ground won this match. With two minutes to go, Carter knew field position was the over-riding concern and instead of trying to run the ball he put his side in the right place. Stephen Donald and Isaac Ross did the chasing, the penalty came and the All Blacks won.

X-FACTOR: The All Blacks attack remains a work in progress, but wing Sitiveni Sivivatu was the best player on the park and it was fitting that he and Ma’a Nonu combined for the only try of the match. Sivivatu makes a mockery of the belief flat defences are impenetrable and his no-look pass to Nonu was the individual highlight of the night. Nonu too deserves a pat on the back for the way he handled his harsh demotion to the bench.