All Blacks sweep aside arch rivals 29-9

AS a kid in the 50s and 60s, you were aware of some terrific rugby teams and outstanding individuals.

But there were only two superpowers New Zealand and South Africa.

Nobody could touch them. There was, of course, no World Cup in those days, but if one had the edge over the other, then it was the Springboks who held sway. They were depicted as cold, ruthless and distinctly unfriendly. But nine and a half times out of 10, they won.

How things have changed. They were beaten far more decisively by the All Blacks than Saturday's 29-9 quarter-final score-line would indicate.

Their World Cup is over, and if few regret their passing, they still behaved themselves impeccably on the Telstra Dome pitch and presented a far more appealing image than their victorious opponents once the hostilities had ceased.

The post-match interviews told a tale. Four Kiwis, led by their coach John Mitchell, sat at the top table and brought to mind the name of a dust-covered book tucked away somewhere in my office. It was called "The Unsmiling Giants". Indeed.

The Boks then rolled in. They had been hockeyed out of sight by their most detested rivals and yet could see the humorous side of things.

Their left wing Thinus Delport had been almost cut in half by a tackle from the All Black No. 8 Jerry Collins. Asked what it felt like, Delport responded with some feeling: "Like being hit by a brick ****house."

The hacks were in desperate need of some light relief, even if Delport's description was hardly novel! After all, when John Mitchell was asked if he was emotional at having coached an All Black side to the semi-finals of the World Cup, he replied with a dead straight face: "I'm just happy."

So the men in black move on to the Telstra Olympic Stadium and a fascinating semi-final clash with the host nation and defending champions. The Wallabies have been anything but impressive so far, and it is amazing to hear the likes of John Eales cover up their shortcomings on the Aussie television.

Let's be honest. Scotland are rubbish, but they could still have turned the Aussies over in Brisbane on Saturday night had they been a better side in the first place and secondly were possessed of a greater self belief.

Instead, George Gregan and his men eventually won their record eleventh successive World Cup match without undue trouble.

And even if the Blacks keep making unforced errors, they will be more than ready for the Wallabies.

A team containing the likes of Carlos Spencer, the modern prince of out-halves; wingers like Joe Rockococo and Doug Howlett; second-rows Ali Williams and Chris Jack and a flanker of the calibre of Richie McCaw won't be stopped by this mediocre Aussie XV.

New Zealand are good. It's such a pity they should be so lacking in charisma.

"I think our pack has been under-estimated up to his, but they were superb. This match was always going to be a grind. It was a typical Rugby World Cup quarter-final. We didn't finish off all our opportunities and didn't have the skills at the vital moments, and we were also selfish at times," Mitchell said.

If nothing else, Mitchell was being honest and telling it like it was. The Blacks didn't make the best of their chances and should definitely have won by a lot more. A major reason was that the ball carrier all too often went it alone.

In other words, as Mitchell put it selfish. And the Blacks's coach was also correct when he described his No. 8 Jerry Collins, who went into the game with a rib injury, as "outstanding, a man of great mental strength".

"His motto is not to let down his teammates and how much it means to him to be an All Black," he said.

Mitchell also spoke of the significance of any New Zealand-South Africa game: "It's the greatest experience in the world. Quite unique. It focuses you to get the job done."

Just as he praised Collins, he also lauded his try-scoring hooker Keven Mealamu: "He has special qualities, and there are very few other hookers like him in the game."

The word is that the New Zealand public are waiting for the Blacks to slip up. Press room colleagues insist that John Mitchell's ways have driven Kiwis mad, and they want to see the end of his reign. However, if you think that's bad, just imagine what awaits Rudi Streauli and his players.

"We came here to win the World Cup and won a lot of hearts", he claimed. "But we were beaten by a better team."