Auckland rewrite the history books
Sat, 20 Oct 2007 09:27
Auckland have been crowned the Air New Zealand Cup champions for 2007 after dispatching a determined Wellington outfit 23-14 in a pulsating final at Eden Park on Saturday. No side has gone on to win the title undefeated in seventeen years, but the home team orchestrated their play well to not only win the Cup, but retain the Ranfurly Shield as well. The win was a fitting end to a fantastic season for Auckland who kept their composure with one man down after replacement forward Troy Flavell was shown a yellow card in a vital period of the match. A crowd of 16,000 could only marvel at the way their home team put in another structured performance in the driving rain that refrained Wellington from any possession and territory. The visitors were forced to make more tackles than their rampant opposition and, although heroic on defence, the Lions were also guilty of missing the one's that counted. Kicking also played a major role in windy conditions that did not make the simplest shots at goal any easier for pivots Isa Nacewa and Jimmy Gopperth. However both number ten's put in a flawless display - missing just one kick apiece. It was Gopperth that got the first points on the board for Wellington in the fifth minute of the game after Nacewa - who had missed an earlier attempt at goal - was penalised for not releasing the ball in the tackle. Auckland must have wondered why they were three points down after doing all the attacking, but two try-saving hits on either side of the pitch in quick succession denied the home team the chance to score. The Lions were unsuccessful in their next attempt to hold out the flying Aucklanders after a wobbly punt from Gopperth resulted in a counter attack from the home team. Using the full width of the field, Auckland spread the ball from right to left inside Wellington's 22 that sucked up two defenders enabling lock jay Williams to dive over in the corner. The TMO was called in by referee Chris Pollock to double check if the tall Auckland timber had been tackled into touch, had it been anyone shorter than Williams- the try perhaps would not have been given. Nacewa added the extras with a well-taken conversion from the touchline and the home team were in the lead 7-3. Auckland lengthened the gap with another try just four minutes after the re-start thanks to some brilliant footwork by winger David Smith with little room to work with. Nacewa took the option of spreading the ball on the short side and Smith, out of space and with three defenders in front of him, miraculously found himself inches from the tryline with stunning footwork that caught the Lions napping. Full-back Brent Ward was in support for a switch pass that ended with Nacewa over in the corner for another converted try. At 14-3, Auckland were all of a sudden in the driving seat and never looked like taking their foot off the pedal. That was until three minutes from half-time when energetic lock Jeremy Thrush showed he can kick the ball as well as score decent tries in the space of two minutes. The number four was left stranded after a punt into Wellington's 22 found a lock and not a full-back to help clear the lines. Thrush did rather well to get his team out of trouble with a monster kick downfield. Auckland chose to counter but were turned over in the tackle on their 10 metre line, leaving Cory Jane to make up for his absence at the back with a well-timed chip and gather. The speed merchant was ankle tapped on his run towards the line, but not before offloading to number eight Thomas Waldrom who in turn released Thrush on the wing. Seven metres out and running out of space, the athletic lock threw in a dummy that fooled winger Benson Stanley and ended with a terrific try in the corner. Gopperth missed the touchline conversion, but Wellington were back in touch of their hosts with the scores now reading 14-8 going into the half-time sheds. Nacewa and Gopperth landed two penalty goals apiece in the space of eight minutes after the break before both sides worked their All Blacks into the game. Wellington replacement number eight Rodney So'oialo tempted fate with an explosive shoulder charge on Ward that resulted in the first penalty goal for Nacewa four minutes into the second half. As the rain swept in again, the handling was made into that of a lottery with the scores reading 20-14 in favour of Auckland. Wellington had a possible chance to shorten the gap after a Gopperth midfield up-and-under was taken by replacement centre Conrad Smith. He attempted to slip a pass to Thrush but the lock was unable to hold the ball with the tryline beckoning 30 metres away. Thrush - who was kept busy all night - missed another chance in the 66th minute after Flavell was sin-binned for slowing the ball down in a ruck. Gopperth's ensuing penalty shot rebounded off the post and Thrush's follow-up just failed to grasp the ball. Auckland managed to escape yet again from the resulting line-out when Gopperth dropped a pass from halfback partner Piri Weepu and the ball was scrambled downfield. Down to fourteen men, again it was Nacewa who carried his side to safety after Wellington were penalised just inside their own half. The Fijian-born Auckland star calmly put the ball between the posts from a whopping 48 metres out. Wellington had another late chance with two minutes remaining on the clock, but centre Ma'a Nonu knocked on in a desperate bid towards the line and Auckland's victory was assured. Man of the match: For Wellington, Jimmy Gopperth kept his team in the game with little ball he was given and can hold his head high. Lock Jeremy Thrush was by far the best forward on the pitch and is one to watch for the Hurricanes next season. As for Auckland, the entire forward pack can stand up and take a bow while the work of David Smith on the wing was also pretty impressive. But our vote goes to the ever impressive Isa Nacewa who was the glue that stuck the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup winners together. Moment of the match: Every try that was scored had plenty to write home about, but we going to fast forward to the closing ceremony and the lifting up of the Air New Zealand Cup by skipper Sam Tuitupou - the face said it all. Mission accomplished. Villain of the match: Two players get a slap on the wrist for their efforts in this department and both were replacements in the second half. Troy Flavell of Auckland for his flash of indiscipline that cost his team a yellow card. And Wellington's Rodney So'oialo for his horrendous shoulder charge on Brent Ward that was lucky not to cost his team a yellow card. The scorers: For Auckland: Tries: Williams, Nacewa Cons: Nacewa 2 Pens: Nacewa 3 For Wellington: Try: Thrush Pens: Gopperth 3 The teams: Auckland: 15 Brent Ward, 14 David Smith, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Sam Tuitupou (c), 11 Benson Stanley, 10 Isa Nacewa, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Brad Mika, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Jay Williams, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Saimone Taumoepeau Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Nick White, 18 Troy Flavell, 19 Angus Macdonald, 20 Grayson Hart, 21 Lachie Munro Wellington: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Shannon Paku, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Piri Weepu (c), 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Tom Harding, 6 Api Naikatini, 5 Bernie Upton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 John Schwalger, 2 Luke Mahoney, 1 Jacob Ellison Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Anthony Perenise, 18 Fafili Levave, 19 Rodney So'oialo, 20 Alex Tulou, 21 Alby Mathewson, 22 Conrad Smith Referee: Chris Pollock Touch judges: Keith Brown, Vinny Munro Television match official: Jonathon White Assessor: Glenn Wahlstrom, Keith Lawrence By Dave Morris
