Sign of weakness: All Black stars Brodie Retallick and Sam Cane question Aussie tactics
The Wallabies adopted an aggressive approach in the second Bledisloe Cup match in Wellington, which New Zealand players believe showed a lack of focus
Australia’s attempt to impose themselves with physical aggression in the second Bledisloe Cup match in Wellington was a sign of “weakness” and a team not concentrating on their rugby, according to All Blacks players.
Thrashed 42-8 at home in the opener in Sydney, the Wallabies brought more niggle in the spite-tinged rematch in Wellington but fell 29-9 in another one-sided defeat.
“We saw it as a bit more of a weakness from them that they were worried about putting that in and we were just playing rugby,” All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick said.
“I don’t mind it, to be fair. They play their way, we play ours. I don’t mind the physical stuff.”
Flanker Sam Cane was similarly dismissive of the abrasive tactics brought by Michael Cheika’s team, who slumped to their sixth straight loss to surrender the Bledisloe Cup early for another year.
“We knew they would come out a lot more physical and potentially with a bit of niggle,” Cane said.
