Wallabies mugged at their own game to leave Kiss mulling hard lessons | Angus Fontaine
Old habits resurface as Australia fritter away advantage and allow All Blacks to mount aerial assault at Eden Park
Les Kiss stood forlornly in the middle of Eden Park wearing a thousand-yard stare. The past 10 Wallabies coaches had all been where he was now, shaking their heads and cursing after a failed attempt to storm the fortress of New Zealand rugby. This was Kiss’s first loss as Australia coach and the little bloke was nursing a big hurt.
His side had arrived on a six-game unbeaten streak, fresh from stomping the world champions South Africa a fortnight before. Conversely, their old enemy were facing a fourth consecutive defeat after falling three times to that same Springboks side. After 25 years of Trans-Tasman pain, the Bledisloe Cup finally looked within reach.
