Talking Points | infonews.co.nz New Zealand News

Patience, opportunism and phenomenal tackle counts dominated the southern hemisphere match-ups on Sunday, when the Rugby World Cup 2011 quarter-finals ended as the lowest scoring in RWC history with an average of just 31.5 points per match. Defences controlled attacks and penalties and drop goals outscored tries by more than three to one as Australia and New Zealand, both blessed with some of the game's finest attacking talents, showed impressive tactical flexibility to scrap their way into this weekend's semi-finals. Penalty counts were crucial in both matches, but for very different reasons. All pre-RWC 2011 debate was about Australia's dynamite backline and their ability to play on the front foot, but the Wallabies performed a scarcely believable Houdini act at the Wellington Regional Stadium against the Springboks that was built on superbly disciplined defence and accomplished very much on the back foot. With Zimbabwe-born flanker David Pocock the chief escapologist, ably supported by fellow back row Rocky Elsom and inspirational captain James Horwill, Australia made 147 tackles, relying on suffocating defence that soaked up everything the Springboks could throw at them. With boundaries pushed, the general rule is more tackles equals more penalties and before the quarter-final Australia's tackle/penalty ratio stood at 8.3 tackles per penalty. No silly penalties In the build-up to the match, Horwill was well aware that the Wallabies had to tighten up in this area against the Springboks. "(Fly half) Morné Steyn's a fantastic kicker," said the captain. "You've got to be aware that their goal-kicking ability is pretty strong across the board. You can't give away silly penalties to allow them three points at goal." True to Horwill's word and despite being under immense pressure from the Springboks in their own half for the majority of the match - South Africa claimed 76 per cent of territory - Australia conceded just six penalties at a ratio of 24.5 tackles per penalty, almost three times better than their tournament average. Astonishingly, with South Africa desperately chasing a result, Australia's ratio was 42.5 tackles per penalty in the second half, a statistic that illustrated just how well the Wallabies dealt with the pressure yet still managed to starve the Springboks of opportunities. Most importantly, when Australia conceded penalties they did so in relatively safe areas. Of the six penalties they gave to South Africa, one was kicked for touch from well inside their own half, one was kicked to touch for a lineout on Australia's five-metre line, two were successfully kicked and two were just outside Steyn's range on halfway. Prophetic words Morné Steyn's range that is. In his inimitable style, South Africa coach Peter de Villiers said at the start of last week that losing Frans Steyn to injury was more of a blow to the Springboks than the All Blacks losing Dan Carter, no doubt with Frans Steyn's monster goal-kicking abilities at least a little in mind. How prophetic those words proved. Australia's discipline was so strong and their tactics so successful that even with 84 per cent of first half territory South Africa did not get their first points on the board, a Steyn penalty, until the 39th minute. The Springboks had never had to wait longer for points in an RWC match. Despite the penalty risks involved, the Wallabies still went after the breakdown, with Pocock - whose performance Robbie Deans later described as "immense" and "bigger than he got credit for" - the key man in contesting possession at the tackle area. He was a constant thorn in South Africa's side, combining precise timing and strong body positioning to spoil plenty of Springboks' ball. Most notably, Australia could boast a handful of turnovers from inside their own 22, and Pocock was responsible for at least three of them. "You have got to take your hat off to them - they were good on the ground," said a shaken John Smit. "We decided to be brave and keep the ball and you'd normally be rewarded as an attacking team, but it wasn't quite that way tonight. It's the first time I have lost a game on the scoreboard and won it every other way from a stats point of view." Narrow channels South Africa's dominance also played into Australia's hands. With such levels of success in terms of territory and possession, the Springboks were reluctant to try anything different in attack. They opted for physical, direct ball-carrying in narrow channels even when Australia were clearly tiring. The lack of invention was costly. Well into the second half, from turnovers in Australia's 22, both Danie Rossouw and the otherwise outstanding Schalk Burger were guilty of carrying attacking ball into heavy contact when there were better, quicker options wide outside them. In a cruel final twist, it was from a penalty that Wallabies wing James O'Connor kicked the game's decisive score, putting Australia back in the lead at 11-9 with less than 10 minutes to go. The Houdini act was complete. In the second southern hemisphere quarter-final, the All Blacks came of RWC 2011 age at Eden Park against a proud and obdurate Argentina, expertly staying patient to overcome the Pumas' frustration tactics and ultimately progress comfortably into the semi-finals. There would have been some frayed nerves around New Zealand and it certainly wasn't a textbook All Blacks victory, but it was a different type of impressive performance and was a perfect answer to critics who have complained that New Zealand have not had enough tough RWC matches. "I think the way it turned out was the expectation we had," said a satisfied Richie McCaw. "Even though it came close a few times, we realised we had to stick to it and take chances." High-tackle count Repelling the All Blacks when they had ball in hand and keeping them below 20 points at half-time was critical to Argentina's chances of an upset and they tackled themselves to a standstill in pursuit of victory, posting a total of 135 tackles for the match, well above their RWC 2011 average of 85. The Pumas successfully employed high and low double-team tackles to quell the All Blacks' damaging offloading game, their scramble and cover defences were sharp when first-up tackles were missed and they even crossed the whitewash before the hosts, conjuring a try from nothing for flanker Julio Farias Cabello after half an hour. Trailing by just five points at the break, things were looking good for Argentina and after 66 minutes they were still within touching distance at eight points in arrears. Captain Felipe Contepomi was happy the Pumas were competitive for more than an hour, but accepted they needed more against the All Blacks. Territory was also an important part of the tactical plan, but with only 37 per cent for the match and 10 penalties conceded, seven within kicking range, the Pumas simply could not replicate what Australia had done with such little territory against the Springboks. They shipped too many kickable penalties to keep the All Blacks under real pressure on the scoreboard. Seven offences, the majority avoidable in ruck situations, were penalised and all inside their own 10-metre line. Enter Piri Weepu's boot. His seven penalties from seven shots was an RWC record for the All Blacks, the highest by any player at RWC 2011 and the most by any player in a single match at the last three RWCs. "His goal kicking was huge for us," said teammate Conrad Smith. Kicking composure Kicking for the posts has been a crucial part of successful RWC campaigns in the past, and Weepu's ability to take the points when they were available was a clear example of the All Blacks' composure in dealing with their tricky South American road hump. Frustration has unraveled All Blacks' RWC teams in the past and stubborn resistance was exactly what they got from the Pumas at Eden Park. Aside from the three times they have failed to cross the whitewash in RWC matches, the All Blacks have never been made to wait longer for a try in a knockout match than the 67 minutes it took them to breach Argentina's determined defence. From the perspective of having moved into the semi-finals, All Blacks coach Graham Henry was particularly pleased to see his charges tested against the Pumas. "They played very defensively," he said. "It was a very tough game, but we kept our cool and our composure. It was a great game of footy."