When Australia realised that they could not out-muscle New Zealand in Sunday's World Cup semi-final, they had nothing else to throw at them, according to Bret Harris of The Australian.
"At first I thought the All Blacks-Wallabies World Cup semi-final was over in the first five and a half minutes. That was all the time it took for All Blacks inside centre Ma'a Nonu to score the only try of the match.
"But just as important as the five points was the tone the All Blacks set in that opening period of play. There is no doubt the Wallabies struggled to contain the expansive New Zealanders as they shifted the ball from one side to the other until fullback Israel Dagg made a break and put Nonu over.
"But it was more the sheer physicality of their play that shook the Wallabies. Having won the battle to control the tempo of the game, the All Blacks had the momentum for most of the match.
"Then I thought, no, the Wallabies lost the game at the kick-off when five-eighth Quade Cooper booted the ball into touch on the full."
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