Kiwis happy, OZmob bungle and bicker

Body language experts weren’t needed in Christchurch yesterday. Five days before kickoff, two contrasting practice runs unfolded either side of town as the All Blacks and Wallabies began preparations in earnest for their Bledisloe Cup rematch.

Toby Robson, Stuff.co.nz

At AMI Stadium the All Blacks’ mood was light. Even the most carefree passes stuck as the backs went through their counterattack drills at the match venue.

Players and coaches alike wore the relaxed, self-assured smiles of a 12-test winning streak and the fresh memories of a 49-28 drubbing of their trans-Tasman neighbours.

In cold, light drizzle at Christ’s College, Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom wore a look born of pressure and frustration.

For 15 minutes bibs and non-bibs had gone at it at breakneck speed. It was not pretty as passes went regularly to ground rather than to hand.

And so, beanie pulled tight over his forehead, the Australian flanker stood rooted to the spot for a good five minutes as his forwards bungled and bickered through their kickoff receptions.

At one stage, Elsom kicked the ball away in disgust and when the forwards gathered for a group discussion with the assistant coaches he remained isolated and deep in thought.

Australia had the look of a team in search of answers that were not readily available on the training paddock.

Undermanned by injuries and suspension, they face an All Blacks side they have failed to beat in eight matches dating back to 2008 and that is at the top of their game. In short, they are a team under pressure.

He may have a stand named after his family, but, as Aussie coach, Robbie Deans earned little respite at his afternoon press conference.

Television host John Campbell hardly helped. He grilled Deans, in the nicest possible way, on the desperation he must now feel to beat Graham Henry and the All Blacks.

“Is there pressure?” replied Deans. “Yes, there’s pressure, it’s one of the realities of the job. We don’t like losing any games. We don’t like losing moments in games, let alone whole games.”

Campbell even asked Deans if he was actually enjoying his time as Australian coach? The answer was yes, but the inference that it could be anything other than miserable right now was clear.

Contrast this with Henry, who at the All Blacks’ hotel was extolling the virtues of the garden city and extending his empathy to his opposite.