'Be better': Wallabies to rue missed chance against All-Blacks
The All Blacks don't do off nights.
They usually range between absolutely brilliant and very good, with the occasional so-so performance along the way.
And when they turn in one of those rare so-so performances, the opposition has to cash in.
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The Wallabies were presented with such an opportunity at Eden Park on Saturday night and lost the winning ticket, going down 33-25 at their Eden Park graveyard.
Lapses either side of halftime proved fatal, allowing a spluttering New Zealand some breathing space and time to put things right.
Don't let the final score-line fool you; this game was in the All Blacks' keeping most of the journey.
That's despite all the stats that mattered favouring Australia.
At one stage New Zealand led 33-8. The flurry of messages on my rugby WhatsApp group all contained the same ominous theme – this will get to 50!
It didn't get near the half-century and the Wallabies deserve great credit for fighting until the final bell as the All Blacks clocked off before their shift was up.
It could have turned really ugly for the visitors but ended in an honourable defeat, three tries in the last 12 minutes putting some make-up on the black eye.
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Noah Lolesio's off night with the boot cost Australia a potential 12-point booty and that proved vital.
You could just see the air come out of the Wallabies' tyres each time the linesmens' flags stayed down, knowing every point counts against the ABs.
But it's too convenient to put it all down to Lolesio's recalcitrant right boot.
Nor do youth and the associated lack of experience give you an out.
As former Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell said post-match: "You don't get the luxury to use youth as an excuse when you're in the Wallabies side.
"You don’t get that get-out-of-jail-free card just because you’re a youthful side.
"These are the best players we've got in our nation representing us and wearing that jersey.
"We’ve just got to be better. When the game wasn't in the balance we started to fire a few more shots and eight points behind makes it a little bit more flattering than it actually was.
"It’s got to be right on at the beginning of the game when everything is on the line."
One thing is certain heading into the second Test next Saturday – the All Blacks will be a lot better.
You just know the ruthless Kiwis won’t be so forgiving a second time around, especially when the Bledisloe Cup is just 80 minutes away from spending its 19th straight year at NZRU headquarters.
The one uncertain – what will Australia serve up?
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