Wallabies get their tactics just right

Analysis: The highlight of the weekend was Australia's marvellous performance against the All Blacks, writes Donal Spring.

Few neutral observers gave them much chance, but right from the start they seized the initiative and never released it.

The Wallaby coach, Eddie Jones, must take huge credit. Their tactics were superb. He out-thought New Zealand coach John Mitchell both in preparation and during the game. The All Blacks played as if they expected things to happen, instead of trying to make them happen. The Australian pack was much cuter and more efficient, particularly in the back five.

From the outset of the tournament the Australian backs have looked excellent at times but have been prone to too many mistakes. On Saturday, the mistakes were few and far between. They knew that, in the absence of Tana Umaga, the All Blacks' midfield was suspect and they rightly attacked that area. It had been flagged in the Australian media that they would probably do so, which makes it all the more surprising that the All Blacks had no plans to counteract it.

The decision not to award an early New Zealand try was a close one, but probably correct. The importance of the decision was accentuated by the interception try of Sterling Mortlock a couple of minutes later. The blame for that lies firmly with outhalf Carlos Spencer for moving the ball wide from a static ruck/lineout with the Australian backs queuing up. The error probably came from overconfidence.

Isn't it amazing how many times in the tournament the referees, despite having the assistance of the touch judges, have had to defer to the video referee? How did we survive at all before it? There certainly didn't seem to be as many controversial decisions. Even with the help of the camera some of them are still too close to call. I would not envy any video referee that job. In the future, I suspect, they will have a jury of video referees.

In the match, the Australians generated more momentum in everything they did. From the outset their lineout was better. They rucked better and they ran better with the ball. This game emphasised again how important it is to go forward with the ball, even if it is only a yard, to allow your team to run onto the pass and to keep the defender on the back foot.

The Australian scrum must still worry them, particularly now that Ben Darwin is injured and out of the front row. Mitchell must be kicking himself for not having selected Kees Meeuws, who is clearly their best scrummager.

Australia's outhalf, Steve Larkham, mixed the sublime with the ridiculous. He is a beautiful runner, particularly from broken play, but his kicking is very erratic.

There will be great depression in New Zealand after this result, which sees them go out of the competition at the same stage as last time in the biggest World Cup upset since France beat them. That their opponents on this occasion were Australia will probably hurt even more. It is not long since the All Blacks demolished them. New Zealanders will feel, just as they did four years ago, that their side had become over-confident and arrogant. A cold welcome awaits them in Auckland.

In the other semi-final, England destroyed France. Although the weather affected the game as a spectacle, it did not affect the result. If anything, I believe the winning margin would have been greater on a dry day. The English bossed the French from the start in a similar manner to the way France had bossed Ireland. The highly acclaimed French pack was obliterated, and never has their back row been less effective.

The sin-binning of Serge Betsen was harsh - he was committed to the tackle. He was the hardest-working of the French back row, while Olivier Magne and Imanol Harinordoquy both had nightmares. So too did scrumhalf Fabien Galthie and, in particular, outhalf Frederic Michalak. That happens when you are going backwards, as they were for most of the game.

Although France led 7-0 from a disputable video try, the momentum was with England right from the start. Wilkinson, like his pack, delivered when it really mattered. The French were trying to play their own game rather than upset England. On this occasion they were up against it.

We now look forward to a repeat of the 1993 final, except that this time the Australians have the home advantage. Before the competition began few gave Australia any chance of winning .

To do so they will have to cope with the stronger English pack and, of course, Wilkinson. I look forward to seeing what plans Jones comes up with for this one. It might not be a spectacular final, but it will be interesting.

In an interview with Johnny Watterson.