New Zealand 41
Australia 13
RICHIE MCCAW BROKE Brian O’Driscoll’s Test appearance record this morning in typical fashion: featuring in a stunning All Blacks win.
New Zealand finished their World Cup preparations with a 41-13 rout of Australia to once again retain the Bledisloe Cup.
After last week’s 27-19 loss in Sydney which awarded the Rugby Championship to Australia, the All Blacks were in no mood to be beaten again and they made sure their 29-year winning streak over their neighbours at Eden Park was protected.
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Quade Cooper – controversially included in place of Bernard Foley at fly-half – kicked Australia into an early lead, but the visitors were soon reeled in by Carter as he surpassed 700 points on home turf.
And Carter played a central role as Steve Hansen’s men scored the opening try of the match, making the initial burst before hooker Dane Coles ran half the length of the pitch to touch down.
New Zealand ended what was, at times, a fiery first half with a 13-6 advantage following a further penalty apiece, and Carter dragged a drop-goal attempt wide with the last action before the break.
The All Blacks cranked through the gears during a dominant second-half display and received some help from Cooper in opening the floodgates.
The visiting number 10′s high tackle on Aaron Smith prompted referee Nigel Owens to award New Zealand a penalty try, with Cooper sent to the sin bin for his troubles.
That score came seven minutes into the half and Nonu soon added his name to the scoresheet as the home side exploited the extra man to go 27-6 in front.
And New Zealand had stretched their lead by another seven points by the time Cooper’s punishment was up – Conrad Smith going over after more good work from Nonu, who then collected a neat inside pass from Carter to claim his second of the match amid some weak Australian defending shortly after the hour mark.
Fortunately for Australia, that try – and Carter’s conversion – signalled the end of New Zealand’s second-half romp, and Israel Folau went over for a late consolation four minutes from time.
Scorers
New Zealand – Tries: Dane Coles, Penalty try, Ma’a Nonu (2), Conrad Smith. Conversions: Dan Carter (5). Penalties: Carter (2)
Australia – Try: Israel Folau. Conversion: Nic White. Penalties: Quade Cooper (2)
Teams (15-1)
New Zealand: Ben Smith; Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea; Daniel Carter, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Victor Vito; Samuel Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Nepo Laulala, Jerome Kaino, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Colin Slade, Malakai Fekitoa.
Australia: Israel Folau; Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Adam Ashley-Cooper; Quade Cooper, Nic White; Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy; James Horwill, Will Skelton; Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (capt), Scott Sio.
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Dean Mumm, Kane Douglas, David Pocock, Matt Giteau, Kurtley Beale.
Referee: Nigel Owens (WAL)
Great player!! All blacks are such a dominant force. Always have been and always will be!!
What happened last week so?
They’ve won 1 World Cup on home soil
They’ve won two pal..
Yep first and last bet England won’t win there’s haha
2 world cups on home soil don’t post comments if you haven’t a clue
What language is that?
English? At the end of the day we was right. Two World Cups on home soil not one.
“Always” will be? No pressure on the future players then.
England still have 1 more World Cup than the rest of the northern hemisphere combined pal
Wouldn’t read too much into this result.. cheika was trying out different combos in prep for World Cup, whereas NZ needing a win after last weeks loss (and to put some gloss on McCaws caps record), went with a tried and tested team. Aussies were more concerned about last weeks championship win and rightfully so.. Carters break was a pure miss match, in fact I thought he looked a little sluggish! And for the record Milner-Skudder blatantly played the ball of the floor for Nonus first, it’s wasn’t a pop of the floor, he was being held and delayed the pass.. Strange call, Owens vision obviously obstructed!
I was talking to Tucker
So a result that went against them determines the all blacks as an average non dominant side?
Go home you idiot!
He said dominant force, not a perfect one ;-)
Cooper over Foley was a horrendous call, his ability to lose a game for you is far superior to his ability to win it
Foley isn’t up to much either, in fairness.
If they had switched 10s at half time NZ still would have won by 30. Cooper had nothing to do with the precision of the All Blacks counter attack, even taking into account that desperate high tackle that really was all he could do to try stop a score. Until the Coles try he was looking sharp
Cooper was poor today and has been for Australia for a while, foley wasn’t great last week either but I’d still have him over cooper any day but if I was cheika I’d be sticking either giteau or toomua at 10 and then the other at 12. I think cheika was using this match as a final trial run for a few players before the World Cup which is why he chose a strong team to start but not the team he will realistically start in the World Cup, one of the biggest differences between this week and last was the pocock hooper combination which was a joy to watch but was missing this morning.
Charming. Another great reason to love NZ.
why didn’t Australia start Pocock? he was dominant in the breakdown last week
Probably because Aussie are more concerned with getting different combos and players exposure than winning a trophy no one will remember the winner of if you win the World Cup. I’m surprised at how little NZ have tried to alter their side, would have expected Cane to get a start.
“I’m surprised at how little NZ have tried to alter their side”
NZ, first and foremost, respect their tradition of trying to win every game they play, regardless of upcoming tournaments etc. During the period of 2005-2007 when they really tinkered with the idea of ‘rotation’ with the aim of building depth, came back to bite them in the arse when they were bundled out of RWC2007. Since then they’ve shelved it and allocated far more focus just on the next game.
They have used 45 players since June. However, what do they gain from playing DC for the last two games? Surely Sopoaga would have benefited from another match? Now they have to settle for sending 16 guys back to NPC to get game time, where they won’t exact match test intensity. The toughest game they will have between now and the qtr finals is Argentina, who they could beat with a second string. My point is there would be significantly more to gain from fielding alternates in those key positions of 1,3,7,8,10, where the depth is not so clear cut
The best of all time.
A gentleman of the highest order.
Greater player. This is what happens when you DON’T retire prematurely i.e. the year before a World Cup when your country has its best chance of success.
Fail