All Blacks Byron Kelleher and Joe Rokocoko holdaloft a peice of their retained silverware.
The All Blacks have put in a dominant second half performance to overcome the Wallabies and retain the Bledisloe cup and tri-nations 26-12 at a drenched Eden Park.
The first half was pretty even, with no tries and nothing to spectacular from either team the All Blacks snatched a 12-9 halftime lead. The AB’s were the fist to appear on the scoreboard as Dan Carter nudged over a gift three point, but soon later Stirling Mortlock tied it up before Matt Giteau struck a wobbly drop goal that just kept going.
Both sides were very much playing to the wet Auckland conditions, keeping it in tight and the outside backs not seeing to much ball apart from retrieving kicks.
The first half was pretty even, with no tries and nothing to spectacular from either team the All Blacks snatched a 12-9 halftime lead. The AB’s were the fist to appear on the scoreboard as Dan Carter nudged over a gift three point, but soon later Stirling Mortlock tied it up before Matt Giteau struck a wobbly drop goal that just kept going.
Both sides were very much playing to the wet Auckland conditions, keeping it in tight and the outside backs not seeing to much ball apart from retrieving kicks.
The All Blacks then got another penalty to lock it up at six all. The sides then again traded penalties before Adam Ashley-cooper threw the ball away which gave Dan Carter the opportunity to give the New Zealanders a 3 point half time lead.
In the second half, the new Zealanders stepped up a gear, a gear that the Australians couldn’t reach, they extended their lead to six when George Smith gave a dumb penalty away on a day when Dan Carter couldn’t miss, but the boot of Stirling Mortlock was keeping the Wallabies in touch. Carter kicked another penalty to extend the Kiwis lead back to six.
A stunning intercept from rookie halfback Brendon Leonard sparked the All Blacks to a new level, he was dragged down five metres short of the white line, he was joined by the All Black forwards who had great continuity. Kevin Mealamu looked to have scored the opening try of the match, only to be ruled inconclusive by the television match official.
But if was only a matter of time before the All Blacks did get the try, it eventually came in the form of Tony Woodcock, barging over in the corner.
The Wallabies defence had been pretty good but they never really threatened the All Black line, Carter kicked yet another penalty to seal the All Black win.
There can be plenty of positives to be taken out of that match for both sides. The
All Blacks seem to have regained form as a side this comes from patience, a quality that got them so far last year but has been missing this year, this match will also re-establish their confidence and will keep them as firm favourites heading into France. They also have missing form back into their key playmaker and goal kicker Dan Carter, hitting form at the perfect time. The Wallabies did lose and will be a bit disappointed about that, but they have shown over the coarse of the tri-nations that they have closed the gap on the New Zealanders, and will be real threats come October.
In the second half, the new Zealanders stepped up a gear, a gear that the Australians couldn’t reach, they extended their lead to six when George Smith gave a dumb penalty away on a day when Dan Carter couldn’t miss, but the boot of Stirling Mortlock was keeping the Wallabies in touch. Carter kicked another penalty to extend the Kiwis lead back to six.
A stunning intercept from rookie halfback Brendon Leonard sparked the All Blacks to a new level, he was dragged down five metres short of the white line, he was joined by the All Black forwards who had great continuity. Kevin Mealamu looked to have scored the opening try of the match, only to be ruled inconclusive by the television match official.
But if was only a matter of time before the All Blacks did get the try, it eventually came in the form of Tony Woodcock, barging over in the corner.
The Wallabies defence had been pretty good but they never really threatened the All Black line, Carter kicked yet another penalty to seal the All Black win.
There can be plenty of positives to be taken out of that match for both sides. The
All Blacks seem to have regained form as a side this comes from patience, a quality that got them so far last year but has been missing this year, this match will also re-establish their confidence and will keep them as firm favourites heading into France. They also have missing form back into their key playmaker and goal kicker Dan Carter, hitting form at the perfect time. The Wallabies did lose and will be a bit disappointed about that, but they have shown over the coarse of the tri-nations that they have closed the gap on the New Zealanders, and will be real threats come October.
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