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All Blacks sweep Tri-Nations
Source: Agencies |
September 12, 2010, Sunday
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NEW Zealand scored two tries in the last 15 minutes to snatch a 23-22 win over Australia in the Tri-Nations yesterday, setting a record of 10 straight wins against the Wallabies.
Australia led 14-6 at halftime in Sydney and 22-9 in the second half before tries to Richie McCaw and Kieran Read within five minutes ensured the All Blacks became the first team to win all six matches in a Tri-Nations season.
New Zealand, which had already secured the Tri-Nations title and Bledisloe Cup, has now won 15 straight tests to close in on Lithuania's world record of 18.
For most of the match, Australia disrupted New Zealand's game plan, blunting its attack and steadily building what seemed a winning margin with tries to winger James O'Connor and center Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Ashley-Cooper's 45th-minute try gave Australia a 19-6 lead through its attacking superiority, but New Zealand shrugged off a three-week layoff to finish strongly. McCaw dashed over from a scrum in the 67th, then Read crashed over near the posts five minutes later to allow the All Blacks to reclaim the lead.
Scrumhalf Piri Weepu converted both tries, finishing with five goals from as many attempts for 13 points. His conversion of Read's try ensured the All Blacks won their 10th straight test against Australia, breaking their own record from 1936 to 1947.
"We were on the back foot for a fair bit of the match but we stuck to the game plan, kept pushing, and to come out on top was very satisfying," said McCaw, who captained the All Blacks for a record 52nd test.
New Zealand was seldom dominant, missing the obvious guidance of flyhalf Daniel Carter, who is recovering from ankle surgery. Carter's replacement, Aaron Cruden, had a poor game, attempting to beat the defense with chip kicks that often turned over possession and placed the All Blacks under pressure.
New Zealand also, crucially, lost hooker Keven Mealamu to injury early in the match and his replacement, Corey Flynn, struggled to combine with his lineout jumpers.
The All Blacks were expected to recover the form that had given them three wins over South Africa and two over Australia. They were quickly disabused of that notion by a Wallabies team that forced turnovers through vigorous defense and attacked the defensive line.
Will Genia and Quade Cooper combined dangerously in the halves for Australia, Ben McCalman provided an attacking threat from No. 8 and O'Connor and recalled winger Lachie Turner were hard to contain out wide.
"There wasn't a lot in the game," Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom said. "Sadly we were on the receiving end again, which is not ideal."
O'Connor gave Australia an early advantage with a try in the 17th, finishing tidily after McCalman had broken the All Blacks' defense on the blindside of an attacking scrum.
With three penalties to Matt Giteau, Australia led 14-6 at halftime. Australia extended that advantage with Ashley-Cooper's try early in the second spell, stemming from a turnover created by prop Salesi Maafu and made by Cooper and Genia.
Australia led 14-6 at halftime in Sydney and 22-9 in the second half before tries to Richie McCaw and Kieran Read within five minutes ensured the All Blacks became the first team to win all six matches in a Tri-Nations season.
New Zealand, which had already secured the Tri-Nations title and Bledisloe Cup, has now won 15 straight tests to close in on Lithuania's world record of 18.
For most of the match, Australia disrupted New Zealand's game plan, blunting its attack and steadily building what seemed a winning margin with tries to winger James O'Connor and center Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Ashley-Cooper's 45th-minute try gave Australia a 19-6 lead through its attacking superiority, but New Zealand shrugged off a three-week layoff to finish strongly. McCaw dashed over from a scrum in the 67th, then Read crashed over near the posts five minutes later to allow the All Blacks to reclaim the lead.
Scrumhalf Piri Weepu converted both tries, finishing with five goals from as many attempts for 13 points. His conversion of Read's try ensured the All Blacks won their 10th straight test against Australia, breaking their own record from 1936 to 1947.
"We were on the back foot for a fair bit of the match but we stuck to the game plan, kept pushing, and to come out on top was very satisfying," said McCaw, who captained the All Blacks for a record 52nd test.
New Zealand was seldom dominant, missing the obvious guidance of flyhalf Daniel Carter, who is recovering from ankle surgery. Carter's replacement, Aaron Cruden, had a poor game, attempting to beat the defense with chip kicks that often turned over possession and placed the All Blacks under pressure.
New Zealand also, crucially, lost hooker Keven Mealamu to injury early in the match and his replacement, Corey Flynn, struggled to combine with his lineout jumpers.
The All Blacks were expected to recover the form that had given them three wins over South Africa and two over Australia. They were quickly disabused of that notion by a Wallabies team that forced turnovers through vigorous defense and attacked the defensive line.
Will Genia and Quade Cooper combined dangerously in the halves for Australia, Ben McCalman provided an attacking threat from No. 8 and O'Connor and recalled winger Lachie Turner were hard to contain out wide.
"There wasn't a lot in the game," Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom said. "Sadly we were on the receiving end again, which is not ideal."
O'Connor gave Australia an early advantage with a try in the 17th, finishing tidily after McCalman had broken the All Blacks' defense on the blindside of an attacking scrum.
With three penalties to Matt Giteau, Australia led 14-6 at halftime. Australia extended that advantage with Ashley-Cooper's try early in the second spell, stemming from a turnover created by prop Salesi Maafu and made by Cooper and Genia.
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