Beale fires Wallabies to Tri-Nations crown
Source: Agencies |
August 28, 2011, Sunday
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KURTLEY Beale finished off a brilliant sweeping move to give Australia enough breathing space to beat New Zealand 25-20 in Brisbane yesterday and win the Tri-Nations title for the first time since 2001.
The Wallabies withstood a furious second-half revival from the All Blacks, who scored 17 unanswered points to level the score at 20-20 after they had allowed the home side to establish a 17-3 lead at the break.
A storming, 60-meter solo effort from recalled Wallaby No. 8 Radike Samo helped the Australians to their commanding lead in the first half in which the home side dominated every facet of play with the All Blacks looking sluggish.
It was a half punctuated with errors for the All Blacks, who looked to be suffering the effects of their long trip back from South Africa, and the Australians collected points consistently, going out to a 10-0 lead in the first 15 minutes.
Quade Cooper opened the scoring for the Wallabies with a penalty in the third minute and Genia went over for a try in the 12th when the television match official incorrectly awarded the Australians an attacking five-meter scrum.
Dan Carter responded with a penalty in the 23rd but it was Samo, returning from the international rugby wilderness having not started a test match since 2004, who lit up Lang Park with a bullocking 60-meter run to the line to give the home side a 20-3 lead at the break.
The All Blacks were a completely different side in the second half, scoring 17 unanswered points as they controlled possession and built phases, with Carter adding his second penalty before Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu both scored tries to tie the score at 20-20.
Beale, however, gave the Wallabies the crucial try that allowed them to hold on and win their third Tri-Nations title. The victory also gave the Wallabies a confidence boost ahead of the World Cup .
For the All Blacks, a second away loss in consecutive weeks will cause concern in New Zealand, where the rugby-mad public expects them to deliver a long awaited World Cup title on home soil. The New Zealanders, perennial No. 1 in the rankings, last won the Webb Ellis Trophy in the inaugural edition in 1987.
But both coaches played down the significance of the Tri-Nations outcome on the World Cup.
"It's obviously a significant result for us as we haven't done that since 2001, that's a biggie," Australia coach Robbie Deans said. "In terms of the World Cup it's irrelevant."
All Blacks coach Graham Henry was disappointed with the loss but thought it would do his squad some good. "If there was any complacency in this group, it's well gone now. I think that will be an advantage going forward, hopefully."
The Wallabies withstood a furious second-half revival from the All Blacks, who scored 17 unanswered points to level the score at 20-20 after they had allowed the home side to establish a 17-3 lead at the break.
A storming, 60-meter solo effort from recalled Wallaby No. 8 Radike Samo helped the Australians to their commanding lead in the first half in which the home side dominated every facet of play with the All Blacks looking sluggish.
It was a half punctuated with errors for the All Blacks, who looked to be suffering the effects of their long trip back from South Africa, and the Australians collected points consistently, going out to a 10-0 lead in the first 15 minutes.
Quade Cooper opened the scoring for the Wallabies with a penalty in the third minute and Genia went over for a try in the 12th when the television match official incorrectly awarded the Australians an attacking five-meter scrum.
Dan Carter responded with a penalty in the 23rd but it was Samo, returning from the international rugby wilderness having not started a test match since 2004, who lit up Lang Park with a bullocking 60-meter run to the line to give the home side a 20-3 lead at the break.
The All Blacks were a completely different side in the second half, scoring 17 unanswered points as they controlled possession and built phases, with Carter adding his second penalty before Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu both scored tries to tie the score at 20-20.
Beale, however, gave the Wallabies the crucial try that allowed them to hold on and win their third Tri-Nations title. The victory also gave the Wallabies a confidence boost ahead of the World Cup .
For the All Blacks, a second away loss in consecutive weeks will cause concern in New Zealand, where the rugby-mad public expects them to deliver a long awaited World Cup title on home soil. The New Zealanders, perennial No. 1 in the rankings, last won the Webb Ellis Trophy in the inaugural edition in 1987.
But both coaches played down the significance of the Tri-Nations outcome on the World Cup.
"It's obviously a significant result for us as we haven't done that since 2001, that's a biggie," Australia coach Robbie Deans said. "In terms of the World Cup it's irrelevant."
All Blacks coach Graham Henry was disappointed with the loss but thought it would do his squad some good. "If there was any complacency in this group, it's well gone now. I think that will be an advantage going forward, hopefully."
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