NZ takes Bledisloe win over AustraliaNZ takes Bledisloe win over Australia
August 19, 2012, Sunday
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NEW Zealand landed an early blow in the battle for the inaugural Rugby Championship when it beat Australia 27-19 in Sydney yesterday to maintain its iron grip on the Bledisloe Cup.
The World Cup holder raced into an 18-3 lead in the opening game of the newly expanded tournament, which now includes Argentina, through tries by Israel Dagg and Cory Jane before veteran lock Nathan Sharpe crossed just before halftime for the Wallabies' only try.
Berrick Barnes' kicking hauled Australia to within five points to leave New Zealand facing an uncomfortable final few minutes but Dan Carter's fifth successful penalty ensured that the All Blacks take pole position ahead of this weekend's return fixture in Auckland.
Defending southern hemisphere champion Australia troubled its trans-Tasman rival when it had the ball in hand but a raft of missed tackles and a couple of knock-ons at key moments effectively handed the win to the All Blacks.
"You could say its rustiness, who knows," Barnes said. "We're going to have to go back to the drawing board and rectify it.
"We've got a long way to go."
Carter kicked 17 points but the biggest difference between the sides in a stop-start match was the speed of the ball won by the New Zealand forwards -- and the mistakes made by the Wallabies as the black shirts came at them.
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen blamed the mistakes and 28 penalties in the match on the short turnaround for players following the conclusion of the Super 15. "It's probably not the most perfect game in the world but when you get two sides coming off the breaks we've had, playing at the intensity we're playing, there's going to be errors," Hansen said.
Having won the last 13 straight matches against Australia at Eden Park, New Zealand will now keep hold of the Bledisloe Cup for a 10th year in a row if it beats the Wallabies this weekend.
The World Cup holder raced into an 18-3 lead in the opening game of the newly expanded tournament, which now includes Argentina, through tries by Israel Dagg and Cory Jane before veteran lock Nathan Sharpe crossed just before halftime for the Wallabies' only try.
Berrick Barnes' kicking hauled Australia to within five points to leave New Zealand facing an uncomfortable final few minutes but Dan Carter's fifth successful penalty ensured that the All Blacks take pole position ahead of this weekend's return fixture in Auckland.
Defending southern hemisphere champion Australia troubled its trans-Tasman rival when it had the ball in hand but a raft of missed tackles and a couple of knock-ons at key moments effectively handed the win to the All Blacks.
"You could say its rustiness, who knows," Barnes said. "We're going to have to go back to the drawing board and rectify it.
"We've got a long way to go."
Carter kicked 17 points but the biggest difference between the sides in a stop-start match was the speed of the ball won by the New Zealand forwards -- and the mistakes made by the Wallabies as the black shirts came at them.
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen blamed the mistakes and 28 penalties in the match on the short turnaround for players following the conclusion of the Super 15. "It's probably not the most perfect game in the world but when you get two sides coming off the breaks we've had, playing at the intensity we're playing, there's going to be errors," Hansen said.
Having won the last 13 straight matches against Australia at Eden Park, New Zealand will now keep hold of the Bledisloe Cup for a 10th year in a row if it beats the Wallabies this weekend.
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