Southern nations retain edge
Source: Agencies |
November 8, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
NEW Zealand, Australia and South Africa opened their European tours with victories on Saturday to show that the northern hemisphere teams still trail their southern rivals even though they may be closing the gap.
The All Blacks withstood a spirited second-half revival to beat England 26-16 at Twickenham in London, South Africa did the same to edge Ireland 23-21 in Dublin, and Australia weathered early resistance from Wales before pulling clear in the second half for a 25-16 victory in Cardiff.
The Tri-Nations sides all made errors but still look to be in better shape ahead of the World Cup in New Zealand in 10 months.
Hosea Gear and Kieran Read touched down in the first 21 minutes at Twickenham as the rampant All Blacks threatened to overwhelm the home side. But New Zealand-born hooker Dylan Hartley reduced the deficit after halftime with the first try conceded by the All Blacks on tour in Europe since 2006.
England center Shontayne Hape, a New Zealand rugby league international before switching codes and allegiance, thought he had dragged England to within a single score with an 85th-minute try in the corner but video replay showed replacement Isaia Toeava jolted the ball loose in the tackle.
Down to 14 men for a yellow card to Jerome Kaino, the southern hemisphere champions held on for a ninth straight win against England.
Ireland's first match at the rebuilt Lansdowne Road ended in frustration with a fourth successive test defeat as the Proteas overpowered the hosts to lead 23-9 with 15 minutes to play through tries from Juan Smith and Gio Aplon. Morne Steyn also hit three of four penalty attempts. His only miss early in the second half ended his streak of 41 straight goals.
Ireland struck back with tries from Tommy Bowe and Kearney, but Ronan O'Gara's last conversion attempt with five minutes left bounced off the right post to deny the Irish a draw.
In Cardiff, the Wallabies went into the break only 7-6 ahead thanks to a try by flanker David Pocock but added two more in the second half through fullback Kurtley Beale and prop Ben Alexander.
Scrum time
Winger James O'Connor, who set up the final two tries, kicked two conversions and two penalties to finish with 10 points for the tourists, who were thoroughly outmuscled at scrum time but had a typical incisiveness out wide.
Injury-ravaged Wales battled gamely, even edging a tight first half, but had to be content with three penalties by flyhalf Stephen Jones and a late converted try by Richie Rees.
It was Australia's second straight victory after last Saturday's win over New Zealand in Hong Kong, and even though the team wasn't at its best in the Welsh capital, its backs were clinical when given space.
The All Blacks withstood a spirited second-half revival to beat England 26-16 at Twickenham in London, South Africa did the same to edge Ireland 23-21 in Dublin, and Australia weathered early resistance from Wales before pulling clear in the second half for a 25-16 victory in Cardiff.
The Tri-Nations sides all made errors but still look to be in better shape ahead of the World Cup in New Zealand in 10 months.
Hosea Gear and Kieran Read touched down in the first 21 minutes at Twickenham as the rampant All Blacks threatened to overwhelm the home side. But New Zealand-born hooker Dylan Hartley reduced the deficit after halftime with the first try conceded by the All Blacks on tour in Europe since 2006.
England center Shontayne Hape, a New Zealand rugby league international before switching codes and allegiance, thought he had dragged England to within a single score with an 85th-minute try in the corner but video replay showed replacement Isaia Toeava jolted the ball loose in the tackle.
Down to 14 men for a yellow card to Jerome Kaino, the southern hemisphere champions held on for a ninth straight win against England.
Ireland's first match at the rebuilt Lansdowne Road ended in frustration with a fourth successive test defeat as the Proteas overpowered the hosts to lead 23-9 with 15 minutes to play through tries from Juan Smith and Gio Aplon. Morne Steyn also hit three of four penalty attempts. His only miss early in the second half ended his streak of 41 straight goals.
Ireland struck back with tries from Tommy Bowe and Kearney, but Ronan O'Gara's last conversion attempt with five minutes left bounced off the right post to deny the Irish a draw.
In Cardiff, the Wallabies went into the break only 7-6 ahead thanks to a try by flanker David Pocock but added two more in the second half through fullback Kurtley Beale and prop Ben Alexander.
Scrum time
Winger James O'Connor, who set up the final two tries, kicked two conversions and two penalties to finish with 10 points for the tourists, who were thoroughly outmuscled at scrum time but had a typical incisiveness out wide.
Injury-ravaged Wales battled gamely, even edging a tight first half, but had to be content with three penalties by flyhalf Stephen Jones and a late converted try by Richie Rees.
It was Australia's second straight victory after last Saturday's win over New Zealand in Hong Kong, and even though the team wasn't at its best in the Welsh capital, its backs were clinical when given space.
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