All Blacks edge Wallabies 23-22
New Zealand overpowered Australia in the second half to clinch a hard-fought 23-22 victory on Saturday to sweep the Tri-Nations and notch a record 10th consecutive win over the Wallabies.
Trailing 22-9 in the last quarter, Richie McCaw celebrated surpassing Sean Fitzpatrick as the All Blacks' most-capped skipper in his 52nd test by scampering over the line at the 66th minute to spark the fightback.
Kieran Read barged over the line minutes later and Piri Weepu, laser-accurate all night, converted to put the All Blacks a point up with six minutes left.
The All Blacks defended stoutly in the final minutes to seal the victory, their sixth in the Tri-Nations, which made them the first team to emerge undefeated from the southern hemisphere tournament since it was expanded by two matches for each side in 2006.
Australia, which has made a habit of being over-run by the All Blacks in second halves, again started the brighter of the two teams and took a 14-6 lead at the break.
After Weepu posted the first score with a penalty goal, winger Lachie Turner was denied a dream return to the Wallabies lineup when his try at the left corner was disallowed by video review after he appeared to clip the sideline before planting the ball.
Number eight Ben McCalman snatched the ball out of the ruck then dummied brilliantly to set up James O'Connor who charged over the line at the right corner for the Wallabies first try.
Matt Giteau slotted his third penalty at the stroke of halftime to give the Wallabies a 14-6 lead at the break, but sprayed a number of others to leave the All Blacks well and truly in the hunt.
The Wallabies bolstered their hopes of ending their grim losing streak to the All Blacks when Will Genia set up Adam Ashley-Cooper for the Wallabies second try after the break, the flyhalf combining with Cooper to rattle the All Blacks' defence before sending a long pass to the bulky inside centre.
Ashley-Cooper dummied a pass before charging over near the left corner to put the Wallabies up 19-6.
Kurtley Beale took over kicking duties after Giteau missed his second conversion chance and paid back the faith with a long-range penalty to extend the lead to 22-9 after Weepu slotted his third penalty to narrow the deficit.
McCaw, however, turned the game around and the Wallabies began to fumble and miss passes as the All Blacks withering pressure took its toll in the final quarter.
The All Blacks, who had already wrapped up all the silverware on offer, surpassed the dominant sides that notched up nine in a row against the Wallabies from 1936-1947.
- (Reuters)
New Zealand overpowered Australia in the second half to clinch a hard-fought 23-22 victory on Saturday to sweep the Tri-Nations and notch a record 10th consecutive win over the Wallabies.
Trailing 22-9 in the last quarter, Richie McCaw celebrated surpassing Sean Fitzpatrick as the All Blacks' most-capped skipper in his 52nd test by scampering over the line at the 66th minute to spark the fightback.
Kieran Read barged over the line minutes later and Piri Weepu, laser-accurate all night, converted to put the All Blacks a point up with six minutes left.
The All Blacks defended stoutly in the final minutes to seal the victory, their sixth in the Tri-Nations, which made them the first team to emerge undefeated from the southern hemisphere tournament since it was expanded by two matches for each side in 2006.
Australia, which has made a habit of being over-run by the All Blacks in second halves, again started the brighter of the two teams and took a 14-6 lead at the break.
After Weepu posted the first score with a penalty goal, winger Lachie Turner was denied a dream return to the Wallabies lineup when his try at the left corner was disallowed by video review after he appeared to clip the sideline before planting the ball.
Number eight Ben McCalman snatched the ball out of the ruck then dummied brilliantly to set up James O'Connor who charged over the line at the right corner for the Wallabies first try.
Matt Giteau slotted his third penalty at the stroke of halftime to give the Wallabies a 14-6 lead at the break, but sprayed a number of others to leave the All Blacks well and truly in the hunt.
The Wallabies bolstered their hopes of ending their grim losing streak to the All Blacks when Will Genia set up Adam Ashley-Cooper for the Wallabies second try after the break, the flyhalf combining with Cooper to rattle the All Blacks' defence before sending a long pass to the bulky inside centre.
Ashley-Cooper dummied a pass before charging over near the left corner to put the Wallabies up 19-6.
Kurtley Beale took over kicking duties after Giteau missed his second conversion chance and paid back the faith with a long-range penalty to extend the lead to 22-9 after Weepu slotted his third penalty to narrow the deficit.
McCaw, however, turned the game around and the Wallabies began to fumble and miss passes as the All Blacks withering pressure took its toll in the final quarter.
The All Blacks, who had already wrapped up all the silverware on offer, surpassed the dominant sides that notched up nine in a row against the Wallabies from 1936-1947.
- (Reuters)
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