All Blacks downed in Sydney
Sportal.co.nz - 26/07/2008
Australia ran New Zealand ragged to claim a four-try bonus point 34-19 win in the first Philips Tri Nations/Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney on Saturday.
It was a frenetic contest with long periods of continuity as both teams probed with some barging runs to try and break the determination of the opposing side.
New Zealand was badly hampered by injuries suffered at halfback where Andrew Ellis and Jimmy Cowan both suffered injuries which upset the flow of the All Blacks game.
They were also hampered by not being able to bring their scrum advantage into action often enough with some disappointing rulings being made against them.
Australia's loose forwards, headed by flankers George Smith and Rocky Elsom, provided all sorts of problems with great work at the breakdown and in defence. They had to because the All Blacks pressured them on the tackle time after time.
Handling lapses by New Zealand, with second five-eighths Ma'a Nonu and replacement No.8 Sione Lauaki especially vulnerable, several times upset momentum.
Another following a desperate first five-eighths Dan Carter break prevented another chance being taken to cut back Australia's lead after first five-eighths Matt Giteau's 65th minute dropped goal.
Controversy erupted when wing Sitiveni Sivivatu looked to be tackled without the ball when attempting to chase the ball over the goal-line. A penalty try option was not given by referee Craig Joubert and Australia cleared.
But then the fourth match official queried the return of halfback Andrew Ellis to the field after his replacement Jimmy Cowan had to leave with a knee injury. Cowan pulled off a superb save in his short time on the field when snaffling a Lote Tuqiri kick ahead.
It was a block-busting start and the nature of the type of play was evident in the number of times props Greg Somerville and Tony Woodcock were involved in running the ball.
They and lock Brad Thorn were especially prominent as the effort to break down the Australian spirit resulted in some rugged play.
Elsom was again prominent in the loose for Australia and it was his 54th minute try that got the home team back in the game.
Australia had all the early possession and it was into the second quarter before the All Blacks found their attacking momentum.
A strong run by Tuqiri after he was given time to field a clearing kick 11 minutes into the game. He passed three All Blacks defenders before feeding lock Nathan Sharpe.
The ball was flicked left from the maul and superb handling by first five-eighths Matt Giteau allowed centre Ryan Cross to go over for the game's first try which Giteau converted to go alongside the penalty goal he had kicked earlier.
That resulted from a swinging arm tackle by lock Brad Thorn who was sin-binned in the sixth minute.
A first turnover for the All Blacks gained a free kick in the All Blacks 22m area and it was spun wide where fullback Mils Muliaina raced down the right touchline and kicked ahead.
A wicked bounce fooled the chasers and it was Muliaina who tidied the ball and then as centre Richard Kahui twice featured in charging runs before it was Muliaina again who secured the ball and drove over to register the All Blacks first points of the night.
Wing Peter Hynes was over when chasing through on an Adam Ashley-Cooper kick which resulted after a crooked New Zealand lineout throw gave Australia a scrum feed. Giteau created speed for his line with a half break and smart work by Cross got the ball to fullback Ashley-Cooper who created the chance. Giteau's conversion gave Australia a 17-5 lead.
However, the All Blacks resorted to attack and some outstanding lead-up work, and snappy work at free-kicks resulted in the ball being moved wide to Sivivatu, he held the ball tidily to feed hooker Andrew Hore running back on the angle and he charged through like a wing to score for Carter to add the conversion.
More classy work at a scrum just after the break when the Australians were penalised for collapsing, the ball was taken by Ellis and on the break Carter beat three defenders before the ball was flicked to Nonu.
He got right to the line and from the maul it was Ellis who scored before being replaced by Cowan. Carter's conversion gave the All Blacks the lead for the first time at 19-17.
However, Elsom's 54th minute try after untidy All Black defensive work regained the lead which was extended by Giteau's 65th minute dropped goal and then the nail was pounded into the coffin when lock James Horwill charged over from a ruck which resulted in a 34-19 lead.
Scorers:
Australia 34 (Ryan Cross, Peter Hynes, Rocky Elsom, James Horwill tries; Matt Giteau 4 con, pen, dropped goal) New Zealand 19 (Andrew Hore, Andrew Ellis, Mils Muliaina tries; Dan Carter 2 con). HT: 17-12
Sportal.co.nz - 26/07/2008
Australia ran New Zealand ragged to claim a four-try bonus point 34-19 win in the first Philips Tri Nations/Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney on Saturday.
It was a frenetic contest with long periods of continuity as both teams probed with some barging runs to try and break the determination of the opposing side.
New Zealand was badly hampered by injuries suffered at halfback where Andrew Ellis and Jimmy Cowan both suffered injuries which upset the flow of the All Blacks game.
They were also hampered by not being able to bring their scrum advantage into action often enough with some disappointing rulings being made against them.
Australia's loose forwards, headed by flankers George Smith and Rocky Elsom, provided all sorts of problems with great work at the breakdown and in defence. They had to because the All Blacks pressured them on the tackle time after time.
Handling lapses by New Zealand, with second five-eighths Ma'a Nonu and replacement No.8 Sione Lauaki especially vulnerable, several times upset momentum.
Another following a desperate first five-eighths Dan Carter break prevented another chance being taken to cut back Australia's lead after first five-eighths Matt Giteau's 65th minute dropped goal.
Controversy erupted when wing Sitiveni Sivivatu looked to be tackled without the ball when attempting to chase the ball over the goal-line. A penalty try option was not given by referee Craig Joubert and Australia cleared.
But then the fourth match official queried the return of halfback Andrew Ellis to the field after his replacement Jimmy Cowan had to leave with a knee injury. Cowan pulled off a superb save in his short time on the field when snaffling a Lote Tuqiri kick ahead.
It was a block-busting start and the nature of the type of play was evident in the number of times props Greg Somerville and Tony Woodcock were involved in running the ball.
They and lock Brad Thorn were especially prominent as the effort to break down the Australian spirit resulted in some rugged play.
Elsom was again prominent in the loose for Australia and it was his 54th minute try that got the home team back in the game.
Australia had all the early possession and it was into the second quarter before the All Blacks found their attacking momentum.
A strong run by Tuqiri after he was given time to field a clearing kick 11 minutes into the game. He passed three All Blacks defenders before feeding lock Nathan Sharpe.
The ball was flicked left from the maul and superb handling by first five-eighths Matt Giteau allowed centre Ryan Cross to go over for the game's first try which Giteau converted to go alongside the penalty goal he had kicked earlier.
That resulted from a swinging arm tackle by lock Brad Thorn who was sin-binned in the sixth minute.
A first turnover for the All Blacks gained a free kick in the All Blacks 22m area and it was spun wide where fullback Mils Muliaina raced down the right touchline and kicked ahead.
A wicked bounce fooled the chasers and it was Muliaina who tidied the ball and then as centre Richard Kahui twice featured in charging runs before it was Muliaina again who secured the ball and drove over to register the All Blacks first points of the night.
Wing Peter Hynes was over when chasing through on an Adam Ashley-Cooper kick which resulted after a crooked New Zealand lineout throw gave Australia a scrum feed. Giteau created speed for his line with a half break and smart work by Cross got the ball to fullback Ashley-Cooper who created the chance. Giteau's conversion gave Australia a 17-5 lead.
However, the All Blacks resorted to attack and some outstanding lead-up work, and snappy work at free-kicks resulted in the ball being moved wide to Sivivatu, he held the ball tidily to feed hooker Andrew Hore running back on the angle and he charged through like a wing to score for Carter to add the conversion.
More classy work at a scrum just after the break when the Australians were penalised for collapsing, the ball was taken by Ellis and on the break Carter beat three defenders before the ball was flicked to Nonu.
He got right to the line and from the maul it was Ellis who scored before being replaced by Cowan. Carter's conversion gave the All Blacks the lead for the first time at 19-17.
However, Elsom's 54th minute try after untidy All Black defensive work regained the lead which was extended by Giteau's 65th minute dropped goal and then the nail was pounded into the coffin when lock James Horwill charged over from a ruck which resulted in a 34-19 lead.
Scorers:
Australia 34 (Ryan Cross, Peter Hynes, Rocky Elsom, James Horwill tries; Matt Giteau 4 con, pen, dropped goal) New Zealand 19 (Andrew Hore, Andrew Ellis, Mils Muliaina tries; Dan Carter 2 con). HT: 17-12
