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Wallabies nilled in Auckland

25th August 2012 07:58

dan carter all blacks v wallabies

Dan Carter: 17 points for NZ

New Zealand eased to a comfortable 22-0 win over Australia in Auckland on Saturday, which sees the hosts retain the Bledisloe Cup.

The All Blacks once again underlined their status as world champions by keeping their trans-Tasman rivals scoreless for the first time since 1962.

Last week's victory was built largely on a dominant first-half performance, this time the home side came out firing after the break after leading 9-0 at half-time.

Once again the All Blacks dominated their Australian counterparts in general play, which saw them thrive with ball in hand. But despite this ascendancy, the hosts failed to convert pressure into more than one five-pointer being scored due to a couple of knock-ons at key moments.

As a result, Dan Carter kept the scoreboard ticking over thanks to another 17-point haul from the talismatic All Blacks pivot who punished mistakes made by the ill-discliplined Wallabies as the hosts came at them.

The Wallabies enjoyed a good start to the match, and looked a far better unit than the one on display in Sydney as they kept New Zealand scoreless for 25 minutes. But a yellow card shown to stand-in skipper Will Genia 10 minutes before the break arguably was the start of Australia's downfall, as the All Blacks kicked into gear and gained control of the match.

Robbie Deans' record against the All Blacks now reads three wins from 17 fixtures. And with yet another Bledisloe out of reach and their points-less Rugby Championship campaign on life support, the pressure on the Wallabies' coach is sure to intensify.

New Zealand had the best chances to score during the opening exchanges, with only a superb cover tackle from Adam Ashley-Cooper denying Israel Dagg, while Liam Messam was held up over the line thanks to some superb work from lock Sitaleki Timani.

After missing an early first penalty attempt, Carter finally moved the All Blacks into the lead after 25 minutes and added his second three-pointer from the resulting penalty when Genia was given his marching orders.

The visitors, though, did well to restrict the All Blacks - who now had a one-man advantage - to only one more Carter penalty before the interval as Berrick Barnes took over scrum-half duties.

With the game still anyone's for the taking at half-time, Carter landed his fourth successful kick of the match with a monster 51m effort two minutes into the second half.

And the game was effectively put out of sight soon as New Zealand went through the phases before quick ball from Aaron Smith found a superb running line of Dagg for the full-back to score his second try in as many weeks.

Carter converted and then added another penalty to move New Zealand 22-0 in front.

Australia finally had their best spell and they thought they had found a way through but a desperate tackle from Kieran Read denied Barnes. From there the All Blacks reassumed their dominance, with replacement Ben Smith and Dagg both having good breaks - while Read lost the ball reaching for the line.

The hosts coughed up another couple of chances when Richie McCaw dropped the ball trying to spin over after Hosea Gear had been held up, while Carter passed to no one when it looked easier to score.

But at that stage of the game, it really didn't matter as the one-sided result kept the Kiwis unbeaten after two matches in the Rugby Championship whilst the Bledisloe Cup stays in New Zealand for the 10th consecutive season.

Man of the match: Dan Carter once again played a starring role with the boot whilst Sonny Bill Williams played a key role on attack. But we're going to give this to Kieran Read - the number eight had a quiet first forty, but was sublime on attack, defence and everything else in between after the break.

Moment of the match: 13 points in the opening eight minutes of the second half saw New Zealand take the game by the scruff of the neck, and the Kiwis didn't look back.

Villain of the match: Oh, Will Genia... so gracious in defeat after the match, but forced to hang his head in shame for the brain implosion suffered during it.

The scorers:

For New Zealand:
Try: Dagg
Con: Carter
Pen: Carter 5

Yellow card: Genia, 29th min (Australia, professional foul)

New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Ma'a Nonu, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Brodie Retallick, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Ben Smith.

Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Drew Mitchell, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (c), 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Radike Samo, 19 Liam Gill, 20 Nick Phipps, 21 Anthony Fainga'a, 22 Kurtley Beale.

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Comments

porridge_time says...

R. McCaw should be interviewed about what he thinks of M.Hooper?

Why?

Posted 20:52 25th August 2012

new_j4a says...

@tha_mai, I was 10

Posted 20:27 25th August 2012

Trader2 says...

7/31

Posted 17:15 25th August 2012

piriaka says...

The All Blacks still mucked up sooo much. They will need to get their act together, retain the ball, get consistency of them Bokkers will beat them. Hard for Deans though, when those are the players he has to work with. Hard to soar like and eagle when you work with turkeys.

Posted 16:05 25th August 2012

UBA05 says...

SHUTOUT!!!!

But in all honesty, the aussie pack really stepped up in that 1st half and the overall match. Wish they coulda held it up for the full 80. And all the Sitaleki Timani doubters (you know yourselves) shown up. Really had a massive (in more ways than one) 1st half. Have aussie just got their lock enforcer????

I know we havent seen the Abs against the boks but i would highly suggest that we already know the winner of the comp. If aus can play against Sa like they did today then its really a toss up between the two.

Now cmon pumas make me happy, but given that i'll be pretty drunk by that match, i guess i'll be already happy.

On a side note, does anyone else find it difficult to make posts via mobile phone? Planetrugby isnt that mobile friendly or is it that my smart phone isnt really that smart??? Editor?? Anyone??

Posted 15:31 25th August 2012

Connaughtabu says...

Good workman-like win by the ABs, not v exciting for the neutral

observer, though. Most exciting part of the first half was the Haka!

The ref had a good game - right on top of mcCaw's sorties offside.

Depressing to think the no3 team in world (?) cannot score against

the no1, n'est pas?

Posted 14:36 25th August 2012

bloemboy says...

By the way, have Australia qualified for the next RWC. Lets hope they cause an upset and sneak a lucky one past Tonga or Japan

Posted 14:00 25th August 2012

Westwest says...

With you cantyboy kafe and Kearns always seem to think that there is all ways some other reason that they loose. When really it's all down to the poor decisions the players are making. It seems to me that they have lost all there confidence. They look like a old English side always kicking it away and hoping for a mistake down the other end? They have some of the best players around but can't seem to make it work? People saying axe Deans but you can only work with what you have got. He still managed to get a at best average team to 3rd at the world cup. But they need to do something.

Posted 13:55 25th August 2012

Tyler_Durden says...

Aussies incredibly lucky to get nil! The one area of dominance for the canary yellows was 9 but now I'd say Smith shades even that. By the close of the Championship The Boks should be comfortably reinstated at number 2 and the canaries back to questioning their place in the pantheon.

Posted 13:55 25th August 2012

carpelone says...

Bledisloe Cup? What's that? Can it be used for potato's salad for braai?

Posted 13:41 25th August 2012

makemehappy says...

Very classy AB's performance. Not sure how much cheating the Aussies were allowed to get away with, especially in the closing stages, whilst doing everything they could to slow down the ball.

A very flattering scoreline - could have and should have been a real hiding.

Posted 13:40 25th August 2012

SACanuck says...

Congrats AB's. This team is looking unstoppable at the moment. They will put 20 points at least on all teams this year at this rate. It is strange that just last year and the one before the Wallabies had a potent attacking back line and it has changed to the kick and chase! Sad to see that they won the Tri nations last year and all was good and now everyone wants Deans head. Rather fickle. They will do much better against the Boks and the Aggies. They may even keep their number 2 ranking. Bottom line is that this AB team may not loose a game this year, that is just how good they are.

Posted 13:21 25th August 2012

rosco1971 says...

NZ have unearthed a real gem in Aaron Smith. His distribution skills give the AB's so many options. Carter is far from his best which is kind of scary for the rest of the comp. tonight the AB's left a few points out there and SA will be a lot tougher as they won't (you hope) aimlessly kick possession away. However the AB firepower in that back line is formidable. Pace and power. Good luck SBW, see you back in black in 2014.

Posted 13:10 25th August 2012

carpelone says...

McCaw saint soon.

Posted 13:10 25th August 2012

strody says...

great game,great win

Posted 13:05 25th August 2012

georgesmith says...

Congratulations to R. McCaw, S. Hansen, D. Carter and the boys. You deserve to keep the Bledisloe for another year. R. McCaw should be interviewed about what he thinks of M.Hooper?

I hate to imagine what it will be like when R. McCaw is not in the ABs jersey. Even though he often resorts to cheating, a quality player.

ABs have given break to a dynamic young player in Aron Smith but Wallabies villain R. Deans is hell-bent on keeping the likes of M. Hooper, L. Gill and R. Simmons on the bench. What a loser coach!

Posted 12:27 25th August 2012

FISH says...

both teams seemed flat, aus were terrible at times though....thought cooper did pretty decently, nice to see the AB being called out for some more forward passing, so yeah over all a bit of a boring game, with some good play from the AB's being nullified by poor handling

Posted 12:27 25th August 2012

dangerous says...

This All Black side is very good. Still loads of potential to unlock. When the passes stick it is a thing of beauty. wallabies do seem to lack a decent plan and direction. If any all black coach had deans record they would most likely get the axe. That said im glad we hung on to henry when we got knocked out at the quarters 2007. slightly different I know. Anyway bring on the pumas. Looking forward to the occasion.

Posted 12:18 25th August 2012

tweedledee49 says...

SBW had a good game...trinats? He only plays well against what now?

Ben Smith what a player to have come off the bench

Posted 12:17 25th August 2012

Trinats2 says...

Outclassed, outmuscled, out thought, outplayed,,, Out Deans.

What was his game plan, defend and kick the ball away ? Stay in NZ, that was embarrassing.

Posted 12:11 25th August 2012

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