Number one: All Blacks set the pace at Eden Park
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The All Blacks shut out the Wallabies in a first-half blitz to win their opening Bledisloe Cup encounter 30-14 at Eden Park on Saturday.
Any hopes Australia had of ending their 25-year Auckland drought were ripped to pieces by their dominant hosts, who charged to a 17-0 lead at the break and never looked like losing.
Due to a shortened version of the Tri-Nations (because of the World Cup), New Zealand's three-tries-to-two victory also sees them secure the Bledisloe Cup for another year.
It was a clinical display all round by the rampant All Blacks, who are now in pole position to claim yet another Tri-Nations title.
The Wallabies started and ended the match with plenty of promise, but it was the space in between that saw Robbie Deans' men capitulate to some ferocious defence from the home side.
The All Blacks knocked the stuffing out of their trans-Tasman rivals, often reversing the Wallabies' key strike runners and kept playmaker Quade Cooper quiet all night - New Zealand's steady pressure and suffocating defence denied the Aussie pivot the chance to regularly set his backline in motion.
Australia's cause was further undermined by poor goal-kicking, with James O'Connor' missing three successive penalties. But the same couldn't be said of Dan Carter, who was immaculate with the boot as the Wallabies were put to the sword.
Digby Ioane and Rocky Elsom did get on the board for the Wallabies in the second period, however they mere consolation tries and Australia never looked like threatening New Zealand's 23-match unbeaten streak at the Auckland venue.
The opening passage was played at a fast and furious pace, with both sides going at each other hammer and tongs. However, All Blacks centre Conrad Smith then affected a turnover in midfield which led to the opening score of the match.
Instrumental scrum-half Piri Weepu raced down the touchline, before linking with wing Sitiveni Sivivatu who got the attacking team close to the line. Flanker Jerome Kaino kept the ball alive and it was centre Ma'a Nonu who picked up the ball to drive through the legs to score.
Weepu's excellent work in keeping the ball in play was crucial in the All Blacks next try as loose forwards Kieran Read and Richie McCaw powered their way towards Australia's tryline. Held inches short, hooker Keven Mealamu got low and had the strength to place the pigskin on the chalk dust for the try.
The home side took a seventeen-point lead into the break, and Carter extended the All Blacks lead just after the restart with a drop-goal which was only the third of his 82-Test career.
The Wallabies gave a vivid reminder of their threat from broken field when they turned over possession in their 22m and shifted the ball to Digby Ioane, who stood up full-back Mils Muliaina en route to goal.
With O'Connor relieved of the kicking duties, Cooper landed a touchline conversion which would have galavanised his side.
However, it would be shortlived as the All Blacks struck back with their third try straight from the restart after Australia failed to control the ball.
Read put the pressure on the Wallaby jumpers, and the ball - which seemed to have been knocked on by the number eight - bounced and landed in Conrad Smith's hands. The centre set off down the sideline before passing inside to Sivivatu, who couldn't believe his luck.
Carter's conversion took New Zealand out to a 27-7 lead, which was soon stretched with another penalty goal before captain Elsom claimed a late consolation try for his beaten team.
Man of the match:Take a bow Piri Weepu. The nuggety number nine, who started a Test for the first time this season, did his World Cup chances little harm by making an emphatic statement to the All Blacks' selectors. He cleared possession quickly and with accuracy from breakdowns, creating the initial space that was exploited by Carter and Nonu in midfield.
Moment of the match: The 50th and 52nd minutes of the match. Just when you thought the Wallabies were launching a late comeback with Ioane's try (50th minute), the All Blacks put them back in their place with Sivivatu's reply (52nd minute).
Villain of the match: n/a
The scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Nonu, Mealamu, Sivivatu
Cons: Carter 3
Pens: Carter 2
Drop: Carter
For Australia:
Tries: Ioane, Elsom
Cons: Cooper 2
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Samuel Whitelock, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 James Horwill, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Dan Vickerman, 19 Scott Higginbotham, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Anthony Fainga'a, 22 Lachie Turner.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
By Dave Morris
Comments
Dylbull says...
New Zealand are looking so strong... I know they go into almost every world cup as favourites or one of the favourites but for me, they are looking far more balanced than they ever have been, as well as having depth in every position except maybe at flyhalf... the only way I can see New Zealand losing this worldcup is if Carter gets injured... by far the best flyhalf in the world... P.S I'm South African
Posted 18:12 06th August 2011
Ramage says...
@bigspotted cat If you post please be correct the Stadium was not full of empty seats. Once again in your rush to put down NZ you failed to see the thousands of supporteres who were there. Specsavers take note. In case you don't know it was the highest crowd to attend a test match in NZ since grounds stopped crowding in spectators who were standing. Did you watch the game between Scotland and Ireland ? If so you did you see the many empty seats. Yet I dont see you commenting on those seats or is it just NZ you have a problem with? I note this is the about the fourth or fifth post you have made about the size of crowds and always about NZ. Did you see all the empty seats in Sydney when the Boks played there? Was that stadium full of empty seats? Finally Japan was not robbed of the RWC. A vote was taken amongst the IRB member nations and NZ won the vote despite who the press may have thought were the the front runners.Hmm I wonder how long iit is before we are accused of bribing the IRB nations with our weak NZ dollars. Now I hope you dont come back and say Im a baby and making a personal attack on you as I have been very careful to keep the argument to the points you have made. Sad you are disappointed but you have never said anything about other stadia around the world that are not full when rugby tests are being played. Just for your information there are three provincial Unions around Auckland the test played at Eden Park Auckland Union had a crowd of 55 000. On Sunday North Harbour will play Auckland at Albany Stadium North Harbour and Counties Manukau will play play Waikato at Growers Stadium in Pukekohe. Somewhat of overkill at the moment as there is rugby every day except Mondays. So bigspotted cat we have the picture you dont like us well thats ok you entitled to that but give it a rest as your droning on about crowds is boring Nice to see the congrats. Thanks.
Posted 17:30 06th August 2011
Ramage says...
@ Carpelone Here is an attempt to have that honest debate over referees. First I declare I have a interest as I am a NZer so whether I can see things from a neutral stance if I support a team is open to interpretation. Secondly I often watch a game from the point of view of both a former referee and coach. Now lets get rid of the throw away lines that are easy to make and achat on what I see is the difficulty of any top referee. I consider Joubert to be one of the best referees in the world and I can not understand why Mark Lawrence is not at the RWC as I rate him highly. Your comments about Joubert and Paddy O'Brien are insulting to both men who I believe are professionals and would not stoop to what you are insinuating which is cheating. Do you honestly believe both men would be so dishonest as to cheat in a game or look after one team over another. As a former ref I know this is not the case, An example I had many years ago was after a week staying on a Maori marae learning about Maori culture and being looked after well, I found I was down to ref a game that many of the guys from that marae were playing in. One of them was involved in a case of extreme foul play and I had no hesitation in ordering him from the field. We all claim refs are biased but many times it is only because of how we view the game. Often we are wrong, sometimes we are right but why do we say the ref was biased or a cheat and not that he made a mistake. The two things I dont envy today's top refs are the way many of the laws come down to a refs interpretation. Today's game is so complicated and too much falls on the interpretation. Secondly the pace the game is played at today is absolutely amazing. A ref has to be super fit and be able to make those split second decisions whist keeping up with the game, and when struggling for breathe are the mental faculties working at all time? I fear not.
Posted 15:51 06th August 2011
fattysock says...
Personally, my moment of the match was Carter's try saving tackle on McCab in about the 15th min.
At that time the score was 10-0... and a (converted) try brings Aus right back into it. They'd had a bit of possession, and worked a 3 v 2, with Carter and (I think) Gear defending Cooper, McCab and (presumably) O'Connor. Cooper tries to draw and pass, but Carter does brilliantly to force Cooper into passing, and then tracks down McCab to save the try.
Within minutes, we've gone up the other end and Keven has dotted down for a 17-0 lead, and at that point it was all up-hill for the Aussies.
Posted 15:43 06th August 2011
worldwary says...
Press everywhere called it battle of the worlds best before the game and so it proved to be.......for the AB's anyway!!
Cooper looking worse that a Carlos wannabee, O'Connor under pressure and finally subject to video analysis and loo9king like the boy in a mans game he is (undoubted talent in 3yrs if he keeps it up - but talked up, over-hyped pretender so far)...
Australia just fell apart....no excuses, all mouth and no trousers I think is the phrase!?!
Talked a good game (or constant and incessant game) leading up to it and found VERY wanting.
As I've said before....victory i HK only based on a Donald and (dreadful defensive effort) Toeava performance at 60mins (seriously check it out..AB's had the grip on till then and still only lost by by 2points...at the death...after 10 games)...Ireland would kill for 10 chances at NZ in the same time period to break their drought...AND a Reds super 15 victory (not test level) where they played easy teams twice (as opposed to the Crusaders) and home run in semi's and finals because of it.....honestly it may have been quite different if they had played either of those away from home....and thats not even considering the Crusaders quite obvious 'Jetlag' or 'travel-exhaustion' at 50mins in to the final...they hit a wall and all the Australia and Cooper/Genia, young team, new rising talk was found to be just that...talk!
Posted 15:40 06th August 2011
Manusamoa says...
yet again more free education for the wallabies... The most annoying thing for me this game was not Quade 'coward' Cooper's stupid face, but the Australian commentary...
Me and my mates were just swearing at the commentators all game lol... They are the most 'one eyed, unprofessional, school girls ever.
Posted 15:22 06th August 2011
SACanuck says...
Congtatulations AB's. What a display. If this is how the number 1 team controls the number 2 team in the world the rest should save the money they are spending on the WC and use it for some rugby clinics, because no one will stop this AB team. Hope the Boks were watching so that they could see how it is done. Great display of the game of rugby
Posted 15:07 06th August 2011
fattysock says...
Am I right in thinking that Robbie made no backline subs? I didn't see any.
Any thoughts as to why?
Posted 14:58 06th August 2011
Ramage says...
@brenjh all is now understood you are an Englishman. You have no bias toward either team oh well I wonder? Its obvious from your post you do not have an understanding of the laws of rugby as you are wrong on many points of law, Stop and think about what you are saying when you say you have seen a tendency over the years of the refs favouring the ABs.If this is so then the International Refs are cheats. Is this what you are saying? If you are then I dont agree because you have already shown your own ignorance of the Laws of the game in what you have stated in other posts on this matter. I think quite a few NZers would remember a certain English referee who interestingly is refereeing the return match in Brisbane. Finally I challenge any referee to get every call correct in a normal game of rugby let alone at the pace this game was being played. I will be watching the fitness of a number of refs in the games ahead and expect a few to be found more than wanting not because of bias or because they are cheats but because the game is too fast for them and their thinking process is impaired when forced to ref a game at this pace.
You think there should be impartiality from the NZ sky commentators cant comment because I had to listen to the OZ commentators. However one of the Oz
comments men, former International Tim Horan claimed it was no knock on so we all have our opinion the ref was clearly seen to make a backward movement at the time. If you think the NZers werent impartial let me know what you think after watching the game from Brisbane when you will get commnetary from Kearns and Martin. Also its a bit rich for an Englishman to ask for impartiality from commentators when you have a guy called Moore on BBC and Barnes on Sky. Unfortunately the days of impartial commnetators left the airwaves when the late Bill McLaren of Hawick Scotland left the BBC.
Posted 14:53 06th August 2011
rugby_lord says...
Rugby has become too fast with these set of rules for one ref. I believe 2 referees should be trialled. It is successful in league. One to watch the ball and the other off the ball incidents. The assistant referees to watch the offside when in play. Something needs to be done as refereeing in rugby is becoming a joke.
Posted 14:45 06th August 2011
lostguy101 says...
here's another one for the books. if the ab's win in SA with 4 tries or more, they will retain the tri-nations again.
simple maths, which is pretty much why the world keep tabs on us :) :) :)
Posted 14:18 06th August 2011
lostguy101 says...
@carpelone. i agree about the ref, but all things being equal he actually did a level job. these days we have umpires on the sidelines AND a video referee (all of which are there to assist our primary ref). so i believe as far as northern hemisphere refs go....he did a pretty good job.
also, as for the last 10-20 mins. i reckon at this stage/time of the year, i would've kept weepu and co on for the rest of the game. the only change being maybe SBW for Ma'a Nonu (which keeps intensity in the inside backs). full game conditioning being the key.
Posted 14:12 06th August 2011
kenttaff says...
what a good warm up to the main game of the day. to sum it up, weepu man of the match, really? what about carter was everywhere, like a real 7 on the pitch turning tackles over. talking of 7's where was pocock today? what was the stats on his missed tackles, there was plenty.
quade cooper, well justin marshall summed it up superbly in his commentry when he said, 'this guy just doesnt like contact', hes bang on with that. ioane and o connor saved the aussies looking like schoolboys in the backline. moore and higginbottam up front where great ball carriers.
nonu smith has got to be the combination, sbw will have to settle for a place on the bench at best. whilst hes a great individual athlete smith and nonu have a sixth sense playing together and compliment each other so well. thought smith was outstanding today
Posted 14:08 06th August 2011
JayStarr says...
"NZ by 14 or more"... Once again I called it! Just let me know when you want me to start doing your predictions PR ;)
Well done both teams - really enjoyed that match. I know some NH people would say this is SH arrogance, but judging by that game I just can't see how France, England or Ireland are going to stop either of these teams in New Zealand (which will feel like home ground advantage for Australia too)...
Looking forward to the next two weeks to see what the Springboks can come up with!
Posted 13:50 06th August 2011
kpe12 says...
Dominated at the breakdown, I feel sorry for Pocock having 3 loosies smash him off the ball all night and getting little to no support from his own back row. I think Cooper didn't enjoy back foot ball tonight, he can make that stutter step all night long going forward but going back he'll throw the ball anywhere (ask J O'C).
Gear and Sivi will be tough for them to keep their places in the team. Nonu and Conrad putting their hands up and dominating. DC showing how to tackle and play defense and offense, what an incredible talent.
Posted 13:48 06th August 2011
mana says...
guess its back to the drawing board(this round)....for the wallies-ABs too damn good!!
Posted 13:45 06th August 2011
davodiablo says...
Its interesting to see how well the Wellington boys have done this and last week . .
Jane , Hore , Weepu, Nonu ,Gear and Smith have all been excellent .
Posted 13:44 06th August 2011
lostguy101 says...
here's one for the books. the AB's have been world no # ! for more than 8 years with only SA sharing 14 months of that total.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM BEING A NEW ZEALANDIA (KIWI)
Posted 13:35 06th August 2011
BillyBush says...
Sir Richie and the boys lock away the Bledisloe for another year. Someone asked how long it's been? Nine glorious years now. The Aussie scrum held pretty firm, well done! Looking impressive. The same can't be said for O Connor's goal kicking or Cooper's defence. As for man of the match - Weepu? He had a strong game but Carter was absolutely faultless in every single thing he did. Was awesome watching the total package operate vs that poor man's Carlos Spencer hiding at the back. Also Conrad Smith was another to have an all round superb game. His tackling, decision making, passing and support play was text book perfect. It's right to focus on Carter and McCaw but Smith is as important imo if the ABs are to go all the way in 2011.
Posted 13:02 06th August 2011
oonst says...
Dan Carter was surely man of the match. While Weepu played well in the first half he was very slow to clear rucks in the second half. Carter's best match for AB's for some time - goalkicking, tackles (15), attack, options.
Posted 12:44 06th August 2011