New Zealand crush Australia 41-13 to retain Bledisloe Cup
Last Updated: 15/08/15 3:07pm
New Zealand avenged last week’s stunning defeat to Australia with a 41-13 thrashing at Eden Park.
The All Blacks have retained the Bledisloe Cup - for a twelfth straight year - thanks to the win, as they ran in five tries in their final game of the year on home soil before heading to the World Cup.
There were tries from Dane Coles, Conrad Smith as well as two from Ma’a Nonu to go with a near-perfect kicking display from Dan Carter as the All Blacks eased to a thumping win over their rivals.
Heavily criticised after suffering defeat in the Rugby Championship decider last week, the All Blacks were full value in their warning shot to the rest of world rugby.
The Wallabies on the other hand were good in patches, but a mere shadow of the side that turned New Zealand over for a rare win last week.
The All Blacks started the game by employing an out-of-character kicking game, and were almost made to regret it when the Wallabies counter-attacked efficiently and had the best of the opening 15 minutes.
The visitors ran convincing lines and looked to have the unusually sloppy All Blacks on the ropes, but a quick turnaround from the men in black was a stern reminder of the punishment they are capable of dishing out from nothing.
Sam Whitelock stole the ball in a ruck and passed it to Carter. Criticised in recent times for not running at the line as he did in his younger days, Carter feigned an inside run before ghosting around James Horwill to find plenty of green grass and no visiting defenders. He passed to the supporting Coles who changed his angle well enough to slip Adam Ashley-Cooper and run in for the first try of the game.
With two penalties apiece from Carter and Quade Cooper, the scores were close at half-time at 13-6, with the All Blacks only slightly ahead on the scoreboard as well as in momentum, but that changed early in the second half.
The All Blacks came out after the break with a more characteristic style as they held onto the ball with better intent.
The Wallabies held out well for seven minutes but the first bit of skill from Nehe Milner-Skudder - fast becoming a sensation in the southern hemisphere - got him around Dean Mumm before stepping and passing around the back of the last defender.
He got the pass away to Aaron Smith who looked to score but as he ran it in he was taken high by Cooper, which earned the Aussie fly-half a yellow card and the All Blacks a penalty try.
New Zealand needed no excuse to make their guests pay for the extra man advantage. Only seven points behind when Cooper made the high tackle, his side was 34-6 down by the time they were back to the full complement as Nonu and Smith both dotted down during the sin bin period.
Cooper never returned to the field, and was replaced by Kurtley Beale, but there was no miracle turnaround in store for the Wallabies, who conceded a fifth and final try when Nonu crossed the whitewash for the second time in the game.
Israel Folau managed to score his side’s first try of the game in the 77th minute as he plucked the ball from the air, deep in his own half, and ran almost the length of the field to give the visitors a late consolation.
There was a memorable moment for All Blacks captain Richie McCaw before the game ended.
Playing in his world record-breaking 142nd international, the All Blacks skipper was replaced near the end and given a standing ovation by the Eden Park crowd who were almost certainly watching McCaw’s last international on home soil.
Though he is yet to confirm his retirement, McCaw is widely expected to hang up his boots after the World Cup.
