The All Blacks beat England 36-12 in a brutal rugby Test on Saturday which saw the world champions reduced to 14 men for much of the match.
A five-tries-to-nil blitz, three by flying winger Joe Rokocoko, put the sparkle in what was otherwise a rugged affair, with England lock Simon Shaw lasting just eight minutes before being red-carded for blatantly trampling on the head of All Blacks hardman Keith Robinson.
The All Blacks added to their total with another flawless kicking display by Daniel Carter who converted all the tries, including one of his own, and kicked a penalty for a match total of 17 points.
England had promised a more physical game in the series decider and kept the All Blacks forwards contained for much of the first half, but a try to Daniel Carter just before the break opened the floodgates for the remainder of the game.
Robinson, Jono Gibbes and Justin Marshall were targeted by England for off-the-ball attention in a match which saw medical staff constantly on the field, as bodies were spread far and wide in need of attention.
The cuts and bruises were evident as the players left the field, bearing testimony to the passion involved.
Despite the introduction of Steve Borthwick to the lineouts, the All Blacks still won more than their share of the ball through Jono Gibbes and Keith Robinson, while Chris Jack was used as a decoy for much of the match.
Shaw, who was at the centre of many punch-ups in the first Test in Dunedin a week ago, this time resorted to the boot, attacking Robinson’s head while the All Black hardman was trapped in a ruck.
His eviction saw Mike Tindall drafted in from centre as an extra forward when required, restricting England’s attacking options.
England coach Clive Woodward had denied claims before the Test that his world champion side were tired, but for much of the second-half they were left scrambling desperately as All Blacks flyhalf Carlos Spencer Marshall directed play from one side of the field to the other.
England were six points up after the first six minutes with two penalties by Charlie Hodgson, and with their tails high the trouble started.
Shaw got his marching orders minutes later from his merciless attack on an unguarded Robinson and soon after a potent England attack swept from one end of the field to the other — only for them to be marched back 80 metres by the referee for an incident where Tom Voyce took Marshall out of play without the ball. Carter landed an easy penalty.
It was one of several off-the-ball incidents which saw medical staff on and off the field for about 15 minutes making patch-up repairs to injured bodies.
But it was not until the 38th minute of ordinary time when a Joe Rokocoko break down the right flank sent Carter away to score in the corner and convert to give the All Blacks a 10-6 lead at halftime.
The score at the break could have been higher had not Marshall dropped the ball when diving for the line.
Rokocoko raced in for three tries in the first 20 minutes of the second spell. Twice he was set up Mils Miliaina and then Nick Evans punching into the backline, and the third was a superb effort where he fielded a Carlos Spencer cross-kick to race across the line.
Spencer had the pleasure of scoring the final try of the match, with the conversion attempt by Andrew Mehrtens drifting wide of the posts. – Sapa-AFP