A powerful performance by the All Blacks forwards paved the way for a 16-7 win over Australia in a wet and windy encounter in Wellington on Saturday.
The 101st Bledisloe Cup Test and opening match of the Tri-Nations series had been billed by All Blacks coach Graham Henry as ”probably the most important game we’ll play” this year, but conditions dictated a sloppy affair riddled with handling errors.
Playing with the wind and rain in the first half, the All Blacks enjoyed a huge territorial advantage, but their only points came from a sole Daniel Carter penalty.
They had an even more comprehensive domination in the second half, but repeated battering of the Australian line produced only one try to Doug Howlett, while Stirling Mortlock scored for the Wallabies in one of their rare forays into All Blacks territory.
The victory at the cold, wet Westpac Stadium sees New Zealand keep the Bledisloe Cup — the symbol of trans-Tasman bragging rights — for another 12 months, and was sweet revenge for their loss to Australia in the semifinals at the World Cup last year.
But the elements ensured it was not a great game of rugby.
The All Blacks were in commanding form up front, with Chris Jack producing his best form of the year as they drove forward in rucks and mauls, but their lion’s share of possession was repeatedly wasted by handling errors in the cruel conditions.
The game did heat up early in the second half when tempers boiled over leading to an all-in forwards brawl, while on the sides All Blacks halfback Justin Marshall had a private battle with giant Wallaby lock Justin Harrison.
When calm was restored, rival hookers Brendan Cannon and a bloodied Keven Mealamu were sent to the sin-bin.
Although the 37 000-seat stadium was a sell-out for the opening Tri-Nations Test of the year, empty seats were evident around the ground as the atrocious weather kept fans away.
Things went wrong for Australia from the kick-off with the wind whipping the ball into touch without bouncing, the first of what was to be a match full of errors.
In the opening 10 minutes a Marshall-generated break up the middle foundered when Carlos Spencer dropped the ball, and Marshall made the same error soon after when he knocked on at the base of a ruck on the Australian line.
In between the All Blacks mistakes, David Lyons had charged down a Mils Muliaina clearing kick, but Australia gave away a ruck penalty when the black defence was still scrambling back into position.
Daniel Carter had three penalty attempts in the half, with the wind behind him. The first from 45m out dropped under the bar, he was successful in the 34th minute when 10m closer, and was astray with another long-range attempt in the 36th minute.
The All Blacks continued with their territorial advantage in the second spell, with Joe Rokocoko stepping around Lote Tuqiri taking play inside the Australian 22m line, but Mealamu dropped the in-pass.
The brawl in the fourth minute of the second half saw Carter kick his second penalty to double the All Blacks’ lead to 6-0 and in the 61st minute he converted Howlett’s try to put the All Blacks out to a 13-0 lead.
Australia came back in the 69th minute when Rokocoko dropped a high ball under the posts, allowing Mortlock to race through and score. Matt Giteau’s conversion made it 13-7.
The All Blacks play South Africa next weekend in Christchurch, the second match of the Tri-Nations series. — Sapa-AFP