Prop Tony Woodcock scored two tries in four minutes as an invigorated New Zealand, responding to massive public pressure, beat Australia 39-10 in a Tri-Nations rugby Test on Saturday.
Woodcock’s tries in the 20th and 24th minutes of the first half — only his third and fourth in 42 Tests — allowed the All Blacks to avoid a third straight Test defeat for the first time in 10 years, and maintained a 22-year winning streak over the Wallabies at Eden Park.
The last visiting team to win a Test at Eden Park was France in 1994 — a streak of 20 straight victories for the All Blacks.
Victory kept alive New Zealand’s chances of retaining the Tri-Nations for the fourth year in a row and the Bledisloe Cup for the seventh consecutive year, pending Australia and New Zealand’s final match on September 13 in Brisbane.
Loosehead Woodcock became the first All Blacks prop since Wilson Whineray in 1958 to score two tries in a Test against Australia and kept up an outstanding personal run against the Wallabies: all his tries have come against Australia.
Determined to fend off stinging criticism after back-to-back losses to South Africa and Australia, the All Blacks rediscovered key elements of their game that were missing in last week’s 34-19 loss to Australia in Sydney and in their 30-28 loss to the Springboks on July 12.
New Zealand was led by captain Richie McCaw, who returned from a six-week injury layoff to play an inspirational role. He improved the All Blacks’ competitiveness at breakdowns, an area in which they were outplayed in Sydney, while Daniel Carter helped New Zealand implement an improved tactical kicking game.
”The boys have been hurting all week and wanted to put together a good performance,” McCaw said. ”When you lose two in a row it’s a question of how you get back on the horse. We’ve set the standard tonight.”
The All Blacks contested line-outs and won ball from Australian throws, improved their handling, reduced turnovers in general play and stiffened their defence, outscoring the Wallabies four tries to one.
Carter kicked seven goals from eight attempts, two conversions and five penalties for 19 points.
It was the first defeat in six Tests for the Wallabies under their new coach, New Zealander Robbie Deans, and alleviated pressure on the All Blacks’ head coach, Graham Henry.
Under Henry, the All Blacks had suffered their first back-to-back Test defeats since 2004 and a further loss would have built pressure for Henry’s resignation.
The All Blacks led 21-10 at half-time after Woodcock’s two tries and another to centre Ma’a Nonu four minutes after half-time.
Nonu’s second try, seconds before the final hooter, secured a bonus point that moved the All Blacks into first place in the Tri-Nations standings, a point ahead of Australia and five ahead of South Africa.
The Wallabies were unable to match the All Blacks’ physical style and a nascent revival, when fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper scored in the 31st minute to cut the All Blacks’ lead to 18-10, was quickly snuffed out.
A Carter penalty immediately before half-time and Nonu’s try restored New Zealand’s confidence and control.
”It was almost a complete role reversal from last week,” Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock said. ”A week’s a long time in rugby and they’ve proved that.”
Deans was equally complimentary. ”They were desperate and urgent and played with a passion and intensity you come to expect from them here,” he said. — Sapa-AP