/ 19 September 2009

All Blacks crush Wallabies for 33-6

Cory Jane scored his first Test try as the New Zealand All Blacks ovepowered Australia 33-6 in their Tri-Nations match at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

Ma’a Nonu and Joe Rokocoko added late tries while Daniel Carter scored 18 points for the All Blacks with four penalties and the conversion of all three tries.

Flyhalf Matt Giteau slotted an early penalty and inside centre Berrick Barnes kicked a first-half drop goal in a losing Wallabies effort.

It was a sixth successive loss for Australia against New Zealand and left Robbie Deans’ side with the wooden spoon after South Africa clinched the Tri-Nations title last week.

The All Blacks took control in the second half with their forwards gaining superiority at the scrum and turning ball over at breakdowns.

Giteau had opened the scoring with an eighth-minute penalty before New Zealand took a 9-3 lead after 22 minutes with three successful penalties.

The Wallabies reduced the deficit when Barnes slotted a 35-metre drop-goal, though would have received a penalty anyway after All Blacks centre Isaia Toeava was seen to make a dangerous high tackle on fullback James O’Connor.

Toeava was sin-binned but the All Blacks kept Australia scoreless in the 10 minutes he was off and extended their lead when Jane climbed above O’Connor to take a high Mils Muliaina kick.

The Wellington utility back then shrugged out of a poor tackle from Drew Mitchell to score his first test try in the right-hand corner.

Carter added his fourth penalty early in the second half but despite their territorial advantage the All Blacks were unable to add to the score until the 75th minute when Nonu burst through five tacklers from 15 metres out to put the game beyond doubt.

Rokocoko, who had been under pressure before the game to retain his place after a mediocre season, squirted over in the corner in the final minute after sustained pressure to complete the scoring.

The two sides next clash in a Bledisloe Cup encounter in Tokyo on October 31. – Reuters