All Blacks continue hoodoo with 22-16 defeat of Australia at Eden Park
July 18, 2009
Australia's Eden Park hoodoo will extend into a 24th year after the Wallabies wilted under a second half New Zealand onslaught in a 22-16 loss in the Bledisloe Cup opener.
Australia could not replicate an impressive first half attacking performance in a tense tactical battle that finished at one try apiece.
New Zealand five-eighth Stephen Donald booted four second-half penalty goals to ram home the All Blacks' territorial advantage as the Wallabies struggled under pressure at the breakdown and at scrum time.
The Australians led 13-10 after a bright first half in which centre Berrick Barnes scored in just the fourth minute before All Blacks captain Richie McCaw countered in the 26th.
But running with a helpful breeze, Australia would have been disappointed with their slender lead and the New Zealanders were back on level terms just a minute after the break through a Donald penalty goal.
The No.10 put them ahead for the first time in the match three minutes later before Giteau got the Wallabies back on level terms with a penalty of his own in the 46th minute.
But the New Zealanders eventually proved the stronger as frustrations got the better of Drew Mitchell and Ma'a Nonu, who traded shoves in the 50th minute before All Blacks replacement Owen Franks was penalised for joining in with a forearm.
But the momentum swung the New Zealander's way and they reclaimed the lead 19-16 with a 61st minute penalty goal to Donald after a Giteau clearance had been charged down in the danger zone.
Giteau had the chance to draw level again but hooked a 64th minute penalty shot from 30m out to the left and Donald booted another three-pointer in the 75th minute.
The Wallabies had got off to the best possible start when Barnes sliced through to score in just the fourth minute after good work from Giteau swooping on a loose ball.
Giteau's conversion and a 10th minute penalty goal extended Australia's lead to 10-0 before Donald got his side on the board with a 15th minute penalty.
The Wallabies should have gone further ahead but absolutely butchered a try when they had the Kiwis' defence cut to shreds in the 18th minute.
Unfortunately it was Test centurion George Smith who failed to handle a tough pass from Barnes with the line wide open, although Barnes probably should have passed to Stirling Mortlock a moment earlier.
Australia went out to 13-3 with another Giteau penalty in the 21st minute but five minutes later McCaw planted the ball on the line from a Conrad Smith offload after the home side had mounted one of their few patches of first-half pressure.
Donald's conversion made it 13-10 but the replacement for injured maestro Dan Carter had earlier missed two penalty shots, while Giteau had also sent one wide in the 29th minute.
Australia have not won at Eden Park since a 22-9 victory in 1986 and have not won in New Zealand since 2001.
AAP
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...016959,00.html
