All Blacks finish Aussie whitewash

[pieter blackie]

New Zealand recorded a seventh straight Test victory over Australia in front of a 44,000 strong crowd in Tokyo.

Six weeks ago the All Blacks thrashed the Wallabies 33-6 in the Tri-Nations, and this time they overpowered the Aussies 32-19 to give them four wins out of four in their final Bledisloe Cup match.

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw savoured a whitewash of victories over Australia in 2009 before both teams fly to Europe to continue their northern hemisphere tour.

"It's something to be proud of," he said.

"There was some rough and tumble at the end today and some desperation from the Wallabies. It showed what it means to both teams."

Confidence building

"It's pleasing to be 4-0 against the Wallabies this year," said New Zealand coach Graham Henry.

"It's not a personal thing - it's a win-loss thing."

"And it's great to have momentum going into the European tour. It's always better when you travel 12 and half hours on a plane like tomorrow with a win under your belt."

After two early penalties from flyhalf Matt Giteau put Australia up 6-0, New Zealand winger Sitiveni Sivivatu scored the game's first try in the 21st minute after a superb flowing move.

Sivivatu was sin-binned in the 34th minute for wiping out Peter Hynes as he went for a high ball and his absence had swift consequences for the All Blacks.

A wide-open Hynes dived in at the corner flag moments later and after lengthy review of the video replay the try was awarded.

Giteau converted to give the Wallabies a 16-13 half-time advantage they could have extended after being camped on the All Blacks goal line for the last five minutes of the first period.

Conrad Smith burst through after a clever hand-off from fly half Daniel Carter to restore New Zealand's lead six minutes into the second half of an open game.

Overpowered

Carter's left boot converted four more penalties to stretch the lead as the All Blacks wore down Australia in the second half of their fourth and final Bledisloe Cup Test of the year.

Australia coach Robbie Deans attempted to put a positive spin on his side's latest setback.

"It was a better effort in terms of intensity and physicality," he insisted, comparing his side's performance to their capitulation in Wellington.

"We threatened a lot more but we came up short with our finishing touch.

"We'll be better for this performance. It will be a launch pad," added Deans, whose team will tour Britain and Ireland.

Australia captain Rocky Elsom said: "I couldn't fault our guys for their effort but it wasn't good enough. We had a score to settle but it didn't happen."


http://english.aljazeera.net/sport/2...442241787.html

[tragic]

Although I'm disappointed in the Wallabies and still think the AB's are the team to beat, I lost of good deal of respect for the AB's in that game. If they don't believe they can win a game without playing offside (why are they NEVER pinged for that?) and throwing forward passes, then they can't be all that.
I think the Wallabies were lucky with Hynes' try.

[jono]

was hynes' try a penalty try? or was it ruled a try by the TMO?
i couldnt hear the commentators over the kiwis complaining at the casino

[Flamethrower]

The Ref got sick of waiting for the TMO and awarded the try himself.

[jono]

really?

[GIGS20]

That's what it looked like to me. Lucky too, the camerawork was so shit you couldn't see the ball touch chalk from any angle.

I'm pretty sure it was a try though.