All Blacks hammer Wallabies in second semi-final of Rugby World Cup 2011 - Rugby News
All Blacks have paved their way through to the grand final of Rugby World Cup 2011 by thumping Wallabies with a remarkable difference of 20-6 0n October 16, at Eden Park, Auckland. New Zealand displayed outstanding team work to overcome their arch-rival
Australia and ended their long drought of playing the final of global showpiece after 16 years.
Wallabies, who looked threatening on paper, cut a sorry figure in the field and failed to stop the unbeaten run of the rampant All Blacks in the ongoing tournament. Piri Weepu helped his side with 12 individual points as he kicked four penalty goals to register
a historic win before a jam-packed Eden Park.
Ma’a Nonu scored the only try of the match very early into the clash and gave his side an aspiring start to carry the day. New Zealand led the contest by 5-0 just after five minute’s of play and yet again they had a very good chance to extend their lead
to 7-0 but the absence of Dan Carter made a clear difference. However, Piri Weepu made no mistake to collect a three pointer in the 12th minute of the game.
James O’Connor gave a ray of hope to the struggling Wallabies in the 15th minute of the match when he opened the account for his team on a penalty goal and reduced the All Blacks lead to 3-8. All Blacks struggled in the match during the middle
of the first-half and made a few desperate attempts to put their rivals on the back foot.
However, the hosts All Blacks were well ahead of the Aussies at the end of first half with 14-6. Meanwhile, Wallabies looked off colour throughout the first part of game and provided too many opportunities to the New Zealanders to increase their total.
The second half was played at a very slow pace as both sides adopted a defensive approach. The All Blacks stole two more penalty goals after the interval but Wallabies had to rely on their previous score even until the end. New Zealand ended up grabbing
an important victory with a huge margin of 20-6.
Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Anthony Faingaa, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2
Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Rob Horne.
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Richard Kahui, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Brad Thorn, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu,
1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew h**e, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.
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