New Zealand Embarrasses Australia in Tri-Nations
The New Zealand All Blacks stormed into Melbourne over the weekend and handed the Australia Wallabies their first loss of this year’s Tri-Nations Cup. The All Blacks took advantage of an Australian team that was a man down, winning handily 49-28.
Recap
Australia opened the scoring in the third minute with a penalty from Matt Giteau, however, it was quickly answered three minutes later with a penalty from Dan Carter.
Australia looked in form from early on as winger Drew Mitchell touched one home for the games first try. However, once again the lead was short lived as Carter bounced over the line for a New Zealand score. After a conversion, the All Blacks took the lead 10-8 in the 10th minute.
The All Blacks did not let up as Mils Muliaina cut through for a try of his own just two minutes after Carter's score.
The game continued to seesaw as Berrick Barnes hit a penalty to reduce the All Black lead to 15-11.
However, it would not be enough as New Zealand looked to be on form once again, and team captain Richie McCaw added another try, with Carter making no mistake on the conversion. They did not stop either, as winger Cory Jane added yet another try to make the score 32-14 heading into half.
When the two sides came back from the breakm Muliaina notched his second try of the day, and Carter continued to kick well from the tee, hitting another conversion to make the score 39-14.
The Aussies tried to get back in it with a try from Adam Ashley-Cooper in the 55th minute, but it would never be enough as Joe Rokocoko spotted another try for the All Blacks just three minutes later.
In the 69th minute, captain Rocky Elsom put a try across for the Wallabies, but New Zealand was simply too good for the Australians on the day, as they added an amazing seventh try of the game from Corey Flynn in the 79th minute.
The Aussies were hampered by the sending off of Mitchell in the 43rd minute after he received his second yellow card of the match for swatting the ball away. Mitchell was forced to sit out the rest of the match and watch his team battle a tough New Zealand side one man down.
Mitchell appeared at a disciplinary hearing but was not given any extra punishments for his actions.
It would be hard for the Aussies to take away any positives from the match as they were already in a deep hole when Mitchell was sent off. Nevertheless, they should be happy that their wing play seemed to be working early on, and they will get Mitchell back in time for their game in Christchurch on the weekend.
The All Blacks showed why they are ranked as the world number one, putting on another impressive show at this year’s Tri-Nations. The seven tries were helped on by an impressive day from fly-half Carter, who hit two penalties and notched a try of his own along the way.
Table
It will be very difficult for anyone to catch up to the All Blacks at this point, as they sit at the top of the table with 15 points and a point differential of plus-55. The Aussies are the next closest with four points, and a differential of minus-four, while South Africa wallows at the bottom of the pack with zero points and a differential of minus-51.
The next match-up of the tournament takes place between the All Blacks and the Wallabies this weekend at Christchurch’s AMI Stadium. After which the teams will travel to South Africa to begin their tour.
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