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Hello. It's the final match of the 2009 Tri-Nations between New Zealand and Australia from Wellington. In terms of the tournament, it is a dead rubber after South Africa secured the title last weekend; however, I would venture to suggest that these sides would not be seeing it as a meaningless game. There is always plenty of edge in a game between these two old rivals and they will both be hoping to to gain bragging rights.
Australia who have been the whipping boys of the tournament at times will hope to gain from the experience for their young team and go in unchanged. New Zealand are using the game to try out some new combinations with Donnelly coming into the back row and Thomson in the back row. Jane starts on the wing, Nonu and Toeava link up in the centres.
The kick off will be taking place 19.35 local time (7.35 GMT) and you will have full coverage here on Scrum.com. Please join me, Jamie Allaway, shortly to see the Tri-Nations draw to a close.
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| 1 |
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New Zealand have started things off with an extended haka and looked pumped up. They make a good, positive start, taking it to the Aussies but concede a penalty, having looked good until then.
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| 2 |
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Giteau misses touch from the penalty, so the Kiwis come back at them.
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| 3 |
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More strong rugby from the All Blacks. THe Aussie defence is solid until the give away a penalty for handling in the ruck. You could have interpreted that ball as out, but referree Joubert did not. Carter has a relatively straight forward kick, but pulls it to the right. Bit of a surprise, that.
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| 4 |
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It was all the All Blacks, but aggressive defence from Australia turns the ball over and drives them back. WIth their first possession of the game Giteau drives a kick deep and the Kiwis have to clear to touch well in their own territory.
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| 6 |
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First test of the slightly shaky New Zealand scrum, under the posts, and it is a free kick to Australia, which is taken quickly.
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| 7 |
0 - 3 |
It's New Zealand's turn to concede a penalty as they get on the wrng side of the ruck, and GIteau has a fairly simple kick, similar to Carter's. He makes no mistake and Australia have the lead.
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| 9 |
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New Zealand try to show some ambition but the ball comes back to Australia, leaving a fair bit of space for them to play with. O'Connor puts up the up-an-under, which is regained and taken on by Ashley-Cooper. As the All Blacks scramble defence, they have to kill the ball and Giteau gets his second chance of the evening. No luck with this one as he pushes it across the face of the goal.
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| 11 |
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Giteau tries a crossfield kick, quite flat and far out. It is intercepted by Rokocoko, who is bundled into touch, could have been dangerous as had he got a gap he may have been clear.
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| 13 |
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A quick, short 22 by Dan Carter and they break quickly through Jane and McCaw. Australia break it up with an intentional knock-on.
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| 14 |
3 - 3 |
It is a relatively long kick for Carter but it's good. Scores level.
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| 15 |
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Bit of a brain-freeze for Australia, defending a long, raking kick, they take a quick lineout but OConnor's clearance kick is outside the 22 and they've put themselves under pressure.
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| 16 |
6 - 3 |
The pressure leads to a penalty despite New Zealand missing the man in the lineout. Carter slots it and is the first man to score 100 international points as Wellington.
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| 18 |
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A turnover each way as New Zealand show ambition and Australia put in some crunching tackles. THey don't manage to use the turnver ball, though, and concede a penalty, which New Zealand take quickly and make ground but Read is unable to release Rokocoko on the wing. Australia scrum in their own 22.
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| 19 |
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The scrum hasn't really settled yet and this time it's New Zealand who get the free kick. They call for another scrum.
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| 20 |
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The ball is worked from left to right by New Zealand and Ashley-Cooper is a little too enthusiastic in defence and puts in an illegal hand, Carter ha a relatively straight forward kick.
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| 21 |
9 - 3 |
It goes over. Australia are conceding too many penalties, making it a little too easy for New Zealand to start building a lead. They'll have to tidy that up.
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| 23 |
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Still no stability in the scrum. Australia's free kick this time, there doesn't seem to be any pattern to it. Australia tap and go.
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| 24 |
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Knock on by Australia before the ball has reached the other side of the pitch. Another scrum.
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| 25 |
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The All Blacks win the scrum cleanly but it started outside the 22, so the kick to touch is brought all the way back as they are ruled to have taken it in their own 22. Scrappy and error-prone rugby in this game so far.
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| 26 |
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Rocky Elsom surges forward with the ball out of his own half but is isolated in the tackle. Cowan takes the quick tap to kick off several phases of attack for New Zealand.
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| 27 |
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They also concede a penalty in the face of strong Aussie defence. This game is there for the taking if either side can start playing with any sort of precision.
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| 28 |
9 - 6 |
From the lineout the Aussies take the ball wide. Toeava flies into O'Connor with a high arm, pretty clear high tackle. Barnes takes the drop goal successfully, having seen the advantage, and the referree goes to the assistant and a pretty clear yellow card for Toeava means Australia will have a one man advantage for 10 minutes.
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| 31 |
14 - 6 |
TRY for the 14 men A big up-ad-under is put up by New Zealand. The Australian defence is nowhere and Jane beats them to the ball. He juggles it, secures it, beats the tackle, and gives it a little bit of a Campese style kick to go clear. Shoddy defence by Australia there but great skils from Jane.
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| 32 |
16 - 6 |
The kick is out wide but Carter draws it in and it bounces off the upright through the posts. Suddenly the All Blacks lead by 10 despite being a man down.
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| 34 |
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The game continues to lack a bit of shape and quality. There are plenty of errors and it will be the side that capitalises with bits of skill, like Jane's, who will benefit from that.
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| 35 |
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We've had a fairly protracted exchange of kicks. Mitchell brings it to an end to Australia's advantage with one that bounces and finds touch just inside the All Black 22.
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| 36 |
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Better stuff from the Wallabies. The box kick clearance is secured by Turner and Australia move the ball well. Rokocoko just manages to get between men to disrupt the ball before Australia can break the line.
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| 38 |
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Some meaningless midfield exchanges are finished by Carter, who sees some space behnd the Australians and precisely bounces the ball into touch deep in the Australian 22. Toeava is back on too and things didn't go to badly for New Zealand while he was off.
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| 39 |
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Read makes the half-break as New Zealand run the ball back. The move is slow as a massive hit is put on Carter but the ball goes backwards and still the All Blacks come.
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| 40 |
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The All blacks want to keep this ball in play after the hooter goes for halftime and keep recycling the ball. They're no making much gound, in fact they're going backwards. A forward pass straight into touch from Woodcock definitively ends the half. Perhaps he was really gagging for a slice of orange.
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| 40+1 |
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The players run off for a bit of a break. It was a tense and scrappy half of rugby. New Zealand probably had the better of it, but Australia had their chances too. The All Blacks probably made more of them and Jane's piece of individual skill made the difference in this game so far. Can anybody else create decisive peneration and take this game for their team in the second half?
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| 40 |
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The early exchanges are relatively neat and unadventurous as both sides ease themselves into the half, but Barnes' skimming kick is long by mere inches and they're brought back for a New Zealand lineout in their own half.
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| 41 |
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A surprising basic mistake from Carter, who must have been looking at his options, rather than the ball, and knocks on a simple pass. Scrum Australia.
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| 42 |
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Scrum's still not sorting itself out and we've had a couple of resets.
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| 43 |
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When we get a barely passable scrum, Australia secure their ball and Genia puts in a beautiful touch-finding kick. He does look like a very good prospect.
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| 44 |
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2 turnovers to New Zealand, the second was a penalty advantage after O'Connor mazy run out of defence left him isolated. Joubert brings play back to the penalty and Carter has a completely straight forward kick in front of the posts.
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| 46 |
19 - 6 |
No mistake and a 13 point lead looks ominous.
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| 47 |
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New Zealand are giving signs of imposing themselves on this game. It's Australian ball, but the tacklers and support comes in thick and fast, New Zealand again winning the ball at the breakdown. This time winning a scrum.
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| 49 |
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We've had a couple of changes in the front rows but are still yet to see either side win clean ball. Cowan scrags Genia, as the Australian scrum goes backwards and the All Blacks get the penalty.
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| 50 |
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The All Blacks drive it into the Australian 22 with a succession of rucks. They go for one too many, though, and concede a penalty for Australia to clear.
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| 51 |
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A great passage of rugby from New Zealand. A glimpse of real All Black running rugby. Under some pressure in defence, the ball is worked clear and there is space on the left. Rokocoko, Nonu, McCaw and Rokocoko again exchange passes and make most of hte length of the pitch. Cowan takes the wrong option with the dink through.
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| 53 |
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Again threatening from New Zealand, as Jane, who is having a great game, beats 2 men and slips a backhand pass to Muliaina. He just keeps it in, as he is tackled into touch, but Nonu gets man and ball and can't quite cling on. He would have been over had that tackle not come straight away.
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| 55 |
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Another turnover goes New Zealand's way. The Australian defence is manful but they have to get their hands on the ball and use it to get back into this game.
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| 56 |
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More horrible scrumming and this is becoming a real blight on this game.
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| 58 |
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The All Blacks have worked a dozen phases here, running the ball through backs and forwards. They are bringing out some moves, inside passes, mis-moves etc. They are not quite making the decisive penetration yet but they are recycling the ball.
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| 60 |
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The crowd dont' like it as Rokocoko is blocked trying to follow up his chip, but Australia have teh ball and the chase to run at the Kiwis. And they do. Ashley-Cooper gets through before being dragged down by Cowan and the ball is spun wide and then back again. The first time this half that they have stretched New Zealand.
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| 61 |
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And then dreadful from Australia. Genia's pass is high and behind Giteau. The ball is cleared up but as it goes back to O'Connor he knocks on. Really poor skills and Australia putting the pressure on themselves there.
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| 62 |
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From the scrum New Zealand secure clean ball at the second attempt. They go right, and Toeava kicks through. O'Connor, who is having a shaky game, does OK to secure the ball under extreme pressure and the kick is scrambled clear after a ruck.
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| 64 |
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McCaw straightens the line allowing Muliaina to come into play, who slips the ball to Nonu, who in turn passes the ball in the offload. The attack breaks down and the Aussies have a chance to counter.
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| 65 |
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Australia make some good ground running through Mitchell and win the penalty as the New Zealand defence comes into play offside. The Wallabies decline 3 points and kick to the corner.
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| 66 |
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Australia secure their lineout and drive the ball up a couple of times. They spin the ball wide but don't secure it at the ruck and New Zealand pounce. Australia appear to have won it back but more Kiwi defenders go flying in, when the ball doesn't look like coming out New Zealand are given the put in- a call that could have gone either way, really.
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| 68 |
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NZ secure their ball but the clearance is not long and Australia's lineout is still inside the 22.
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| 69 |
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Clean lineout and the ball goes thumping upfield, the Hooker, Moore, making the most impact. It quickly comes back left again with the runners hitting the ball at pace. However, there are plenty of New Zealand defenders and they wrap up Mitchell 2 metres short of the line. Australia scrum.
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| 71 |
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Almost! A couple of phases look good from Australia. A charge from Palu in particular is effective. Mitchell again is the one who is released to go for the line, but he is swamped by defenders and New Zealand scramble the ball clear.
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| 72 |
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Twice in a row Eaton steals Australian ball in the lineout and that gains New Zealand 50 metres.
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| 74 |
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New Zealand drive the ball up midfield and have made good territory. They don't appear particularly in a hurry to take it and have Australia where they want to play them.
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| 75 |
24 - 6 |
Decisive Try Nonu crashes over. On the second phase of using the backs Nonu breaks two tackles to get behind the Australian defence. 3 men get there to cover but he is too close to the line by then and uses his strength to crash through and reach out with his right arm to place the ball behind the line.
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| 76 |
26 - 6 |
Carter puts the conversion over and you'd have to say that that is game over. There is a 20 point gap now and only a few minutes left.
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| 77 |
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Australia look a touch disheartened and concede a penalty. New Zealand are obviously in the mood to rub it in and kick for the corner rather than take the 3 points. From the lineout they drive over but the ball is held up. Scrum 5.
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| 78 |
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More messy scrums.
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| 80 |
31 - 6 |
TRY And it will be a very emphatic victory. When we get a proper scrum, although still a very scrappy one, the New Zealand forwards drive the ball up. When it is spun wide the Wallaby defence is stretched and Rokocoko is a man on the overlap and the result is inevitable.
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| 80+1 |
33 - 6 |
Carter puts over the conversion and that's the last kick of the game. New Zealand win by 27 points and that is pretty comprehensive.
The scoreline probably flatters New Zealand a bit and is certainly harsh on Australia, who turned up to play. However, New Zealand were certainly comfortable winners. Ritchie McCaw believes their ability to turn the ball over and play the game in Australia's half was the key, which is a pretty accurate assessment. They were also able to get over the line when they had the opportunity. Australia, for all their defensive effort, never had that threat.
The nature of this victory will relieve the pressure on Henry to a certain degree but it remains to be seen what the reaction for Robbie Dean will be. He is working with a young squad that is somewhat in transition, but the scoreline will certainly not help his cause.
Thanks for joining us today. The Tri-nations is over but there is plenty of rugby to come with all the domestic and autumn internationals covered on Scrum.com, so goodbye for now.
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