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Hello and welcome to our coverage of the opening match of the 2009 Tri-Nations series, New Zealand v Australia, live from Eden Park, Auckland. Holders New Zealand will look to put their underwhelming start to the international season behind them and get their preparations for the 2011 World Cup back on track. Meanwhile, Australia's fortunes couldn't have been more different, their young side seems brimming with quality and confidence, but this is their opportunity to prove they're the real deal. The action gets under way at about 8.35 GMT
It's not just Australia who are out to prove something today however. If the All Blacks don't win today, then South Africa will knock them off the top of the IRB world rankings for the first time in 11 months. It's great news for them then that inspirational captain Richie McCaw is fit again after missing the drawn series against France and the unconvincing win over Italy. While one player doesn't make a bad team good, the Canterbury man's astonishing win percentage of 90% as ABs captain is hard to ignore. Rest assured, this is a different side with him in it.
Australia on the other hand are on a high after a fantastic start to their season, dispatching the Barbarians, Italy and France in clinical and impressive fashion. Coach Robbie Deans has done a stellar job of bringing through promising young backs such as Berrick Barnes and Adam Ashley-Cooper. But this isn't just a Wallaby side of young tyros, Stirling Mortlock is an experienced battering ram in the centre, while flanker George Smith will today become the fourth Australian to reach 100 caps, and will be keen to mark it by getting the best of his old adversary Richie McCaw.
Perhaps the most intriguing battle today will between the two Fly Halves. The contrast between the two couldn't be more different. Aussie 10 Matt Giteau is the definition of a safe pair of hands - he controls the game, he gets his backs moving, and he keeps the pressure off his team. All Black Fly Half Stephen Donald on the other hand is largely unproven and there are serious questions being asked about the temperament of the Chiefs man at this level. While seen as an upgrade after Luke McAlister's poor showings since he returned to New Zealand, there's little doubt that the seat is merely being kept warm for one Mr D Carter...
It's a windy night at a packed Eden Park as the All Blacks line up to perform the Haka in front of the lined up Wallabies, and it's almost time to go.
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| 1 |
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Donald bounces the ball and Craig Joubert gives the signal, and Donald get's the 2009 Tri Nations underway with a long kick to Bruges. Barnes' clearance goes straight to Ross, he puts up the high kick, but Thorn is penalised for not retreating and Giteau will clear from inside his 22
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| 2 |
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Australia are penalised at the lineout for closing the gap and that's a boost for the ABs, who'll take a scrum. Taken on by So'oialo and the kick is put up. Jane manages to secure it and it's shipped out to Nonu. The ball is scavenged by Smith at the breakdown however and Giteau clear, but it goes for a 22 drop out.
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| 3 |
0 - 5 |
Ashley-Cooper secures the drop-out and he's off on the counter, sloppy tackling from the ABs puts them on the back foot, he breaks into the 22, offloads to Moore, who puts Barnes in for a fairly easy score to the right of the posts.
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| 4 |
0 - 7 |
Giteau makes no mistake with the extras
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| 5 |
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Giteau clears Donald's kickoff to touch but the New Zealand lineout is overthrown and Australia counter. The Australian backline is running riot here, Barnes with a sharp offload to release turner. The ball goes wide to Ashley-Cooper who makes it to the 22, only to be hauled down and then penalised at the breakdown.
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| 6 |
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Lineout secured the ball is moved up field and the pressure on the kick gives another lineout to the All Blacks.
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| 7 |
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Another dreadful overthrown lineout gives the Aussies chance to clear back to Muliaina, who pings the ball up to Giteau just inside the All Blacks half. Hore is penalised at the ruck however and Giteau will have a chance from just inside the New Zealand half, in front og the posts.
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| 9 |
0 - 10 |
Giteau slots the kick over and it's a 10 point advantage to Australia
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| 10 |
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Good pressure from the kickoff for the All Blacks, but there's a knock on and the Wallabies will have a scrum just outside their own 22.
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| 11 |
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After multiple resets, Al Baxter is penalised for turning Woodcock and the All Blacks will have a penalty just outside the 22 out on the far right hand side.
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| 12 |
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Donald lines up the kick put he drags it across the front of the posts to the left. Not an easy kick that put not a great kick either.
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| 13 |
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Massive 22 drop out from Barnes, all the way up to the New Zealand 22, the ball is kicked back to the Aussie 10m line, but they're penalised for offside. We'll have another 10 metres for backchat there, that's very silly.
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| 14 |
3 - 10 |
Nice kick from Donald, from just to the left of the posts just beyond the 10m line.
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| 15 |
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A break from Australia is halted when the ball is stripped in contact by Ross, New Zealand look to break from the 22 but it's poor hands and the Aussies will have a scrum at the 10m line.
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| 16 |
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Messy scrum from all concerned but New Zealand have it and Nonu gets his first battering ram shot at the midfield. He passes to Sivivatu, but he's turned over and Australia can counter. But that's a shocking pass out wide and it goes straight into touch
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| 17 |
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What a chance. Donald's kick is charged down and Barnes gathers but slips. He gets to his feet and it's 3 on 1 inside the 22 for Australia, Nonu gets back superbly though and somehow it's knocked on with the line begging. What a let off for the ABs
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| 18 |
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Baxter is penalised once again from the scrum and the All Blacks can clear to the 10m line
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| 19 |
3 - 13 |
Sharpe steals the lineout, this is turning into a real nightmare for Andrew Hore. McCaw is penalised for playing the ball on the floor in the ensuing ruck and Giteau will have another shot at goal.
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| 20 |
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Giteau's kick looks like it might just miss, but it hits the left-hand post and squeaks over, 10-point lead restored.
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| 21 |
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Woodcock secures the kickoff and New Zealand have a chance, but the pass is behind Nonu and he can only knock on. Poor from the ABs
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| 22 |
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Good scrum from the Wallabies, but the clearing kick from Barnes is shocking and it's out on the full. New Zealand will have a chance from 10m
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| 23 |
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Good lineout from the ABs but it's scrappy and unconvincing. Nonu looks to batter his way through out wide but he isn't getting anywhere, it's shipped right and ground is made. Donald puts the chip over and Sivivatu chases Mitchell has no choice but to take it into touch 5 metres out.
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| 24 |
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Lineout secured but the ABs don't seem to want to maul it over. Some slick hands from Sivivatu nearly puts So'oialo over but the Aussie defence holds and the ABs will keep knocking at the door.
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| 25 |
8 - 13 |
The All Blacks have the advantage, but Smith doesn't want it, he powers towards the line and offloads to McCaw, who won't be denied from this distance, powered over to the right of the posts
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| 26 |
10 - 13 |
Donald slots over the extras
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| 27 |
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Cowan clears the kickoff high and the All Blacks secure the kick at halfway. Nonu takes it on and the ABs look to press the advantage.
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| 28 |
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Tialata takes the ball on at halfway but the Aussie defence is well organised and he's penalised for holding on.
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| 29 |
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Giteau's radar is off the mark with that, he sliced it a bit and the score stays the same.
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| 30 |
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The short kickoff is well gathered and a maul is formed, but the All Blacks deal with it superbly and the Australians are penalised. The ensuing scrum goes to Jane on the blindside but he's got no room and Cowan clears to Mitchell.
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| 31 |
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Ashley-Cooper looks to counter but Nonu is having none of it, he resists the hand-off, makes the tackle and gets to his feet quickly, and the Aussie Full Back is penalised. That's a kickable penalty to the left of the posts.
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| 32 |
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Donald's kick drifts away to the right and the scores stay the same.
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| 33 |
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Donald returns the drop out and McCaw and So'oialo chase it, but McCaw is penalised for going in off his feet on the Wallaby 10m line. It's cleared upfield and the lineout is secured comfortable. Giteau delays the pass and finds Mortlock in space who makes it up to the 22 before being tackled.
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| 34 |
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It's shipped side to side and there's numbers out wide on the left - Brown charges through but is stopped just shy, but he's stripped and cleared, but the ref calls it back for a holding on penalty against Australia
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| 35 |
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Sivivatu comes off his wing and lays it off in midfield to McCaw, Donald kicks to the 22 and Mitchell had plenty of time to clear it.
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| 36 |
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Donald takes and offloads to Sivivatu, but the Australians come up with the ball again and it's only a wayward kick that prevents a counter.
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| 37 |
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Good take from lineout and they start to move upfield, the rain is starting to come down now.
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| 38 |
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Smith is penalised at the breakdown and Donald will kick for the corner, but that's shocking and he misses touch and Mitchell takes it, but his clearance is equally bad and the ABs have decent field position with the lineout just inside the 22
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| 39 |
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Shocking again as Thorn loses it forward off the top of the lineout. Hore is having a nightmare here. The Wallaby scrum comes under pressure but Burgess clears low but well.
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| 40 |
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Short lineout to secured by the ABs and Donald bursts through the midfield into the 22, he has support on the outside and if he can make the pass it's a certain score. But the pass is just knocked down by an Australian hand and that's half time.
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Well, that first half was played at a truly breathless pace, and the Australian backline looks just as dangerous as it did a few weeks ago. That said they'll be disappointed to only be three points ahead after having the wind behind them and looking more dangerous. New Zealand on the other hand are certainly not playing at the level they're capable of, and the lineout is rapidly turning into a disaster. That said, the All Blacks have taken their chances and will feel like they will want to capitalise on the lack of ruthlessness shown by the Wallabies in the first 40
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| 40 |
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Giteau gets us under way and it's a good take and COwan clears it long. The clearance is sent up high from the 22 and New Zealand build a platform on half way. Robinson is penalised for going in off his feet though and Donald will have a long range kick from in front of the posts.
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| 41 |
13 - 13 |
That's a good kick and it's got the legs, we're all square.
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| 42 |
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Turner's kick is outside the 22 and it flirts with touch in the air but he's just keeps it and Muliaina is bundled in to touch. The Wallabies secure the lineout and look to break but Moore is penalised for obstruction as Barnes tries to break, and it's a good penalty chance
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| 44 |
16 - 13 |
Donald strokes it over and New Zealand have the lead
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| 45 |
16 - 16 |
McCaw gets under the kickoff but he loses it and Australia gather. Woodcock is penalised at the breakdown though and the Wallabies can strike back.
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| 46 |
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Giteau makes no mistake from there and we're all square again.
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| 47 |
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Sharpe secures the kickoff but it's slow and Burgess' kick is charged down and secured. New Zealand on the break here. The ball is slowed down at midfield and it looks like maybe the Wallabies have a turnover, but it's not coming out and it'll be a Kiwi scrum.
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| 48 |
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Good scrum that's shipped to Donald out on the blind side, there's a good gain but it's turned over and cleared up to Sivivatu who tries to counter.
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| 49 |
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Alexander is in trouble here for an off the ball incident where it looks like he flew in and punched Mitchell. But the ref keeps his card in his pocket and it's just a penalty
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| 50 |
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The lineout is secured and Mitchell makes some ground in midfield but New Zealand exert some pressure at the breakdown and look like they might get a turnover, but it's academic, as the Aussies are penalised for a forward pass.
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| 51 |
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Good scrum and Donald sends a fabulous long kick that just bounces inside the 22 and goes out 5 metres out.
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| 52 |
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Good lineout and it's cleared to Jane who gets absolutely levelled by an onrushing Palu, but they keep possession, but that's a really pointless as they kick over the top and the mark is called and cleared.
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| 53 |
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Half break from the lineout by So'oialo but the Wallaby defence is solid. Woodcock's hands are poor and Burgess secures the ball and clears. Sivivatu looks to be in trouble back in his 22 but he evades three Australian tacklers only to offload forward to Nonu just outside the 22
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| 54 |
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No messing there, Australia penalised at the scrum from the first shove. It's about time, Al Baxter has been having a torrid time all day
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| 55 |
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The linout moves New Zealand up to halfway and Donald sends up a hanging kick. Ashley-Cooper secures it but gets completely levelled my the onrushing Nonu, the ref claims he called the mark though and Giteau clears upfield.
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| 56 |
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Australian lineout on the 22 metre line and they're making real inroads into the 22, the short pass out to Smith looks to make ground but they're penalised 5 metres out for a forward pass.
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| 57 |
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Good scrum from New Zealand but Smith get's a hand to the ball and nearly gets to it, but the ref calls him for an intentional knock-on
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| 58 |
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New Zealand's lineout it working well now and the kick goes up to Ashley-Cooper, the All Blacks are up quickly but some soft hands get they away.
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| 59 |
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Giteau's kick is charged down by Kaino and he secures it inside the 22. New Zealand make it up to the 5 metre line and Australia are penalised in front of the posts
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| 60 |
19 - 16 |
Donald - penalty goal
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| 61 |
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Donald can't miss from here and he coolly strokes it over
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| 62 |
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Weepu's hanging kick to Turner is chased but he shows some quick feet to make some ground up to halfway, the Aussie's looking to hit back now as they ship it out wide. Smith sees the opportunity for a turnover and goes in, but he's penalised for not rolling away and it's a kickable penalty for Giteau
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| 63 |
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Giteau hooks it across the front of the posts from the left and the slender lead remains. The kickoff if secured by the All Blacks and it's going all the way back to the 22. Giteau looks for space at halfway and the ABs competing hard at the breakdown.
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| 64 |
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Great work on the floor from the All Black back row, pummelling Turner and forcing him to lose it forward
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| 65 |
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Off the back of the scrum and Weepu puts a kick down towards in goal, he's got too much on it and it'll be a 22 drop out.
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| 66 |
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McCaw goes for the kick, but he knocks on and Australia have he advantage, they look to ship it wide but just as the referee's arm goes down, they knock it on themselves so it's an ABs scrum.
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| 67 |
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The Aussies are penalised for an early hit and they take it quick and are up to the 22, but Australia compete well and snaffle the ball for Giteau to clear to touch on halfway.
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| 68 |
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Frantic scenes on halfway as Weepu nearly gets charged down, so puts up a high kick that has almost no distance, he manages to catch it as it comes down and New Zealand keep it, Donald then tries to do the same but this time the Wallabies get it.
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| 69 |
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Australia ship it out wide in the 22 but the pass to Turner is dreadful and it nearly goes into touch, he clears it and airial ping-pong ensues.
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| 70 |
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Jane looks to take it in his 22 but he's knocked it on and it's a Australian scrum in a dangerous position.
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| 71 |
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Good Aussie scrum but the ball is lost in contact and it's cleared long by New Zealand and it's dabbed down in-goal for a 22 drop out.
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| 72 |
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Weepu receives the kick and sells the dummy to move up to the 22, but it's slow again. But as Woodcock takes it on, Mortlock is penalised in front of the posts for not rolling away
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| 73 |
22 - 16 |
No mistake from Donald and the Aussies have a six point cushion.
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| 74 |
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The Wallabies have come on strong from the kickoff and move up to inside the 10m line as they start to put it through the phases. They make no progress and the All Black forwards arrive at the ruck and get the turnover.
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| 75 |
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Weepu clears long again and it's just shy of going over the dead ball line, but Mitchell has one foot in and one foot out as he takes it and we'll go all the way back for an Australian scrum just outside the 22
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| 76 |
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Australia get the free kick but Palu tries to take it on, but the ball doesn't leave his hands as he takes it so it's an AB scrum, very silly move.
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| 77 |
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All Black pressure at the breakdown but the ball isn't coming out and Giteau can clear up for a lineout.
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| 78 |
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Australia making inroads in to the New Zealand half as Mortlock sends the ball out wide, but the All Black's defence is solid
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| 79 |
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Mitchell tries to break but he's isolated and the All Black forwards win the turnover and they'll look to grind out the last few seconds here by keeping it tight.
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| 80 |
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The hooter goes to signal full time and the ball is heaved into touch, giving the All Blacks a hard-fought victory and the best start to their Tri-Nations defence, albeit after a very unconvincing performance. Australia will be disappointed they let their early dominance slip, but they aren't the finished article and you get the feeling that they're only going to get better as the tournament goes on.
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