All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup
The New Zealand All Blacks have retained the treasured Bledisloe Cup trophy after narrowly defeating Australia
13-9 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday night.
A Brisbane record crowd of 52,498 turned out to watch a classic showdown between the two Trans-Tasman
rivals.
The match received extra spice following the protest comments by the Wallabies’ head coach John Connolly
last week regarding the All Blacks pre-match haka ceremony with one version, the Kapa O Pango, involving an
unwarranted throat-slicing gesture.
The All Blacks opted for the less intimidating and traditional Ka Mate haka. However, the Wallabies caused
some controversy with a warm up procedure, involving tackle bags, in the final two minutes before
kick-off.
With 12 straight wins behind them, and seven of the last nine against the Wallabies, the All Blacks went in
firm favourites despite having not played in the Queensland capital against the Wallabies since 1996.
Australia was first on the board through a Stirling Mortlock ninth minute penalty goal.
|
Rugby Union - Tri-Nations Test |
| NEW ZEALAND |
13 |
| Tries: | Conversions: |
| Joe Rokocoko | Dan Carter 1/1 |
| Drop Goals: | Penalties: |
| Daniel Carter | Dan Carter 1/1 |
|
| AUSTRALIA |
9 |
| Tries: | Conversions: |
| nil | nil |
| | Penalties: |
| | Stirling Mortlock 3/3 |
|
@ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Crowd: 52,498 |
Only one try was scored this evening, unlike the six-try fest in the Christchurch encounter three weeks
ago.
In the 10th minute, winger Joe Rokocoko crossed for his 31st Test try after he fended off a half-way line
tackle attempt by Rocky Elsom and then stepped inside fullback Chris Latham.
Daniel Carter chipped in with the extras from a conversion attempt, while slotting over a penalty. A second
try was on offer when Carter beat two attempted tackles.
Australia had several opportunities throughout the match to post a try but bombed them all with the line
open.
The Wallabies’ forwards dominated the lineouts but like the previous meeting struggled in the
scrums.
New Zealand led 10-6 at half time, while Carter’s 58th minute drop goal pushed the lead out to seven.
Mortlock slotted over his third penalty four minutes later, while the Wallabies squandered several chances
to cross the try-line in the final 18 minutes.
New Zealand has a firm grip on the tri-nations trophy, while retaining the Bledisloe Cup for another year.
Australia last held the treasured Bledisloe trophy in 2002.
Next week, the Wallabies host South Africa at Telstra Stadium in Sydney on Saturday night. The Springboks
return to Australia eager to atone for the mauling earlier this month.
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