All Blacks smash wingless Wallabies

Published: 10:57PM Saturday July 31, 2010

Source: ONE Sport

By tvnz.co.nz's rugby reporter Chris Matthews

Read

Tools: Email Print Text Size

All Blacks smash wingless Wallabies (Source: Reuters)

The All Blacks celebrate their win - Source: Reuters

The All Blacks have delivered a first half clinic to beat a 14-man Wallabies side 49-28 at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium but unfortunately tonight referee Craig Joubert's influence on this Test was unacceptable.

Two yellow cards in the first half - to Owen Franks and Drew Mitchell - was followed by a second yellow in the 43rd minute to Mitchell for an act that was barely worth a penalty.

While the All Blacks did lead by 32-14 at this stage, Mitchell's red card effectively ended the Test as a contest. Joubert was harsh on breakdowns infringements for both side though and this is what ultimately cost Mitchell his place.

However Joubert's trigger-happy ways shouldn't take away from what was a superb effort from the All Blacks.

After a dodgy opening 10 minutes, Graham Henry's men delivered another total rugby exhibition in their eventual seven-tries-to-three victory. The All Blacks third straight win in the Tri Nations, by a bonus point margin, has all but secured the Southern Hemisphere title and a victory in Christchurch next Saturday will certainly confirm this.

Robbie Deans meanwhile has now not tasted against the All Blacks in eight long Test matches and if tonight is anything to go by it's hard to see when this streak will end. First up tackles by his side was a huge problem as the All Blacks scored some of the easiest tries they are ever likely to score at this level.

The All Blacks though are clearly benefiting from fielding a consistent line-up and while the whole team fronted it was the irrepressible Cory Jane who was the star of the show. Two magical touches from Jane in the first half set-up the victory while in the forwards Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn, Jerome Kaino and Keven Mealamu led another dominant effort upfront.

The All Blacks' scrum on the dodgy surface held up well while the line-out only seems to be getting better.

But it's the width and frenetic pace that this All Blacks side plays with that should put the whole rugby world on notice. All 15 on the field have the skills and confidence to spread the ball at will and this is fundamentally a huge tick for the New Zealand game.

As promised, the Wallabies also constantly kept the ball in hand and when Matt Giteau sliced through the All Blacks' defence from inside his half in the opening minutes, the Test was already living up to its lofty billing.

The Wallabies, through Giteau, came away from their opening assault with three points but Daniel Carter quickly evened the ledger after seven minutes.

The Test then suddenly burst into life with three tries in seven minutes.

Firstly Carter and the All Blacks paid for employing Springboks' tactics inside their own half. A typically laboured pass from Jimmy Cowan put Carter under pressure and his sloppy clearance was charged down by a grateful Mitchell who went on to score in the corner.

Then in the very next passage play Carter gained his redemption. The All Blacks first five-eight was like a man possessed as he repeated the dose by charging down a Berrick Barnes kick and scoring in a scarcely believable play.

The All Blacks weren't finish though - far from it. A counter attack from inside their own half through the hands of Thorn and Mealamu set the magical Jane down the sideline.

For all money it looked like Rocky Elsom would push him over the touchline but an extraordinary chip kick from Jane, as he was tumbling sideways, was picked up by the ever-present Mils Muliaina for the All Blacks to take the lead.

Enter referee Joubert. Firstly he sin binned Franks for a shoulder charge on Richard Brown in the 21st minute and then Mitchell was given the same treatment seven minutes later for a late, no-arms tackle McCaw

In between the Joubert show, McCaw was the benefactor of a Conrad Smith turnover as the All Blacks captain picked up a loose ball from the ruck and ducked down the short side and ran 30 metres to blow the lead out to 22-11.

Giteau and Carter exchanged penalties before Jane secured the bonus point try by pushing off a feeble effort by Brown and scoring in the corner.

Mitchell's early dismissal in the second half for intentionally slowing a play by knocking the ball out of Muliaina's hands only opened up the game only further and when the All Blacks fullback scored his second, the Test looked like it was heading into embarrassing territory.

But to the Wallabies credit they fought hard with 14 men and consequently enjoyed periods of sustained pressure. Two tries to Adam Ashley Cooper and Rocky Elsom was just rewards for their efforts.

Joe Rokocoko also scored a second half try and Corey Flynn iced what was a disjointed second half effort by the All Blacks by scoring just before the final whistle.

All Blacks 49: (Mils Muliaina 2, Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Cory Jane, Joe Rokocoko, Corey Flynn tries; Carter 2 pen 3 con)
Wallabies 28: (Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rocky Elsom tries; Matt Giteau 3 pen 2 con)
Halftime: 32-14.