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Richie McCaw celebrates - Source: Photosport -
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The All Blacks opened their defence of the Tri-Nations rugby
title and tightened their grip on the Bledisloe Cup by constructing
another stirring fight back to extend Australia's misery at Eden
Park Saturday night.
New Zealand atoned for a muddled start to their international
season, and a horrible opening quarter at Eden Park, to take the
first of four Bledisloe Cup encounters 22-16, after recovering from
a 10-point deficit.
It amounted to the perfect farewell present for the All Blacks, who
head to South Africa early on Sunday for back-to-back tests against
the world champion Springboks.
Australia, meanwhile, will stew on their inability to hold on to a
lead for the third time in as many games against their trans-Tasman
rivals.
They now need to win the remaining Bledisloe Cup tests in Sydney,
Wellington and Tokyo to reclaim the trophy for the first time since
2003.
New Zealand's recovery, completed by Stephen Donald's accurate
boot, ensured the All Blacks extended their 15-year unbeaten record
at Eden Park to 20 tests.
The Wallabies' 11th loss in Auckland since 1986 took the gloss off
Australian flanker George Smith's 100th cap.
Donald's display
Donald, a debatable selection ahead of Luke McAlister, capped an
assured individual display with 17 points as the Wallabies'
discipline and composure steadily deteriorated.
The first five-eighth nailed penalties a 60 seconds after the break
and two minutes later to give New Zealand the lead for the first
time.
He struck again on the hour after superb blindside flanker Jerome
Kaino charged down a Matt Giteau clearance to stress the Wallabies'
defence.
Donald sealed the victory with seven minutes remaining with his
fifth penalty and complete a rugged comeback.
The All Blacks paid dearly for an alarming lack of precision from
the kick-off. Richie McCaw was among the fumblers, but typically
the captain's performance mirrored New Zealand's improvement as the
half wore on.
So vital to the All Blacks' recovery in the corresponding fixture
last year, McCaw eroded the Wallabies' 10-point buffer by running a
perfect line to snatch a Conrad Smith offload to crash over in the
24th minute. A tangible reward for the All Blacks' first
excursion deep into Wallabies territory.
McCaw, making his first appearance of the season, had plenty of
support from his fellow reinforcements.
The All Black lineout contributed to the Wallabies' fast start.
Three early throws went astray as Andrew Hore struggled to pinpoint
his jumpers.
Fortunately Rodney So'oialo, who was influential in his comeback
from an enforced lay-off, shored up the set piece expertly until he
was astutely subbed for Kieran Read in the 62nd minute.
Though the Wallabies started impressively, a three-point lead at
the break fell well below expectations and was ultimately
costly.
Berrick Barnes was both hero and villain as the Wallabies made a
series of dangerous thrusts from a succession of early All Black
errors.
The second five-eighth glided over in just the fifth minute after
Adam Ashley-Cooper eluded the grasp of McCaw and Donald to stretch
the All Blacks' defence before Barnes ignored support outside him
to wrong foot Mils Muliaina and dive over.
Matt Giteau's conversion gave the Wallabies a double-digit lead,
although Donald trimmed the margin when Al Baxter was penalised for
collapsing a scrum.
The Wallabies squandered their first gilt-edged opportunity in the
18th minute when Giteau pounced on an injudicious Donald grubber
before putting Barnes into acres of space.
Barnes seemed certain to orchestrate the try, but lost contact with
Stirling Mortlock and then passed to George Smith's head as
Muliaina looked stranded.
Australia had to settle for a three-pointer after McCaw was pinged
at the breakdown after Nathan Sharpe stole another Hore
throw.
From then on, the All Blacks clawed themselves back into the
contest and Australia displayed the same nervousness that destroyed
their chances of pushing on for victory in Brisbane and Hong Kong
last season.
Scrambling All Blacks defence in the 36th minute, where Hore atoned
for some wonky throws with a crucial turnover as Richard Brown
powered to the line, encapsulated the momentum shift.
Read the live text scoring of the Test
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