Full time: New Zealand 17 Australia 6 - Eden
Park erupts as full time is blown! ABs magnificent on defence, not
letting the Wallabies through. All they could manage were the two
penalties. NZ had to defend a lot more in the second half and they
did it superbly.
79min: New Zealand 17 Australia 6 - Aust banging
away at the line, desperate, but commitment from the ABs and they
win the penalty. The country won't be denied a first Rugby World
Cup final since since 1987!
75min: New Zealand 17 Australia 6 - Sonny Bill has
come on but he's not stayed very long. Shoulder charge on Quade
Cooper and Joubert says you're off for the rest of the game.
Cory Jane has been named as man of the match.
71min: New Zealand 20 Australia 6 - Pressure
still on Australia, they have to score and they can't get out of
their own half. The scrum disintegrates and another penalty, fist
pumping and claps all-round. Weepu nails three from 40m, he has
come back on as Ellis went off with blood pouring from his
head.
66min: New Zealand 17 Australia 6 - Things
starting to boil over, bit of biffo at the scrum. Penalty on
halfway as the Aussies infringe, Cruden has a shot but it's wide
again. Questions being asked over why the ball isn't being put into
the corner.
63min: New Zealand 17 Australia 6 - Pressure valve
released for Aust, they've been defending for the last five
minutes, but right on their own line Wallabies penalty.
58min: New Zealand 17 Australia 6 - All Blacks
work themselves back into an attacking position. Dagg back in the
pocket and he goes for the drop coal - it's terrible, ghastly, you
wouldn't want to watch it a second time.
56min: New Zealand 17 Australia 6 - Moore
penalised at the breakdown, and Weepu points to the sticks. Right
at the end of his range, 50m, but he's pushed it to the
right.
54min: New Zealand 17 Australia 6 - Ioane has been
the best of the Aussies, busting the line, you feel like
something's on everytime he gets his hands on it.
60,087 at Eden Park tonight.
51min: New Zealand 17 Australia 6 - Promising
attack for NZ but it breaks down after Dagg throws a loose pass
which rolls into touch.
48min: New Zealand 17 Australia 6 - Accidentally
bumping into his own player Ioane, and ABs scrum. NZ spending much
more time on attack but they're soaking it up.
45min: New Zealand 17 Australia 6 - Another
prolonged attacked from Aust, 12 phases, but great defence from the
ABs and they wait for the knock-on.
42min: New Zealand 17 Australia 6 - Weepu has won
a penalty for NZ right out in front and an easy three points.
Aust pinged for not releasing.
Half time: - A half dominated by NZ but they
haven't taken all their chances. Weepu has missed three kicks, a
challenging conversion from the touchline but then two more
straightforward penalties.
Kaino has been magnificent, holding off a charging Ioane in a
try-saving tackle. Aust have missed 15 tackles, and have been
forced to make a mountain of tackles.
40min: New Zealand 14 Australia 6 - Fantastic
defence from the ABs. Another rare foray into into NZ territory,
but great work at the breakdown has referee Craig Joubert awarding
NZ the scrum and that's half time.
36min: New Zealand 14 Australia 6 - Comedy of
errors has led to three points for NZ. Cooper had to run back and
scoop up a charge down from Nonu, and got away a brilliant
clearance. Kahui fired the quick restart, before Dagg put up a very
average mid-field bomb. Aust caught offside, unfortunate for
Ashley-Cooper, and Weepu manages to kick this one.
32min: New Zealand 11 Australia 6 - After an
extended period on defence, they couldn't find a way through, so
the ball is spun back to Cooper in the pocket who slots the drop
goal.
29min: New Zealand 11 Australia 3 - Awkward kick
from Genia and Kahui has tried to trap it with the boots but it's
bounced away and into touch, Aussie lineout.
26min: New Zealand 11 Australia 3 - Cooper has had
a very ordinary half so far, a few knock on's and kicking out twice
on the full. He' getting a raucous reception from the crowd as
expected, plenty of booing.
22min: New Zealand 11 Australia 3 - Cruden, all
the maturity in the world and composure has slotted a drop goal!
Plenty of phases for NZ, and eventually Cruden went back into the
pocket and nailed it.
19min: New Zealand 8 Australia 3 - Scrum penalty
to NZ, Kepu deemed to go straight down on the hit. Weepu's having
an average start with the boot, he's only got ý so
far.
16min: New Zealand 8 Australia 3 - Wallabies
equalise through an O'Connor penalty. Great run from Ioane nearly
to the line. McCaw off his feet and penalty.
11min: New Zealand 8 Australia 0 - Aust penalised
for a player not supporting his own weight in the ruck. Challenging
kick for Weepu out to the right but he's nailed this one, his third
attempt.
A whopping 95% possession to NZ right now.
9min: New Zealand 5 Australia 0 - It's all New
Zealand as they set up camp in the Aust lineout. Thorn steals a
lineout and the Aussies are penalised for hands in the ruck. Weepu
misses the penalty, off the post, fairly easy too.
7min: New Zealand 5 Australia 0 - TRY! Dagg puts
the big fend on Elsom and gets the ball off to Nonu before he goes
into touch, and Nonu collects to power into the corner!
4min: New Zealand 0 Australia 0 - Five metre scrum
after O'Connor takes the ball back into his own area. Jane loses
the ball off the setpiece.
2min: New Zealand 0 Australia 0 - What a start!
Cooper kicks out on the full and there's a centrefield scrum. Weepu
puts a lovely little kick into the corner.
Pre-match:
The All Blacks have laid down the challange, and it was a fierce
Haka!
Conditions are perfect, no wind. Australia have won the toss and
will kick off.
Eden Park is slowly filling and the tension in the air is so
conspicuous that it feels more like a funeral than a RWC
semi-final.
Richard Kahui and Stephen Donald are currently warming up at the
West End of the field. Kahui just looked into the heavens as if to
say this is his moment.
Richie McCaw's right thigh is heavily strapped but he does appear
to be running freely.
Meanwhile the non-playing reserves of Wallabies are casually
playing hacky with a rugby ball around the halfway line. Reasonable
skills but I don't think they are going to get an A-League contract
anytime soon.
The official team sheets have just come in and both the All Black
and Wallabies' 22s remain the same.
The brass band just dropped their horns and did a haka. Classic. It
seemed to lighten up the crowd too.
All Blacks: 15-Israel Dagg, 14-Cory Jane,
13-Conrad Smith, 12-Ma'a Nonu, 11-Richard Kahui, 10-Aaron Cruden,
9-Piri Weepu, 8-Kieran Read, 7-Richie McCaw ©, 6-Jerome Kaino,
5-Sam Whitelock, 4-Brad Thorn, 3-Owen Franks, 2-Keven Mealamu,
1-Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Victor Vito, Andy Ellis, Stephen Donald, Sonny Bill Williams.
-
Related
Wallabies: 15-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14-James O'Connor, 13-Anthony Faingaa, 12-Pat McCabe, 11-Digby Ioane, 10-Quade Cooper, 9-Will Genia, 8-Radike Samo, 7-David Pocock, 6-Rocky Elsom, 5-James Horwill (captain), 4-Dan Vickerman, 3-Ben Alexander, 2-Stephen Moore, 1-Sekope Kepu
Reserves: 16-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17-James Slipper, 18-Rob Simmons, 19-Ben McCalman, 20-Luke Burgess, 21-Berrick Barnes, 22-Rob Horne.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentSIDESTEP said on 2011-10-18 @ 13:37 NZDT: Report abusive post
I know it's all been said before but FORM MEANS NOTHING! Just look at the record of the ABs over the last 5 RWCs. Just look at France's record at this RWC to make the final -they haven't even got into first gear! Yes, the ABs maybe the best team, but are the French in disarray? -just a media beat-up! Are the French unworthy finalists and easy beats? Make judgement AFTER the final because at the moment I feel that too many AB supporters and "experts" may have far more than egg on their faces.
Wasserman said on 2011-10-17 @ 20:14 NZDT: Report abusive post
All hail the mighty All Blacks! What a display; brutal power, controlled agression and clinical accuracy. That was one of the finest games of rugby I have ever seen, and don't forget that this is a VERY good Wallabies side. The fact that they were made to look helpless and hapless just says even more about the astonishing game that the AB's played. I had tears in my eyes at the end of the match, it was THAT good. Those poor Frogs are going to get killed.
Cann River Bob said on 2011-10-17 @ 16:47 NZDT: Report abusive post
What does Conrad Smith have to do to get the rating and recognition he deserves? He is close to MVP in every test he plays, with his deceptive strength over the ball at breakdowns, his high tackle count, security under the high ball, and distribution and organisational skills equal to anyone in the game. Give him 7 for playing a great game at centre, then add 2 or 3 for also being a 4th loosie, for making tackles that should have been made by others, and for that great take of a high ball.
blindside89 said on 2011-10-17 @ 09:22 NZDT: Report abusive post
You are far too harsh a critic. They deserve better marks. Some of these guys didnt make an error at all!!!! Big pressure game, a lot at stake, tough opposition and we crushed them. Give them all a 10 - except SBW.
coconutruff4 said on 2011-10-17 @ 09:06 NZDT: Report abusive post
Aaron Cruden, was a little rock in the first line of defence, where all good 1st fives should be.....was dropping those backs and some forwards....what a display...Jerome K what a machine...awesome display of unity in the team...well done Aussie.... they are going to be the team of the future, and definitely in 2015....bring on les blues........