(Adds details, quotes)
By Stuart Condie
SYDNEY, Aug 18 (Reuters) – New Zealand landed an early blow
in the battle for the inaugural Rugby Championship when they
beat Australia 27-19 on Saturday to maintain their iron grip on
the Bledisloe Cup.
The World Cup holders raced into an 18-3 lead in the opening
game of the newly expanded tournament, which now includes
Argentina, through tries by Israel Dagg and Cory Jane before
veteran lock Nathan Sharpe crossed just before halftime for the
Wallabies’ only try.
Berrick Barnes’ kicking hauled Australia to within five
points to leave New Zealand facing an uncomfortable final few
minutes but Dan Carter’s fifth successful penalty ensured that
the All Blacks take pole position ahead of next weekend’s return
fixture in Auckland.
Defending southern hemisphere champions Australia troubled
their trans-Tasman rivals when they had the ball in hand but a
raft of missed tackles and a couple of knock-ons at key moments
effectively handed the win to the All Blacks.
Carter kicked 17 points but the biggest difference between
the sides in a stop-start match at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium was
the speed of the ball won by the New Zealand forwards – and the
mistakes made by the Wallabies as the black shirts came at them.
New Zealand will now keep hold of the Bledisloe Cup for a
10th year in a row.
“You could say its rustiness, who knows,” Barnes said.
“We’re going to have to go back to the drawing board and
rectify it.
“We’ve got a long way to go.”
The visitors’ solid scrum laid the platform for their
first-half tries and only the regular whistling of referee Alain
Rolland kept the Wallabies from being even more comprehensively
dominated at the set piece.
The score was 3-3 when Sonny Bill Williams ran decoy to let
Carter carry the ball away from the scrum to meet the Australia
midfield, slipping a delayed pass to Dagg. The fullback tore
past opposite number Kurtley Beale on the left touchline and
scored in the corner.
The hapless Beale was then culpable for New Zealand’s second
try, knocking on a kick under no pressure inside his own 22.
The All Blacks sprayed the ball left to right from the
resulting scrum and Dagg swiftly deposited the ball in Jane’s
hands on the right for the winger to score.
Australia made a final attack of the half and Digby Ioane
powered through only to be hauled down just short. Will Genia
popped the ball up off the ground for Sharpe to go over for his
eighth try from 106 tests.
Barnes pulled the Wallabies to within eight points with the
conversion and the gap was just five points within five minutes
of the restart after the flyhalf landed another penalty.
Carter and Barnes then traded kicks before the New Zealand
flyhalf restored the cushion with his fourth successful penalty.
Dagg was bundled into touch as he raced in for a second try
in the right corner following a break by Liam Messam and Jane
spilled just short of the line on the other wing.
The All Blacks looked to be home and dry but Barnes again
hauled the Wallabies to within a try and the majority of the
76,877 fans were roaring, only to be silenced as the ball was
hacked clear and Carter made the game safe with the final kick
of the match.
(Editing by Justin Palmer)
