Kiwis storm back to beat Wallabies - Capital Sports
Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Kiwis storm back to beat Wallabies

SYDNEY, September 11 – New Zealand surged home to steal a 23-22 win over Australia and finish the Tri-Nations series unbeaten at the Sydney Olympic stadium on Saturday.The All Blacks trailed 22-9 but converted tries by skipper Richie McCaw and number eight Kieran Read secured their 10th consecutive victory over the Wallabies and their 15th straight win against allcomers.

The Wallabies, coming off their last-gasp 41-39 win over the Springboks in Bloemfontein last weekend, looked poised for their first win over the All Blacks since 2008, but they could not withstand the Kiwis’ intensity in the decisive final minutes.

Australia led 14-6 at halftime and were 13 points in front after winning most of the battles against the world’s number one team, but the physical effort of three consecutive weeks of Test matches took its toll.

The All Blacks’ triumph was a great tonic for their country after last weekend’s Christchurch quake, New Zealand’s biggest in decades, left an estimated 100,000 buildings damaged, even though nobody was killed.

New Zealand had already clinched the trans-Tasman Bledisloe Cup for an eighth straight year after winning 49-28 in Melbourne and 20-10 in Christchurch earlier in the season.

Scrum-half Piri Weepu’s goalkicking was the difference as he landed three penalties and two conversions, while Wallaby Matt Giteau could only score with three of his seven kicks before he was replaced by Kurtley Beale.

Australia had more possession and territory and led through the only try of the opening half to winger James O’Connor.

Both sides came close to scoring in an frenetic opening.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

All Blacks centre Ma’a Nonu was tackled into the corner post by Beale and the video referee turned down a try for Wallaby winger Lachie Turner minutes later.

But the All Black defence was breached in the 16th minute when number eight Ben McCalman picked up the ball from the back of the scrum and made a break.

McCalman drew the last line of defence to send O’Connor racing over in the right-hand corner.

The Wallabies would have led by a greater margin at halftime had Giteau been more accurate with his goalkicking.

Adam Ashley-Cooper scored Australia’s second try seven minutes after halftime off a long pass from scrumhalf Will Genia to push the home side’s advantage out to 19-6.

Weepu kept the All Blacks within range at 19-9 with his third penalty.

Beale took over the goalkicking duties from off-form Giteau and landed a penalty to give the Wallabies a 13 point lead heading into the final 20 minutes.

The All Blacks were rewarded for their pressure on the Wallabies’ line when Read and McCaw combined off a scrum win for the All Blacks skipper McCaw to score after O’Connor was caught out coming off his wing.

Weepu converted for New Zealand to trail 22-16 with 11 minutes left.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

The All Blacks ramped up the pressure and controlled the ball to score their second try next to the uprights by Reid and Weepu’s conversion put them in front 23-22 into the final seven minutes.

Advertisement

More on Capital Sports

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 27 – DStv and GOtv subscribers are in for a treat of the world’s best football this week as the 2020-21...

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 25 – There is light at the end of the tunnel. After failed promises over the last three years since its...

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 6 – Gentrix Shikangwa scored with two minutes left as Vihiga Queens sailed to the final of the CECAFA regional qualifiers...

NFL

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 13 – Kenya’s history making Daniel Adongo, the first Kenyan to play in America’s National Football League (NFL), is now living...

© 2024 Capital Digital Media. Capital Group Limited. All Rights Reserved