Match Details

All Blacks

VS

Qantas Wallabies

	22	Eden Park, Auckland Kick off times: 7:35pm (Local) Sat 18 Jul 5:35pm (AEDT) Sat 18 Jul	16
	Head to Head: Played 155 : New Zealand 105, Australia 45, Drawn 5 Last Time: 13/09/08 : New Zealand 28 - Australia 24 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

It was a frustrating night for the Qantas Wallabies in Auckland tonight as they went down 22-16 to the All Blacks in the opening Bledisloe Cup-Bundaberg Rum Tri-Nations Test of the year despite leading 13-10 at half time.

It was the third time in a row the Wallabies have lost to the All Blacks after leading at half time and kept up a 20 Test winning streak for New Zealand at Eden Park.

The Wallabies had first use of a howling wind in the first half.

After a stop-start beginning to the game, with the All Blacks showing their clear tactic of kicking high to Drew Mitchell’s wing in the blustery conditions, the Test burst to life after five minutes with fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper taking the All Blacks’ defence on at halfway.

He made a half break then stumbled but incredibly was allowed to get to his feet against the uncharacteristically porous All Blacks defence and charged on another 15 metres till he was pulled down on the New Zealand 22.

The ball came quickly to the right from the ruck with hooker Stephen Moore feeding inside centre Berrick Barnes who stepped inside All Blacks winger Sitiveni Sivivatu before going straight through the tackle of the usually reliable All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina to score ten metres in from touch.

Wallabies flyhalf Matt Giteau landed the conversion to put the Men of Gold up 7 -0 after just five minutes.

The All Blacks were having troubles in the line out as the Wallabies were showing their desire to run at the All Blacks, taking the New Zealand defence on with the backrow of Wycliff Palu, Richard Brown and Test centurion George Smith making considerable ground.

A penalty to flyhalf Giteau from 40 metres out saw the Men of Gold extend their lead to 10-0 after the same number of minutes.

Pre-match predictions of the All Blacks targeting the Wallabies scrum were proved accurate on 12 minutes with New Zealand receiving a scrum penalty from South African referee Craig Joubert, wide out on the Australian 22.

New Zealand flyhalf Stephen Donald missed the shot. He was given another chance a minute later with a penalty for offside at a kick which was them marched ten metres for prop Benn Robinson throwing the ball away.

This time Donald was accurate and the All Blacks were back to 3-10 after 15 minutes.

The Wallabies should’ve been 17-3 up three minutes later with Giteau brilliantly scooping up an ill-advised Donald chip and feeding Barnes who had Stirling Mortlock screaming for the ball inside.

Barnes however held on and instead popped the ball to Smith, with the ball bouncing off the flanker’s head with the line wide open and a certain try there for the taking.

Giteau was given a penalty chance from a ruck penalty forty metres out a minute later with the Wallabies flyhalf striking the ball off the left upright and over to put the Men of Gold up 13-3.

It was a mistake filled first quarter with the All Blacks dropping straight forward passes and missing numerous tackles and Wallabies scrumhalf Luke Burgess kicking into touch on the full not once but twice.

On 25 minutes the All Blacks finally seemed to wake up.

After a good chip kick through from scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan, Wallabies winger Lachie Turner was forced to take the ball in to touch ten metres from Australia’s line.

From the lineout the Wallabies defended resolutely with Robinson prominent but after multiple phases All Blacks outside centre Conrad Smith made a half break before feeding back inside to captain and flanker Richie McCaw who crashed over for a try in his come back game although surrounded by three Wallabies tacklers.

Donald converted and the Wallabies lead was back to 13-10 after 25 minutes.

Giteau missed another penalty attempt four minutes later but missed from 45 metres out and Donald missed from a slightly closer position a minute later.

The Wallabies then launched a sustained attack with coach Robbie Deans' instructions to run at the All Blacks and take them on still ringing in their ears. But again the Men of Gold were held out when a second try may have been decisive.

James Horwill went to the Blood-bin with a cut on his nose, bringing Dean Mumm on with a minute left in the half, and a promising All Blacks attack broke down due to another poor throw at the lineout.

The All Blacks were nearly over on the stroke of half time with Donald slicing right through the Wallabies defence but his inside pass was knocked down by Mitchell and the Wallabies held on to lead 13-10 at the break.

It was a high tempo, action packed-mistake filled first half which started with the Wallabies dominating before the All Blacks grew in strength and confidence as the half wore on.

Running with the breeze in the second half the All Blacks took full toll with flyhalf Donald landing two forty metre penalties within minutes to put New Zealand in front 16-13 for the first time.

But Giteau put the Wallabies back on even terms a minute later with a penalty from the 22.

Brown limped off with an ankle injury five minutes later with Force team mate David Pocock making an early entry.

The Wallabies scrum woes continued in the second half with another penalty against Waratahs' prop Al Baxter.

The game was evenly poised with which ever team could keep their composure in the final quarter set to finish on top.

A courageous take of a high-ball from Ashley-Cooper saw a clearance from Giteau and Smith earn a penalty with quick work at the breakdown. The promising Wallabies attack though broke down with Pocock spilling the ball ten metres out from the All Blacks line.

A superb charge down from All Blacks flanker Jerome Kaino of a Giteau clearance had the Wallabies scrambling on the 62^nd minute before desperate defence led to another All Blacks penalty right in front.

Donald landed the shot to put the home team up 19-16 as teenage sensation James O’Connor came on for the Wallabies for the injured Barnes and Mumm came on again for the re-blood-binned Horwill as the All Blacks tackles started to sting.

Giteau had a chance to even it up a minute later but the close range shot went wide into the howling wind.

With the rain coming down and time slipping away Horwill returned for a final burst and Alexander came on for Baxter.

Then on 72 minutes came the decision that decided the Test. The All Blacks took the ball into the Australian 22 and with Robinson on his feet and with hands on the ball at the ruck Joubert mysteriously penalized Stephen Moore for failing to roll away, although Robinson had the ball on the other side of the ruck.

Donald made no mistake and the All Blacks had a winning lead of 22-16.

The Wallabies had a chance to attack with a few minutes left but Palu was frustratingly pulled back for taking a tap penalty incorrectly.

Young Reds scrumhalf Will Genia came on for Burgess, winning his first Test cap, in the final five minutes and made a bright start to his Test career as the Wallabies launched raid after raid.

But the determined All Blacks defence held firm and as the siren sounded reserve All Blacks scrumhalf Piri Weepu booted the ball into touch for a relieved New Zealand victory.

The All Blacks now travel to South Africa where they meet the World Champion-Lions conquering Springboks in Bloemfontein next Saturday.

The Wallabies have three weeks off before they take on the Springboks in Cape Town on the 8^th of August. 

Full Time

New Zealand 22 (Richie McCaw try, Stephen Donald conversion, 5 penalty goals) defeated Qantas Wallabies 16 (Berrick Barnes try, Matt Giteau conversion, 3 penalty goals) at Eden Park in Auckland.