Tokyo joy for All Blacks
New Zealand recorded their seventh straight Test victory over Australia with a 32-19 win in Tokyo. Dan Carter led the way with 22 points.
Last Updated: 31/10/09 4:46pm
New Zealand recorded their seventh straight Test victory over Australia in Tokyo on Saturday.
The All Blacks produced a powerful second-half display to earn a 32-19 success and complete a 4-0 Bledisloe Cup sweep in 2009, the first time they have whitewashed their trans-Tasman rivals for 37 years.
Outscoring the Wallabies by two tries to one, New Zealand benefited from a 22-point haul from fly-half Dan Carter, who converted both tries and landed six penalty goals, in the process moving past 200 points against Australia.
Matt Giteau landed two early penalties to put Australia 6-0 up before New Zealand hit back with a penalty from Carter, soon followed by the game's opening try on 21 minutes.
Carter took a heavy hit but still managed to recycle possession and scrum-half Jimmy Cowan threw a long pass to flanker Richie McCaw to start a flowing move that ended with wing Sitiveni Sivivatu crashing over.
Dangerous tackle
Carter added the extras to give New Zealand a 10-6 advantage but they were soon on the back foot after Sivavatu was shown a yellow card six minutes before the break for taking out Adam Ashley-Cooper in the air.
Australia initially made the most of their extra man, Peter Hynes being awarded a controversial try when referee Mark Lawrence became frustrated at the delay in the decision-making of the television match official.
Winger Hynes was put in the clear by Will Genia's long pass but three cover defenders looked to stop him as he dived for the line.
The television match official was asked to judge if Hynes had grounded the ball short. Initial replays were inconclusive but Lawrence lost patience with the amount of time taken and ruled the try had been scored. Giteau landed a fine conversion to put Australia 16-13 in front.
Moments later, Wallabies number eight Wycliff Palu ran off the back of a scrum toward the line but was unable to ground the ball as Cowan got under him and the All Blacks were able to survive through to the half-time whistle.
Sivivatu marked his return with a 60-metre kick which hit the corner post and when Australia cleared downfield Muliaina ran the ball back.
Smith try
From the resulting ruck the ball was moved to wing Cory Jane standing at first receiver. He threaded through the defence and passed to centre Conrad Smith who stepped through the Australians and went over for a 45th-minute try.
Penalty goals to Carter took the All Blacks to a 26-16 advantage before Giteau landed his fourth to reduce Australia's deficit to seven.
But almost immediately Carter landed his fifth penalty to regain a 10-point cushion for the All Blacks and added a sixth just before full-time to complete the scoring.
