AUSTRALIA maintained their unbeaten run under new coach Robbie Deans with a 34-19 victory over New Zealand in the Tri-Nations yesterday.
The Wallabies chalked up their fifth win on the trot under Deans after a seven-try thriller at Sydney's Olympi
c Stadium to hand the All Blacks their second straight defeat and storm to the top of the Tri– Nations standings.
Australia now have nine points after their 16-9 win over world champions South Africa last weekend while New Zealand and the Springboks are level on five points.
New Zealand, who suffered their first loss at home in five years when beaten by South Africa two weeks ago, briefly took the lead early in the second half but were unable to keep out an inspired Australian team.
The Wallabies, who are starting to rebuild after luring Deans over from New Zealand, led 17-12 at the break after a frantic first half featuring four tries but still had to survive a strong fightback from the Kiwis.
The Australians raced to 10-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes after New Zealand lock Brad Thorn was sin-binned for a high tackle on Matt Giteau.
The Australian fly-half, who also kicked four conversions and a drop goal, landed the penalty.
Giteau then threw the final pass for rugby league convert Ryan Cross, who was called in to replace injured captain Stirling Mortlock, to score untouched after wing Lote Tuqiri had made the break.
The All Blacks opened their account in the 24th minute when fullback Mils Muliaina crashed over after launching a counterattack deep inside the New Zealand half.
But the Australians stretched their lead to 12 points when Adam Ashley-Cooper hacked the ball downfield and Peter Hynes won the race to the ball to score the try.
New Zealand cut the margin to five points when hooker Andrew Hore beat three defenders to score on the stroke of half-time after they opted for a quick tap.
The All Blacks snatched the lead when scrum-half Andy Ellis burrowed his way over four minutes into the second half after the elusive Dan Carter broke the defence.
Australian edged ahead when Rocky Elsom scored near the posts and Giteau added the extras.
New Zealand were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty try when Cross pulled down Sitiveni Sivivatu but struggled to create any further chances as the Wallabies dominated the last quarter.
Giteau provided the Australians with an eight-point buffer with a drop goal 13 minutes from the end then lock James Horwill sealed the win and the bonus point when he galloped through a gaping hole to score five minutes from the end.
Australia: Ashley-Cooper, Hynes, Cross, Barnes, Tuqiri, Giteau, Burgess, Robinson, Moore, Baxter, Horwill, Sharpe, Elsom, Smith, Palu. Replacements: Polota-Nau, Dunning, Vickerman, Waugh, Cordingley, Tahu, Mitchell.
New Zealand: Muliaina, Tuitavake, Kahui, Nonu, Sivivatu, Carter, Ellis, Woodcock, Hore, Somerville, Thorn, Williams, So'oialo, Braid, Kaino. Replacements: Mealamu, Afoa, Boric, Lauaki, Cowan, Donald, Smith.
Scorers: Australia – Tries: Ryan Cross, Peter Hynes, Rocky Elsom, James Horwill; Cons: Matt Giteau (4); Pen: Giteau; Drop goal: Giteau. New Zealand – Tries: Mils Muliaina, Andrew Hore, Andy Ellis; Cons: Dan Carter (2)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
The full article contains 555 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
