Wallabies Suffer Bledisloe Blackout

The All Blacks have stunned the Wallabies tonight at Telstra Stadium staging a spirited comeback in the opening Bledisloe Cup clash to defeat the home side 30-13.

The Wallabies raced to a 13-0 lead after just 11 minutes, but were mown down by a desperate All Blacks outfit that rattled off 30 unanswered points to steal the game and answer any critics that had been doubting them after their poor performance in South Africa last weekend.

In the end the Wallabies were lucky to only be beaten by 17 points as the All Blacks wasted numerous chances with the try line begging, but when all was said and done the Kiwis would have been happy in the knowledge that the Bledisloe Cup would be safe in their trophy cabinet for yet another year.

After the match All Blacks captain Tana Umaga told Channel 7 he was delighted with the win, but what pleased him the most was his side’s defensive intensity after going behind 13-0.

“Overall our defence was very sound," he said.

"We put pressure on them and I think that is what got us back in the game."

A massive crowd of 82,309 packed into the Olympic Stadium for the much anticipated clash and were not disappointed in the opening stages of the match as the Wallabies quickly opened their account with two penalty goals to fly half Matt Giteau (6-0).

Australia built upon that advantage in the 11th minute when young fullback Drew Mitchell pierced the All Blacks defence from 20 metres out before sliding over in the left hand corner to have the sellout crowd in raptures.

Giteau made it three from three slotting home the tough conversion attempt to extend the Wallabies lead to 13 points.

New Zealand steadied the ship in the 14th minute with a Dan Carter penalty goal and from that point on it was a full on All Black assault.

Their first try came in the 28th minute with halfback Piri Weepu sneaking over from close range after a bustling run from winger Joe Rokocoko.

Carter made the wide conversion attempt look easy to pull the visitors within three points (13-10).

The Kiwis spurned two golden chances to take the lead shortly before half time with the video referee denying them the first time and poor handling ruining the second opportunity.

The half time break did nothing to slow the All Blacks down with Carter leveling the scores at 13-13 with his second penalty goal of the game and just minutes later they should of taken the lead through winger Rico Gear, but he inexplicably dropped the ball with the try line at his mercy.

This mishap didn’t hinder the Kiwis though with Carter putting them in front in the 51st minute with another penalty goal (16-13).

Australia hung on grimly for the next 15 minutes, but in the end could not hold out the wave after wave of attack that the All Blacks sent at them with man of the match Richie McCaw finally breaking the line from close range to score adjacent to the right hand upright.

Carter continued his perfect night with the boot landing the simple conversion to push New Zealand’s lead out to 10 points (23-13).

Rokocoko put the result beyond doubt in the 72nd minute regathering his own chip kick to race away and score with an exuberant dive and with Carter off the field replacement fly half Luke McAlister calmly slotted the conversion to give the All Blacks a convincing 17 point victory.

The loss made it three straight for the Wallabies and has derailed any thoughts of taking out this year’s Tri Nations tournament.

Australia will have a chance next weekend to atone for tonight’s disappointing loss when they travel cross country to take on South Africa in Perth next Saturday night, but could be short handed with injuries being sustained by Matt Giteau (cork), Jeremy Paul (shoulder) and Morgan Turinui (shoulder).

NEW ZEALAND	30
Tries: Piri Weepu, Richie McCaw, Joe Rokocoko. Conversions: Dan Carter 2, Luke McAlister. Penalties: Dan Carter 3.
AUSTRALIA	13
Tries: Drew Mitchell. Conversions: Matt Giteau. Penalties: Matt Giteau 2.
@ the Telstra Stadium, Sydney.   Referee: Tony Spreadbury (Eng)   Crowd: 82,309 Weather: Fine, Night.   Surface: Good.   Half Time: Australia 13-10.