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Johnson leads New Zealand to Four Nations triumph

New Zealand's Kevin Proctor (left) celebrates with try-scorer Shaun Johnson. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Roar Guru
15th November, 2014
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1269 Reads

Shaun Johnson’s brilliance and Manu Vatuvei’s brute force have inspired New Zealand to a nailbiting 22-18 win over Australia in the Four Nations final in Wellington on Saturday.

Johnson’s running game was a constant threat to the Kangaroos’ defence all game and his 58th-minute try when momentum was with the Australians handed the Kiwis the dominance they never surrendered.

Vatuvei’s second try five minutes later on a cold night, in which he barged over the top of Kangaroos youngster Sione Mata’utia, was his 20th international four-pointer and put him ahead of Nigel Vagana on the top of the Kiwis’ all-time try-scoring list.

It was the Kiwis’ first back-to-back wins over their trans-Tasman rivals since 1953 and like their 30-12 victory three weeks ago, it came as they outmuscled the Kangaroos pack.

The tournament win is the Kiwis’ fourth in the last nine years – with their 2005 Tri Nations win, the 2008 World Cup win and the 2010 Four Nations win – and despite Australia’s emphatic victory in last year’s World Cup, New Zealand have genuine claims as the premier international team of the last decade.

The Australians were without nine players from their World Cup-winning team for this tournament, but Tim Sheens’ tenure as Kangaroos coach is sure to come under scrutiny.

The Kiwis led 14-6 before 25,183 fans at the break but Mata’utia reduced that gap to two when he scored his first Test try just two minutes after the resumption of play.

Australia were the best side for much of the first part of the second half until Johnson turned the game on its head as he broke the Kangaroos line and swerved past Greg Inglis to score a magical individual try.

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A 77th-minute Ben Hunt try gave the visitors hope of a late victory, but the Kiwis were up to the task.

New Zealand repelled a series of promising Kangaroos raids early before Dean Whare fluffed a Cooper Cronk cross-kick for Michael Jennings to pounce for a converted try in the 11th minute.

In a high-quality, fast-paced game with few errors the Kiwis worked their way back into the contest on the back of some damaging running from Jess Bromwich, Greg Eastwood and Martin Taupau with halves Johnson and Kieran Foran taking advantage.

In comparison, Australia’s forwards struggled to take them through the middle of the ruck.

The Kiwis opened their account in the 23rd minute when Jason Nightingale somersaulted his way over out wide after Shaun Kenny-Dowall scythed his way through the Australian ruck in a swerving 40m run.

A 27th-minute Johnson penalty goal for a dubious Cameron Smith high tackle on Kieran Foran put the Kiwis ahead.

They added to that in the 35th minute when Manu Vatuvei scooped up a low pass from Johnson and brushed past Mata’utia.

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Taupau was stretchered off in the 45th minute with a neck injury.

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