Australia’s Rugby World Cup campaign is over after New Zealand piled more Eden Park misery on the Wallabies in Sunday night’s blockbuster semi-final in Auckland.
Final score: All Blacks 20 – Wallabies 6
The All Blacks outclassed the Wallabies 20-6 in front of 60,087 mostly delirious fans to book a final showdown next Sunday night with France, who edged out Wales 9-8 in Saturday’s first semi-final.
The victory was New Zealand’s first ever over Australia at a Rugby World Cup, avenging painful semi-final defeats at the hands of their trans-Tasman rivals in 1991 and 2003.
The All Blacks are now tantalisingly close to lifting the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time since the inaugural World Cup in 1987 and will enter the title match raging favourites against the unpredictable French.
France were the last team to storm New Zealand’s Eden Park fortress back in 1994, but are extremely fortunate to still be alive this tournament after suffering pool losses to New Zealand and Tonga and narrowly avoiding an inglorious semi-final defeat to 14-man Wales.
The Welsh had captain Sam Warburton sent off in the 18th minute for a tipping tackle on French winger Vincent Clerc.
Even without master five-eighth Dan Carter, New Zealand had too many aces for Australia, who were under immense pressure from the very moment Quade Cooper kicked off out on the full with the opening play of the game.
The All Blacks would have won by more than 20 points had halves Piri Weepu and Aaron Cruden not missed five shots at goal between them.
The Wallabies produced an 11-9 Houdini act after continually booting away possession in last week’s quarter-final win over South Africa, but there was no such miracle on Sunday night.
Once again, Australia kicked away the pill virtually every time they were inside their own half and the only time they looked dangerous was when wingers Digby Ioane and James O’Connor and Cooper had a crack and ran the ball.
New Zealand dominated the opening 40 minutes and led 14-6 at the break.
The only try of the first half came in the sixth minute after fullback Israel Dagg dummied past Anthony Faingaa and escaped Rocky Elsom’s tackle to put charging centre Ma’a Nonu over.
Weepu missed the conversion, then hit the upright with a penalty before slotting a three-pointer in the 13th minute after Wallabies flanker David Pocock was pinged for a second time for leaving his feet at the breakdown.
The All Blacks were in control at 8-0, but an O’Connor penalty reduced the home team’s lead to five points.
Australia lost prop Sekope Kepu midway through the half when he copped an accidental finger in the eye from a teammate and had to be replaced by James Slipper.
A Cooper drop goal on the half hour kept Australia in the contest at 11-6 down, after Cruden slotted one eight minutes earlier.
A clumsy error from skipper James Horwill allowed Weepu to give the All Blacks their eight-point lead at the interval.
Horwill made a complete hash of a midfield high ball and fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper was penalised for being offside when the ball rebounded straight off his captain’s hand into his.
Weepu penalties in the 43rd and 72nd minutes were the only scores of the second half as the All Blacks squeezed the life out of the Wallabies to extend Australia’s winless record at Eden Park to 25 years.
—
Follow how the game unfolded on our live blog.
jeremy
Guest
I'm sorry your friend had that experience. Geoff Lemon had a positive write-up here as well: http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/10/17/if-it-had-to-be-anyone-at-least-it-was-the-all-blacks/
Crazy Horse
Guest
WTF. Australia's strength is it 's back line, yet every time we won possession either Genia or Cooper kicked it away. I don't recall a single completed back line movement. Still most of them are babies so I. Another four years they will have grown brains (literally). Well done New Zealand. I may be forced to barrack for the All Blacks next week.
AC
Guest
Was it just me or were the All Blacks constantly losing their feet at the breakdown and not getting penalised? Agree, both sides were doing it but since the ABs had more possession it was more obvious.
DanSA
Guest
Yes, very convincing that game plan, let them have all the territory and possession and hope they can't convert
CraigB
Roar Guru
Sorry Jeremy but I am not bitter in the outcomes, it was what I expected but hoped against. I take your point, but I have personal accounts from friends that paint Avery different picture. More than happy to stand by it.
CraigB
Roar Guru
As have you and your cohorts on this site. NZ supporters don't deserve a team as good as the Nzru 1st 15.
Winston
Guest
You'll be missed
dan
Guest
Kaino had something wrong with him, when Sonny Bill went off, so it was more like 15 against 13.
dan
Guest
yeah that was the best tackle of the game.
Ashton Martin
Guest
I could not have said it better, even if I tried. Somehow the win over SA was more like prolonging the agony I would say? Ash
Student
Guest
The Wallaby performance this weekend was pretty comparable to the performance last weekend: - Quade Cooper went missing in for large portions of the match. And when he did show up, it was to commit an error. - The Wallaby forwards were bossed in the forwards. - David Pocock did not release the tackled player before making a play for the ball. Nor did he play the ball on his feet. While Pocock's actions were the same both weeks, he did not get away with it this weekend (and so did not get a MoM award or the win for his team) - The wallabies lost the territorial and possession battle. The differences between this week and last week are: - The break down was policed correctly this week. - The try/try-scoring moves were not blown forward or permitted to be stopped by illegal play on the part of the wallabies. - The AB capitalised on the territory and took the points on offer. I actually do not blame the Wallabies for the Bok's early exit last week. They cannot be held accountable for poor reffing...the blame for that misdeed lies with Bryce, Paddy and the IRB. Also, the Bok's should take some responsibility for not making smarter decisions to engineer a win out of the glut of possession and territory they enjoyed.
krash
Guest
So does this mean cooper's gonna go to League now?
xjs
Guest
more south african woulda, coulda, shoulda.
xjs
Guest
Thank you! there are others apart from quaalude "pass to nobody" cooper to blame, someone finally calling out Genia for all the possession he gave away, and yes he is slow - 3 little steps before he get's the slowish floating pass off (a la george gregan ). We seem to have trouble dropping "star" players if they don't perform. AB's looked focused from the start, and not confused when they had the ball. They played with purpose. Well done.
Tony Draper
Guest
Great post Sam, hopefully Chuck can take something from it. All the best for next week!
Tonto
Guest
Well done boys, very complete performance, no panic, kept up the pressure and defused theirs. I thought McCaw had a huge game much was said about his battle with Pocock and came out on top. Also good to see ABs being bullies and really sticking it to the Wallabies - After the whistle have to congratulate Australia for the game I thought Digby had a huge game when he got the ball as did O'Connor at times. They really missed Beale, AAC didn't really do too much at FB. In hindsight Barnes at 12 would have settled Cooper and given the Wallabies the distribution in the midfiled they were lacking. However it was in the forwards where it was won and will be tested further next week- DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE FRENCH! In a way I'm glad it wasn't Wales as Franch will generate that extra drive especially among the more experienced members of the team. BTW Australia ruined us again in the league-at least you guys can come away with something this weekend. Will be backing the best team on the day to win for next week for 3rd place playoff.
Paul_From_Melbourne
Roar Rookie
That was an awesome game. AB dominated all aspects of the game for the 1st 60 mins. It was a 9 out of 10 for me. I heard from the Interview on Fox sport that Weepu was ill. Can someone from NZ provides an update? That would explain why his goal kicking was a bit off. I didn't see it on TV but I heard from commentary that AB forms a guard of honours for the Wobblies and the Wobblies return favour afterwards. Aussie are always good losers but bad winners while we Kiwis are the other way around. So it works in perfect harmony when AB keep winning.
Ben W
Guest
Australia were bashed up front. Genia was too slow delivering ball to a starved backline, but rather continued to give away possession with numerous box kicks that we did not contest. Quade was ordinary to say the least. This was a poor display to say the least. Congratulations to the AB's. They played field position with solid kicking and were fierce at the breakdown and set plays. Deserve to win by another 20.
ibika
Guest
The australian team where just downright awful, except for the likes of o'connor and digby. what concerns me, is that it really feels like the team has come to an end point in its evolution.. deans doesnt seem to have any new ideas hidden away.. his selections in some key areas are very poor and he persists with selections even when they dont work..we have seen what he has got over the last 4 years and yes its been succussful on occasions, but ultimately it hasnt worked. Energetically now would be a good time for a new coaching team to come in and see if they can evolve this side. Link should really be stepping in now...but he wont be.. we have 2 more years of the deans doctrine and LInk will surely be lost to australian rugby in the next 2 years.. He will be snapped up by a european nation..
Brentie
Guest
the other Steve - and All Black fan Stupid rugby you say-I'll go for stupid referee.Aussies got away with murder.Any decent referee would have dished out penalties and yellow cards to the Aussies like smarties.