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New Zealand reaffirmed their status as the team to beat at next year’s Rugby World Cup by clinching a fourth grand slam of the home unions to end a successful year on a new high.
The All Blacks weren’t at their all-conquering best against Wales in Cardiff but still ran in five tries, through Hosea Gear (2), Mils Muliaina, Isaia Toeava and replacement prop John Afoa, to seal a 37-25 win.
Five eighth Dan Carter kicked 12 points to overtake England’s Jonny Wilkinson as Test rugby’s leading scorer as New Zealand maintained its 57-year unbeaten run against the Welsh.
On a successful day for the southern hemisphere, Australia scored seven tries as it romped to a 59-16 victory over France in Paris and world champion South Africa beat England 21-11 at Twickenham.
But the All Blacks remain the world’s leading side, with just 10 months to go until they host the World Cup.
“We’re in a pretty good place and we’re pleased with where we have got to,” said New Zealand head coach Graham Henry, whose side lost just once in 2010 – to Australia in Hong Kong. “We are delighted to win today and achieve a Grand Slam. It’s a special day.”
New Zealand put in arguably its weakest display of its European tour but its finishing was ruthless and opportunistic, with the in-form Gear – who went over in the fifth and 53rd minutes – making it five tries for the month.
Carter landed five of nine kicks, with his first successful attempt – a penalty in the eighth minute – seeing him surpass Wilkinson in the all-time list. The 28-year-old Crusaders star started the day two points behind Wilkinson but is now on 1188.
It was the All Blacks’ third Grand Slam – a clean sweep of the British Isles nations in one end-of-year tour – in five years, after previous wins this month over England (26-16), Scotland (49-3) and Ireland (38-18). And it came at the end of a year when they swept to the Tri-Nations title with six wins from six.
“When you get to the last game, you get pretty up for it,” said New Zealand captain Richie McCaw. “There was still some gas in the tank at the end. The guys always felt in control and we were only keeping Wales in the game through our indiscipline.”
Wales flyhalf Stephen Jones kicked six penalties and converted Lee Byrne’s last-minute try for 20 points but it’s now seven matches without a win for Warren Gatland’s side, which lost narrowly to Australia and South Africa this month.
In the most impressive result in four weeks of autumn internationals, Australia produced an amazing second-half display to thrash Six Nations champion France.
James O’Connor scored 29 points to take his tally in his short career to 119 points. The 20-year-old winger is the second youngest player, after Wilkinson, to reach 100 points.
The French forwards outmuscled the Australian pack in the first half to level at 13-13 before the break but France could not contain Australia’s attacking flair in the second half as it lost for the fifth straight time against the Wallabies.
Winger Drew Mitchell scored three tries while O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Benn Robinson and Will Genia also crossed.
South Africa put England’s recent progress into perspective with a hard-fought win, showing the home side how far it still has to go to become a genuine contender for honors.
The Springboks battered England to force a series of simple errors that checked momentum built by wins over Australia and Samoa.
Morne Steyn kicked two penalties and hit the post with two more before Willem Alberts and Lwazi Mvovo touched down in the final quarter.
England is undoubtedly in better shape than a year ago but the loss of its final November international showed it cannot yet match the likes of New Zealand and Australia in winning matches when dominated in possession.
“The realities of Test match rugby are that if you don’t do the fundamentals of the game for 80 minutes, you’re not going to win,” England team manager Martin Johnson said. “It’s just frustrating and annoying.”
Having watched England tear Australia apart in the loose two weeks ago, South Africa’s trademark pragmatism accounted for England, which was level at halftime at 6-6 but fell apart after the break.
The Springboks bounced back from a surprise 21-17 defeat to Scotland last weekend to end a tough year with a morale-boosting win.
“I think the guys showed what we can do and that’s what South African rugby is all about,” captain Victor Matfield said. “Our ball carriers, our scrum, everything were working really well.
“In 2006, we also had a bad year and we turned things around, so hopefully this is an omen for us.”
Ben Foden got a late breakaway try for England to make the score more respectable.
Romania clinched the 20th and final spot at the World Cup with a 39-12 playoff win over visiting Uruguay.
Csaba Gal, Alexandru Manta, Catalin Fercu, Madalin Lemnaru touched down to help keep up Romania’s record of qualifying for every World Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1987.
Scotland replacement Ruaridh Jackson scored a penalty with the last kick of the match to give the home side a 19-16 win over Samoa in Aberdeen.
Mirco Bergamasco struck eight penalties in a faultless kicking display as Italy recovered a 15-point deficit to beat Fiji 24-16 in Modena and end a six-test losing streak
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.