God's Own Rugby Team...

[magpie in the 80's]

PENALTY NEW ZEALAND - CARTER 31-10. No problems there and New Zealand are all but home now, but can they get a vital fourth try and bonus point. Waugh is cooked and off he goes, as does Somerville.

[magpie in the 80's]

McCaw snaps up the short kick-off and sends it back for Carter to clear. Giteau is back covering but Thorn is up quickly and hammers him into touch on the Wallaby ten metre line. Relentless pressure from New Zealand after 59M

NZ 31 AUST 10

[magpie in the 80's]

Ali Williams is having a stormer here as he is involved twice in that play, only to see a free-kick go to Australia. Palu taps and sets off on a powerful run to the 22 only to lose it.

The game opens up here as Kahui kicks and back ocmes Hynes, chips and McCaw is hammered in the air. In comes the touch judge again and it will be a full penalty instead, which Carter kind find touch from.

[magpie in the 80's]

Muliaina has it from the high kick and off he goes over half way, Williams - who else - is on his shoulder but takes man and ball and forward it goes. The sign of a class player is rising to the occasion, Ali Williams take a bow - he has been everywhere tonight.

[magpie in the 80's]

Long cut out pass to Mitchell but Smith is all over him and the All Blacks have a free-kick right in the middle of the park on the Wallaby 22, prime attacking platform here as the All Blacks go in search of that fourth try.

[magpie in the 80's]

Smith, that's Conrad of New Zealand, goes blind but he is hit hard by namesake George and it looks high. Yes Lawrence thinks so and tells the Aussies to keep them down as he opts to keep his cards for Christmas instead!

that man Carter converts the penalty as NZ solider on to 34 -10 lead

you think these teams have swapped jumpers after last week's game

[magpie in the 80's]

New Zealand have got their tactics spot on thus far, sensible kicking game backed by a swarming defence that has strangled the Wallabies out of this one.

Sivivatu is full of running as he ambles forward with a lazy running style.

The move breaks down as the ball goes into touch and Australia will have to go from a line-out in their own half.

[magpie in the 80's]

McCaw, showing no regard for his own safety, launches into Palu and sends the big number eight reeling back.

Giteau's kick is charged as So'oialo takes it up. Patience now from New Zealand and they win a free-kick against Smith who is in off his feet.

Conrad Smith and Andrew Hore make way and Kahui will slot back in at thirteen as Tuitivaki slots in at wing.

[magpie in the 80's]

Mortlock has snapped up a loose ball as the game loses a little flow with the glut of changes in recent minutes.

Kahui can't take the high ball, a rare mistake for him tonight in an assured performance.

Giteau goes cross field but puts too much on it and New Zealand will throw to the line-out.

[magpie in the 80's]

Cowan wastes no time in hanging it up only to see Hynes take and set off on a fine run.

Out to Tuqiri at a rate of knotts but Kahui slices him down and Williams steals it on the ground.

Carter clears and all of a sudden the Wallabies are back on half way, but they do have a penalty.

[magpie in the 80's]

Cowan takes his bow to a standing ovation for his stellar efforts tonight, and on comes the forgotten man Piri Weepu.

Carter drills it clear from a line-out turn over as Ryan Cross comes on for Berrick Barnes, who has been a touch on the quiet side tonight.

[magpie in the 80's]

Still no bonus point try as Adam Thompson is on.

There are more on and offs here than on the nine o'clock bus home, speaking of which this game is almost up and time for my man of the match nomination as Donal is the latest to come on.

Richie McCaw has been top draw, and rightly takes the man of the match award. Nobody thought he would make that much difference, myself included, but he has and New Zealand have turned in a vintage display here.

Not long now for the nail to be driven into the coffin

[magpie in the 80's]

Australia keep plugging away here as they take it up to the 22, advantage being played as Thompson gets his hands in and they come back for the free-kick.

Giteau goes quickly but it goes loose and Kahui hacks clear.

Full credit to NZ on how they have played tonight

NZ 34 AUST 10

[magpie in the 80's]

New Zealand's defence has been right up there tonight and is the main reason they will win this.

Australia have been stifled by the waves of Black defence.

On comes Boric for Thorn as New Zealand run the full bench here, a sign of just how well they have played to be in such a commanding position.

[magpie in the 80's]

Into the final moments of this Eden Park ripper, what a final Test for this famous ground that once played witness to the only ever British and Irish Lions series win way back in 1971.

One last chance for Australia to salvage some pride as they have a line-out on the All Blacks 22.

[magpie in the 80's]

why not finish this game with a wonderful try to NZ in injury time despite a great tackle by tuqiri

carter misses the conversion but NZ get the extra bonus point for 4 tries

NZ 39 AUST 10

GAME OVER

wrap up to come

[JAS]

Another great game...congrats to the MK's...quite a turn around from last week.

Thanks for the great commentary Mags...much appreciated...now go listen to your boys giving them doggies whatfor

Regards
JAS

[magpie in the 80's]

Yet another dramatic game between these 2 teams. However from the start it was all one way traffic with NZ setting up their win with a convincing 1st half.
As i said earlier it appeared the teams had changed jumpers from last week.
A fantastic kicking game from Dan Carter who led from the back row.
The intensity of the All Blacks and their tackling was a highlight of this game.
Congratulations tonight go to the All Blacks who turned their game around from last week's disaster in Sydney.

NZ...Versus...Aust
4.......Tries....1
5.......Pens....1
2.......Conv....1
39.....Score...10

New Zealand
PENK 5 Min (Carter)
PENK 13 Min (Carter)
TRY 21 Min (Woodcock)
CONV 21 Min (Carter)
TRY 23 Min (Woodcock)
PENK 38 Min (Carter)
TRY 42 Min (Nonu)
CONV 42 Min (Carter)
PENK 58 Min (Carter)
PENK 65 Min (Carter)
TRY 80 Min (Nonu)

Australia
PENK 4 Min (Giteau)
TRY 32 Min (Ashley-Cooper)
CONV 32 Min (Giteau


That's all from Eden Park as we know it, the work on the new ground start's tomorrow in preparation for the rugby world cup in 2011.

Thanks for joining us for another epic Tri-Nations game, which NZ win quite easily whick makes it one apiece in the Bledisloe Cup battle.

I'm M80's and on behalf of SAFOOTY bidding you a goodnight from Auckland.

[Thiele]

Excellent Call Mags

[godoubleblues]

And a special hello to our fellow SAFOOTY member GODOUBLEBLUES who has flown over for this special test match

thanks for the gday Mags
just flew back into Adelaide this morning, awesome weekend but unfortunately I couldnt bring them home
the All Blacks were awesome right from the start, they obviously had a lot of pride on the line as 3 losses in a row is unheard of for the All Blacks
fantastic atmosphere and plenty of good natured ribbing between both sides supporters, there was plenty of green and gold around the ground

we got ourselves an invite to a pre game function (a couple of hours of free beers ) as part of our package and we managed to get ourselves in a photo with ex General Peter Cosgrove which was a bit of a highlight for us being all ex soldiers

already saving for next now, the game will be elsewhere other than Auckland due to Eden Park upgrade, hopefully Christchurch but it will be damn cold there