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The Rugby Championship 2014
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All Black Aaron Cruden dumps Wallaby Michael Hooper in a tackle during their Bledisloe Cup match at Eden Park in Auckland. New Zealand were just too clinical in their convincing 51-20 win. Photo: AP

All Blacks tear Wallabies apart

New Zealand retain Bledisloe Cup for the 12th successive year with a crushing 51-20 victory in Auckland

New Zealand's forwards responded to criticism of their performance in their opening Rugby Championship clash to set the foundation for a 51-20 victory over Australia at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday that also ensured the retention of the Bledisloe Cup.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, who was sinbinned early in the game, scored two tries while Kieran Read, Julian Savea and Steven Luatua also crossed, with their pack awarded a penalty try as part of a record score against the Wallabies.

Fly-half Aaron Cruden kicked five conversions and three penalties, while Wallabies fullback Israel Folau and captain Michael Hooper crossed for tries with Kurtley Beale adding two penalties and two conversions.

We looked at what happened last week and for a lot of the game we were getting beaten in the contact areas. They [the tight five] knew that and they set the platform for some go-forward ball
All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw

The victory ensured the Bledisloe Cup remained in New Zealand for the 12th successive year. The third match in Brisbane in October is now a dead rubber in terms of the battle for the symbol of trans-Tasman supremacy.

Maligned for their failure to combat the Wallabies' intensity in the 12-12 draw in Sydney last week, New Zealand's forwards tore into their Australian counterparts, intent on protecting a formidable 20-year unbeaten record at Eden Park.

"We put the acid on those guys to front up this week," McCaw said of his tight five's efforts.

"We looked at what happened last week and for a lot of the game we were getting beaten in the contact areas. They knew that and they set the platform for some go-forward ball.

"Rugby is a hell of a lot easier when you win the contact."

While Cruden and Beale traded early penalties, the sinbinning of McCaw in the 13th minute for a professional foul galvanised the home side, who controlled the ball the entire time their captain was on the sideline.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is congratulated by teammates Aaron Cruden (left) and Aaron Smith after scoring a try in their Bledisloe Cup clash against the Wallabies in Auckland. Photo: Reuters

With the All Blacks leading 9-6, the tide of the match turned when Wallabies lock Rob Simmons was sinbinned just as McCaw was returning and the home side attacked the visitors' scrum.

The All Blacks exploited their man advantage when Brodie Retallick was held up over the line and used the resulting scrum to shunt the Wallabies' backwards and then disintegrate their pack with referee Romain Poite awarding a penalty try.

Then they produced a sweeping counterattack from inside their own 22 after turning the ball over, spread it wide with Cruden drawing defenders before offloading a perfectly timed pass to Savea outside him.

Cruden's conversion gave the All Blacks a handy 23-6 lead at the break that they extended with a scintillating 10-minute burst after the break that produced three more tries, two to McCaw from attacking lineouts.

A delighted All Black winger Julian Savea after scoring against the Wallabies at Eden Park, Auckland. Photo: Reuters

"When you're chasing 20-odd points against a team like the All Blacks it's a dangerous experience and you need to take risks to chase the game," Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie said. "They played well, no question but I know we're better than that, so it was a very frustrating night."

Folau and Hooper scored two quick consolation tries for the visitors before Luatua scored a last-minute try that Aaron Smith converted to give them a record score.

The All Blacks' previous best score was the 50-21 they accumulated in 2003, the year they regained the Bledisloe Cup.

"It was a special performance," All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said. Obviously we didn't play well last week, it was disappointing because we set high standards for ourselves."

"We showed an intensity that we didn't have the week before."

Both sides now have a week off before their next Rugby Championship clashes, with the All Blacks playing Argentina in Napier, while the Wallabies head to Perth to host South Africa on September 6.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: All Blacks tear Wallabies apart
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