The New Zealand All Blacks excised some of their demons of the current season while losing three times during the Tri-Nations tournament against South Africa; last night they made it three zip against the Australian Wallabies
New Zealand 33-6 Australia
New Zealand (16) 33
Tries: Jane, Nonu, Rokocoko Cons: Carter 3 Pens: Carter 4
Australia (6) 6
Pen: Giteau Drop-goal: Barnes
Nonu scored a stunning solo try with five minutes remaining
New Zealand thrashed Australia in Wellington on Saturday to finish second in the 2009 Tri-Nations table behind runaway champions South Africa.
A converted Cory Jane try and three Dan Carter penalties, to a Matt Giteau penalty and Berrick Barnes drop-goal, gave the hosts a 16-6 half-time lead.
Carter added a fourth penalty before Ma'a Nonu thundered over from the 22.
Joe Rokocoko dived over in the corner late on as the All Blacks made it six wins in a row over the Wallabies.
The two teams meet again in Tokyo on 31 October, the week before the All Blacks face Wales in Cardiff and England host Australia at Twickenham.
The convincing nature of the victory will have come as a big relief to under-pressure New Zealand coach Graham Henry.
606: DEBATE
Well the AB's are back - they may not be back to their best but the win over Australia was convincing
biltongbek
The All Blacks dominated Australia in the line-out and with their pack monopolising possession, the backs had too much pace and power for the visitors.
New Zealand showed their attacking intent from the kick-off as they opted to keep the ball in hand but it was the Wallabies who scored first, Giteau slotting a penalty after Brad Thorn was ruled offside.
However, the Wallabies fly-half was off-target with his second attempt three minutes later and never got another chance to kick at goal.
Three Carter penalties edged the All Blacks 9-3 ahead and although Barnes reduced the gap to three with a drop-goal after Isaia Toeava was yellow carded for a high tackle on James O'Connor, that was as good as it got for the struggling visitors.
Rokocoko's late score was the icing on the cake for New Zealand
The All Blacks shrugged off the absence of Toeava to score their first try in the 31st minute.
A well-judged kick by Mils Muliaina was claimed by Jane off O'Connor's shoulder and the winger stepped another tackle before diving over the line.
Carter landed the conversion and added a fourth penalty soon after the break to make it 19-6.
The hosts hammered away at the Wallabies, who were barely able to mount a worthwhile attack in the second half, and the visitors' defence finally cracked with five minutes to go.
When the ball was fed into midfield the Wallabies looked well set but Nonu burst between tacklers to break the initial line of defence before his power took him through three more defenders to score a typically powerful try.
Carter converted and he was on target from the touchline after the All Blacks finished with a flourish, Rokocoko scoring with a trademark dive after New Zealand had spun the ball down the line.
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New Zealand: Muliaina; Jane, Toeava, Nonu, Rokocoko; Carter, Cowan; Tialata, Hore, Woodcock, Donnelly, Thorn, Read, McCaw (c), Thomson.
Replacements: de Malmanche, Afoa, Eaton, So'oialo, Leonard, Donald, Gear.
Australia: O'Connor; Turner, Ashley-Cooper, Barnes, Mitchell; Giteau, Genia; Alexander, Polota-Nau, Robinson, Chisholm, Horwill, Smith (c), Pocock, Elsom.
Replacements: Moore, Cowan, Mumm, Palu, Burgess, Cooper, Hynes
