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| AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- New Zealand boosted its confidence and favouritism for the Rugby World Cup when it beat closest rival Australia 30-14 in a Tri-Nations test at Eden Park on Saturday, 75 days before the Cup final takes place at the same stadium. The All Blacks and Wallabies are favoured to meet in the final as the worlds two top-ranked teams and New Zealands authoritative victory, in front of 54,711 fans, awarded it a valuable pyschological edge as it attempts to end 24 years of World Cup failures. New Zealand hasnt lost a test to Australia at Eden Park since 1986 and lengthened its unbeaten run in all tests on the ground to 22 matches in a streak dating back to 1994. First-half tries to centre Maa Nonu and hooker Keven Mealamu, a second-half try to winger Sitiveni Sivivatu and 15 points from flyhalf Dan Carter allowed New Zealand to retain the Bledisloe Cup which it has now kept from Australia since 2003. Carter lifted his points tally in tests to 1,219, improving the international pointscoring record he wrested last week from Englands Jonny Wilkinson and increasing his lead over Wilkinson to 24 points. He kept a perfect goalkicking record with three conversions, two penalties and a dropped goal which was only the third of his 82-test career. The All Blacks tenacious defence held the Wallabies scoreless at halftime -- when they led 17-0 -- and in total for 52 minutes, until winger Digby Ioane scored and Quade Cooper converted Australias first try. Flanker Rocky Elsom added another try two minutes from the end, also converted by Cooper, to ensure the Wallablies out-scored the All Blacks 14-13 in the second half. By then the result was beyond issue. New Zealands ability to take its chances in the first half and the aggressive nature of its defence, focused on the Wallabies playmakers, all but settled the outcome by halftime. Flyhalf Cooper had been billed as the key figure in the match, the ignition point of a dangerous Wallabies backline, but the All Blacks steady pressure and suffocating defence denied Cooper the chance to regularly set that backline in motion. Cooper played his potentially dangerous role as a backfield sweeper, a launcher of counter-attacks, but New Zealands shallow kicking game denied him time and forced him to come forward into teeth of the defence. Instead, the All Blacks, from a minority share of possession but a sound set-piece base, produced the most incisive attacking play of the match. Nonu scored in the 10th minute after a break down the left touch by scrumhalf Piri Weepu and a strong, straightening run on the right by Sivivatu. Mealamu added the All Blacks second try in the 29th minute after Carter had slipped a tackle, Nonu and Keiran Read had combined and Richie McCaw had taken the ball to the line. Ioane scored an oustanding try, beating All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina one-on-one in the open field but New Zealand replied from the kickoff through Sivivatu, cementing its win. Sivivatu left the field in the second half with a suspected fractured eye socket. "I think our intent and purpose was there," McCaw said. "Pressure was the key. If you get up by a few points, we put the pressure on and thats what it was it was all about. "Defence wins these games, and we put a lot of work into that this week. That sums up the attitude." Lineouts were relatively even, though the All Blacks used quick throws early in the match to set a tempo that favoured them and tested Australia. When Australia mounted a long series of attacks midway through the first half, New Zealands defence proved more than equal to the threat with flankers Jerome Kaino and McCaw, among others, making damaging tackles. "They were in our face all night. There was some space there, but we werent turning that space into points," Cooper said. "It was one of those nights, a lot of 50-50 balls that didnt come off. You cant really win the game when you are going backwards. New Zealand fielded the oldest and most-experienced team in its history with an average age of 29 and an average of 51 tests per player. Some of that disparity in experience was revealed in its ability to seize chances and Australias failure to do so. All Blacks coach Graham Henry referred to pre-match allusions by Australian commentators about the "maturity" of the New Zealand team. The implication, that some of New Zealands players may be too old, was disproved by their performance on Saturday. Henry played down suggestions New Zealand had gained a psychological advantage from its victory. "I personally dont think it will make any difference," he said. "Its obviously great to win and the Bledisloe Cup is very important to Richie and the boys. "Looking ahead, it might be a good story to say we have a psychological advantage but far too many times in the past weve had a result like this going into a World Cup and I dont think it makes any difference at all." The Wallabies, also, doubted they had conceded any World Cup advantage to the All Blacks. "Were pretty disappointed with our effort," Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said. "Tactically, we didnt help ourselves. We let the All Blacks create some line speed in defence and stymie our attack as a result. "We left a lot of points out there tonight but we certainly learned a lot from that. Its not going to get any easier come World Cup time." ------ Scores: New Zealand 30 (Maa Nonu, Keven Mealamu, Sitiveni Sivivatu tries; Dan Carter 3 conversions, 2 penalties, dropped goal), Australia 14 (Digby Ioane, Rocky Elson tries; Quade Cooper 2 conversions). HT: 17-0. Buy Nike Air Max 90 Online . - A momentary lapse in focus Saturday night proved costly for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Nike Roshe Run Women Black Sale . Snyder said Monday hes creating a foundation to assist American Indian tribes, even as some in that community continue to assert that the name "Redskins" is offensive. http://www.buyairmax90uk.com/nike-air-max-90-floral-lb-13/.com) - The Toronto Raptors set their sights on a second straight victory with the Oklahoma City Thunder visiting the Air Canada Centre tonight riding a two game streak of their own. Nike Roshe Run Flyknit Mens .com) - Sam Gagner and Devan Dubnyk, two former Oilers, led the Arizona Coyotes to a 5-1 win in Edmonton Tuesday. Nike Roshe Run Women Black And White . -- New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has no concerns about the health of shortstop Derek Jeter, who was limited to 17 games last season due to leg injuries.Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - The Colorado Rockies have come to contract agreements with three of their arbitration-eligible players, the team announced Wednesday. Outfielder Drew Stubbs and pitcher Jordan Lyles were inked to one-year deals, while pitcher Tyler Chatwood was signed to a two-year pact through the 2016 season. Stubbs started 92 games last season, his first with the Rockies after previous stints with Cincinnati and Cleveland, and hit a career-best .289 with 15 home runs, 43 RBI and 20 stolen bases. The 30-year-olds .328 average against left- handed pitchers was the sixth-best mark in the National League.dddddddddddd Lyles, acquired from Houston prior to the 2014 campaign, also put together a solid debut with Colorado. The right-hander went 7-4 in 22 starts while posting a 4.33 ERA and fanning 90 batters in 126 2/3 innings. Chatwood was limited to just four starts last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery in July. The 25-year-old, who is expected to miss the first half of 2015 while recovering from the procedure, compiled an 8-5 record with an impressive 3.15 ERA over 20 outings in 2013. 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posted on: 11/20/2015 05:45:45 AM
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