| |
All Blacks wallop Wallabies Mehrtens leads New Zealand to Tri-Nations win
Posted: Saturday July 24, 1999 01:27 PM
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) -- Fly-half Andrew Mehrtens kicked a perfect 10 from 10 as the All Blacks beat Australia 34-15 in their Tri-Nations rugby test at Eden Park on Saturday and firmed as overwhelming favorites for the World Cup. Mehrtens feasted with 29 points from nine penalties and a conversion as the Wallabies crumbled into a disorganized and undisciplined mess, especially in the first half. Australia scored two tries to one but both came after the All Blacks had go to the safety of 25-3. Wallaby winger Joe Roff presented All Blacks scrum-half Justin Marshall with the softest of tries possible in international rugby to give the hosts a flying start in their last home test of the century. Roff's clanger came on 10 minutes as the hosts led 3-0. A scrum was set 15 meters from the Australians' line and George Gregan threw a regulation pass back for Roff to clear. The Wallaby winger dropped the ball then stumbled over it, allowing Marshall to fall on it for the try. Marshall surpassed Graeme Bachop as New Zealand's most capped scrum-half, and he couldn't have scored an easier try in his previous 31 games. Australia got one which was almost as soft in the second half when the ball squeezed out of the All Blacks' scrum and Gregan beat Marshall to touch down for the try, but the main difference was New Zealand led 28-3 at the time. Center Daniel Herbert, the only Australian to regularly bust New Zealand's defense, added a deserved second but it came too late. Mehrtens was allowed to bang away at goal all game as the Wallaby forwards were constantly penalized by Welsh referee Derek Bevan. The only question mark was New Zealand's refusal to go for tries, and the chance of a bonus point, even when the result seemed clear cut. Australia's bonus point against South Africa last week would give it the title if both teams beat South Africa away and the Wallabies can recover for a victory in Sydney on Aug. 28. On one occasion in the first half a push over try looked possible but when New Zealand won the penalty, captain Taine Randell opted for a penalty kick. "It's a pity we couldn't score a couple more tries, we went close," said Randell. "It was really important to get the win, against a team like this we had to string it out and were really desperate just to win." The All Blacks' success ended Australia's winning streak at 10, including its three matches against New Zealand last season. The Wallabies were trying to beat the 10 straight wins by the 1991-92 squad. Australian captain David Wilson equaled a record as the most capped flanker in his 65th match, but it was a miserable way to mark it. "It was a very poor perform in the first half," said Wilson. "The All Blacks controlled it very well and we weren't in it at all. The All Blacks put pressure on us and we made mistakes." New Zealand lost a record five straight games last year but has bounced back brilliantly with victories over Samoa, France, South Africa and Australia already this season. The All Blacks' victory was even more impressive than their 28-0 win over South Africa in the opening match of the series because they dominated all facets of the game.
Scorers
New Zealand 34 (Justin Marshall try, Andrew Mehrtens 9 penalty goals, 1 conversion) def. Australia 15 (George Gregan, Daniel Herbert tries, Matt Burke, 1 penalty goal, 1 conversion).
| |||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
| |||||||||||||||||
