Qantas Wallabies fall in Auckland

Aug 15 • General News, International • 1611 Views • Comments Off on Qantas Wallabies fall in Auckland

The Qantas Wallabies have fallen to New Zealand 13-41 at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday night with the Bledisloe Cup remaining in New Zealand for another year.

A late try to Israel Folau and two penalties to Quade Cooper were the only positives for the visitors on the scoreboard as they were out-muscled by the defending world champions.

The result continues New Zealand’s remarkable winning streak at Eden Park which has been in tact since 1994.

Qantas Wallabies Captain Stephen Moore: “We were outclassed tonight. I thought the effort was ok but we fell off too many tackles.

“We were right in the game at half time but fell away in the second half, it was really disappointing.

“We didn’t have much ball but I thought we defended pretty well and we were really physical.

“I thought that second half when they took the game up a gear we were just found wanting there.

“We’ve done a lot of good stuff over the last couple of weeks so we just have to keep on track and stick tight.

“There is a long way to go in the year and a lot of hard work to do, so we’ll get home and get that done.

The Qantas Wallabies will return to Australia before departing to Chicago to play the USA as a lead up match to the Rugby World Cup in England.

The Match:

The Qantas Wallabies were the first to draw blood at Eden Park with Quade Cooper slotting a penalty after referee Nigel Owens penalised New Zealand for loitering on the Australian side of the ruck.

New Zealand countered through Dan Carter who scored his 700th point on New Zealand soil to level the scores at 3-3.

New Zealand scored their first try in the match after a brilliant run from flyhalf Carter who sliced through a gap in the covering Wallabies defence to set up Dane Coles.

The successful conversion took the score to 3-10 in favour of New Zealand.
New Zealand extended their lead to 3-13 following a Dan Carter penalty after the Wallabies were penalised for not rolling away.

The Wallabies were put under immense pressure by New Zealand throughout this period as the home side tightened the screws in defence.

Quade Cooper shortened the gap in the 31st minute with a penalty to take the score to 6-13.

Despite a late charge by New Zealand, Australia was able to keep the seven point deficit at half time.

The second half saw Australia continue to be tested by the All Blacks and it was the New Zealanders who saw the benefits with two quick tries – first a penalty try after Quade Cooper was yellow carded for a high shot right before the tryline on Aaron Smith, before Ma’a Nonu split the visitors for another five-pointer.

Dan’s Carter’s kicking took the score to 6-27 as the Wallabies fought on with 14 men.
Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu heaped further pain on the men in gold with tries in quick succession to take the score to 6-41.

A late try to Israel Folau served as a consolation for Australia however the damage was already done with New Zealand running out resounding victors in Captain Richie McCaw’s record-breaking 142nd Test.

New Zealand 41 (Dane Coles, Penalty try, Ma’a Nonu 2, Conrad Smith tries; Daniel Carter 5 cons; Daniel Carter 2 pens) defeated Australia 13 (Israel Folau tries; Nic White cons; Quade Cooper 2 pens)