New Zealand hold off Australian comeback in Rugby Championship

Australiens et Néo-Zélandais se son affronter pour la Bledisloe Cup. MAXPPP – BIANCA DE MARCHI

Les All Blacks de la Nouvelle Zélande ont remporté samedi 21 septembre leur match contre l'Australie comptant pour la cinquième journée du Rugby Championship (31-28), même s'ils se sont fait peur en fin de rencontre.

This match could have been a first final for the win of the tournament which also brings together South Africa and Argentina, it was only a meeting of fear between Australia, humiliated in Argentina (67-27) fifteen days earlier, and New Zealand, three defeats in four days including two against South Africa.

But in Sydney, the most worrying patient was Australia. It took barely 100 seconds for Will Jordan, repositioned at full-back, to pierce the yellow curtain with astonishing ease to flatten under the posts. The All Blacks took full advantage of the generosity of an apathetic defence and a team without resources, securing the offensive bonus (four tries) after 25 minutes.

Gregan's record broken

The score could have been much higher since on three occasions, the English referee reversed his decision to award a try to the All Blacks after video. Australia took advantage of this to stay in the game and attempt a late comeback taking advantage of two New Zealand yellow cards, only to fall just three points short.

Wallabies prop James Slipper, who came on for his 140th cap, would have dreamed of a more glorious match to break scrum-half George Gregan's national record. With this defeat, Australia are almost condemned to last place even before the return match against New Zealand, for the final day, next weekend.

New Zealand, four-time defending champions and winners of seven of the last eight editions, take second place ahead of Argentina who face South Africa at 11pm. But they cannot catch up South Africans who, if they do not lose against Argentina, will already be assured of winning the tournament.