Richie McCaw gets perfect ending as All Blacks hammer Wallabies 41-13
New Zealand regain their pride with emphatic second-half performance to secure 13th Bledisloe Cup
Richie McCaw and five All Blacks team-mates enjoyed the perfect end to their home test careers as they celebrated the captain’s world-record test appearance with an emphatic second-half performance to retain the Bledisloe Cup on Saturday.
The All Blacks, angry at being beaten 27-19 last week in Sydney, hammered Australia 41-13 at Eden Park in Auckland to send the team off to the Rugby World Cup with the cheers of almost 50,000 rabid fans ringing in their ears.
The victory means the All Blacks also kept alive their formidable Eden Park record, having won 34 consecutive tests since 1994. Australia have not won there since 1986.
He’s just an ordinary bloke from Kurow, but by god he can do extraordinary things
McCaw, Dan Carter, Tony Woodcock, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Keven Mealamu have formed the backbone of the All Blacks sides that have dominated world rugby over the past decade.
All six are heading overseas or into retirement after the global showpiece and they were treated to a rare display of emotion by the normally stoic New Zealand crowd at the end of the game.
The self-effacing McCaw paid tribute to his team-mates. “They’re absolute champions. The jersey means a hell of a lot but it’s the people who fill it up who are the ones you put in all that energy for,” he said.
After last week’s demoralising defeat, pride was at stake and New Zealand were determined to retain the Bledisloe Cup for the 13th consecutive year.
The world champions led 13-6 at half-time and then stunned the Wallabies with three tries in a seven-minute burst at the start of the second spell, which began with a penalty try following a head-high tackle by Quade Cooper.
Last week, Australia commanded the breakdown, but on Saturday the All Blacks took control up front, allowing Carter to dictate terms.
“They came out and put us under a bit of pressure territory-wise and possession-wise, and we stuck together and got turnovers when we needed to get them and slowly put our impression on the game,” coach Steve Hansen said.
“It’s a lot easier to play rugby if you’re going forward. It’s probably the key principle.”
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika felt his side were in with a chance in the first half, but he noted in “that little period after half-time we made some poor decisions”.
The All Blacks scored five tries with Dane Coles, Nonu (2) and Smith crossing the line along with the penalty try. Carter’s boot was on song, landing all five conversions and two penalties.
The Wallabies, who have scored at least two tries in their past nine tests, were limited to one late touchdown by Israel Folau and two Cooper penalties.
McCaw was given a standing ovation when he was substituted in the second half, a rarity in itself, while thousands applauded the team as they paraded the symbol of trans-Tasman supremacy around the ground.
The 34-year-old McCaw was presented with a specially embroidered jersey by Hansen to mark his 142nd test, surpassing the record he had co-held with former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll.
“He’s just an ordinary bloke from Kurow, but by god he can do extraordinary things,” an emotional Hansen said before presenting the jersey. “He’s a champion.
“He’s probably been our greatest All Black in modern times, if not ever and we have had some great, great, great All Blacks.”
McCaw, who has captained the side a world-record 106 times, reflected on the thrill he still gets from pulling on the black jersey after 14 years.
“The first day I pulled on this jersey I didn’t want to let it down,” he said. “I wanted to add to the legacy.
“That was the goal again tonight of putting on the jersey, add something to it and leave something of yourself in it. I’m so grateful to have done it for so many years. I have loved every minute of it.”
Agence France-Presse, Reuters
