Wing Caleb Clarke scored two tries as New Zealand overcame a slow start to overwhelm Australia 33-13 in their final match of the Rugby Championship yesterday.
The All Blacks racked up five tries to one in a fast-moving contest in Wellington to stretch their winning streak against the Wallabies to nine straight matches and leave them with four wins from six in the Rugby Championship.
Having trailed for much of the first half, the home side took a 19-13 lead on the stroke of half-time through an audacious try by Clarke before dominating the remainder of the contest.
Photo: AP
Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies crashed to their fifth Rugby Championship defeat of a troubled campaign and remain without a win over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil since 2001.
It was an improved finish to the match for Scott Robertson’s New Zealand, who have faltered badly in the closing stages of several recent Tests, including last week’s 31-28 defeat of the Wallabies that saw them retain the Bledisloe Cup.
As with the Sydney contest, both teams adopted a ball-in-hand approach, with the in-form Clarke a chief beneficiary as he took his tally to seven tries in five Tests this year.
Photo: AFP
It was the last home Test for two long-serving New Zealand players, with flanker Sam Cane and scrum-half TJ Perenara both moving to Japan clubs at the end of the year.
It was also the 100th Test for former skipper Cane, who was typically industrious and received a standing ovation from a crowd of 32,000 when he was substituted in the second half.
Beauden Barrett, who started in place of Damian McKenzie at fly-half, landed four conversions for the All Blacks while Wallabies counterpart Noah Lolesio kicked eight points, including the conversion of their lone try scored by Fraser McReight.
Australia were awarded the first six penalties of the match and dominated the opening stages resulting in flanker McReight burrowing over.
The All Blacks improved their discipline and registered three tries before the interval, all to outside backs.
Wing Sevu Reece capitalized on a break and accurate long pass from centre Anton Lienert-Brown to score, before fullback Will Jordan danced through the defense for his 35th try in 37 Tests.
The home side turned down a simple penalty shot at goal on the stroke of half-time and their gamble paid off, with Lienert-Brown’s pass sending Clarke through and untouched next to the posts.
New Zealand’s forwards took the upper hand as the game wore on and the result was put beyond doubt when replacement prop Tamaiti Williams and Clarke touched down in quick succession midway through the second half.
The Wallabies finish bottom of the four-nation Rugby Championship, with their solitary victory a one-point defeat of Argentina.
New Zealand would finish second or third, with the tournament champions to be decided when leaders South Africa hosted the Pumas after press time last night.
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