All Blacks – 41 Australia - 13
FULLTIME - Owens mercifully blows the end of this one, it's been an AB demolition. Carter/Nonu/Smith absolutely immense and that should certainly calm a few nerves after last week. Click above for video highlights.
80 mins - Aus look for more consolation from deep, but the pass is into touch.
77 mins - TRY WALLABIES - Terrible attempt at a chip for his winger by TJ Perenara and it's a simple case of catch and run to the line for Israel Folau.
76 mins - Toomua knocks on at the half, NZ scrum. It's been a much different AB defense tonight.
74 mins - Read breaks down the blindside, finds Savea who storms another 25m. Ben Smith with the wipers kick but it's nicely marked by White in his own 22m.
72 mins - Held up from the line-out by the NZ forwards and it's going to be scrum black, much to the delight of the ABs bench.
71 mins - Another Aus penalty 5m shy, to the line-out they go. Cross field kick is tapped out by Slade, back for another Aus penalty we go, advantage was being played. It's all academic from here.
70 mins - Pocock turns it over, penalty advantage blown up for Aus. Line out 10m from the NZ line. The ABs will be eager to keep a clean sheet here.
69 mins - Aus shifting through the phases but the NZ defense is flying in. The knock on comes and NZ look to counter...
67 mins - Toomua's restart doesn't go ten metres, Conrad Smith plays at it anyway. Aus win themselves a penalty as Owens says he rolled in the tackle, Aus line-out at the NZ 22m as the ABs ring the changes. McCaw jogs off to a standing ovation of the highest order, a special moment.
64 mins - TRY ALL BLACKS - Simple but effective set play from the scrum, Carter takes it flat, sucks in defenders then offloads inside to a cutting Nonu who has too much pace and power for the cover defense, the Wellingtonian grabs a double. He's had a blinder of a return. Carter slots yet another conversion. (NZ 41-6)
63 mins - Beale reads the play well but the short pass to a streaking Savea is touched by Aus. They'll pack down again, right in front of the posts.
62 mins - Savea surges 15m, the ABs relentless here....Toomua emerges with the ball somehow then throws a ludicrously forward pass across his posts. NZ will pack down a scrum 5m out.
61 mins - NZ line out at the Aus 22m....Nonu drawing multiple defenders again. Numbers on the right but Conrad Smith can't quite get the pass away.
60 mins - Penalty NZ, Toomua with the early tackle after a 40m counter-attack from the ABs. They're really enjoying themselves now.
57 mins - Penalty Aus, Vito not rolling away. Aus line out at the NZ 10m. Beale runs on in place of Cooper, his night is done.
54 mins - TRY ALL BLACKS - Nonu with initial line break, they keep it tight near the line until it was Nonu again, finding his longtime midfield partner with a lovely wide ball and Conrad Smith waltzes in. Carter slots the conversion. (NZ 34-6)
53 mins - Giteau penalised for rolling in the tackle without releasing, nothing going right at the moment. Carter takes us to a line-out at the 22m...Nonu clear! taken a metre short....
51 mins - TRY ALL BLACKS - Milner-Skudder reclaims his kick, all the All Blacks had to do was shift it through the hands and it's the easiest of tries for Ma'a Nonu, silky skills. NZ have blown this one wide open. Conversion successful. (NZ 27-6)
50 mins - Aus with momentum from the restart, Kuridrani taken at the NZ 10m...poor kick wide to Milner-Skudder who kicks immediately exposing acres of space.....
48 mins - TRY ALL BLACKS - Nehe Milner-Skudder out of nowhere, bangs off the right foot at the 10m and beats one, accelerates to the Aus 22m and wraps a gorgeous offload around his defenders back to Aaron Smith who's taken in a head-high tackle by Quade Cooper. Owens whistles for the penalty try and Quade gets a yellow card for his troubles. Eden Park sent into raptures. (NZ 20-6)
46 mins - Messy scrum both ways, White's kick charged but it's back to Aus hands. Fardy works it to the 50m, kicks directly to Savea who breaks down the left touch...
44 mins - Carter fends one, Smith breaks, inside ball to Woodcock. Conrad Smith now, looking for Savea on the cut but he can't hold on to the pass. Owens calls off the advantage very early on that one. Aus scrum on their 22m...
43 mins - Carter skies a bomb and Read chase hard, wallops the receiving Ashley-Cooper. Aus scramble back to the ruck and clear.
42 mins - Carter with a scything run as he continues to take on the line. Franks hits it up, down at the 22m....Ben Smith grubbers for his winger Savea but just a bit too much weet-bix, dead it goes. Scrum Aus at their 22m.
41 mins - Huge 40 mins coming up. Pocock has taken his place on the field. Cooper gets us started....Carter clears early, Aus return as does Ben Smith and Cooper has made a meal of this, slips and misses the ball. AB line out 30m out now, great early chance.
Second half underway...
HALFTIME - Another physical encounter over the first 40 mins, the All Blacks looking more comfortable as time goes on but Australia have certainly turned up with their eyes firmly on the prize. History is on the home team's side however, the All BLacks haven't lost at Eden Park after leading at halftime since 1973 (vs England).
40 mins - Another great touchfinder, lineout NZ at the 22m. One last shot before the half...NZ keeping it tight and the Aus defense up to the task. Carter snaps a dropkick but doesn't strike it well and that will do us.
39 mins - The Aus maul is held up from the line-out, NZ win the scrumfeed at their own 10m. Penalty at the scrum, maybe a chance for a final line-out.
38 mins - Aus run a slick play down the short-side, Coles shuts it down. Aaron Smith kicks from the base of the ruck, out on the full. Smith unhappy with referee Owens, claims he was directly in his way.
37 mins - Milner-Skudder with a half chance, bursts down the right touch, finds Nonu outside. Tackled just 20m short of the Aus line but it's a penalty to the visitors. Line out Aus at the halfway mark.
35 mins - Smith sees an overlap, Vito down the touch, Savea now with a great carry. Advantage being played, Smith kicks over the top but Aus win the race. 22m restart.
32 mins - Milner-Skudder with a rare touch as they bring it back past halfway. Ben Smith takes on the line, penalty NZ again, Skelton leaving his feet. Carter weighs it up, then calls for the kicking tee. 50m, virtually in front.....the line is there but it falls just short.
31 mins - Ben Smith takes out the jumper for the high ball, Ashley-Cooper hits the deck hard. Aus will look to reclaim those three points, 40m on the angle. Cooper braces for the boos, then strikes it well. (NZ 13-6)
30 mins - Carter bangs it straight and true and NZ have a ten point buffer. (NZ 13-3)
28 mins - Nonu crash ball off the line-out. Vito makes his way over the 22m....Penalty NZ for offside. A minor scuffle erupts after the whistle, not too clear exactly what about but it was Nonu in the middle of it. Referee Owens wants a quick word. The TMO wants another look, appears to be nothing there. Back for the NZ shot at goal we go....should be an easy three points, 22m on a slight angle.
27 mins - White kicks from the base of the scrum, NZ line out 25m from the Aus line.
25 mins - NZ win the line-out and they break free again, the ball shifting through the hands. Had the penalty advantage but Owens waves it off after the Smith bomb is retrieved. Knock on at the ruck kills the movement. Aus scrum 5m from their own line.
24 mins - Turnover from the restart for McCaw and Ben Smith cuts through the defense, finds Vito who rumbles up the sideline, flicks one back infield but Milner-Skudder can't hold a tough ball.
23 mins - TRY ALL BLACKS - Incredible passage of play as Carter cuts inside one, delays the pass deftly inside to Dane Coles who swerves past Ashley-Cooper and sprints 30m for a stunning try. Carter slots the conversion right down the middle and NZ lead, against the run of play. (NZ 10-3)
21 mins - Maul well defended and they've turned it. Counter attack comes through Savea....
20 mins - NZ slowing the ball down well, the ABs chant goes up. Toomua hit hard by Nonu, Woodcock crunches Sio. Aus go wide, Speight wrapped up over the sideline by Coles. NZ get a touch, Aus line-out inside the 22m.
18 mins - Aaron Smith goes high from the ruck, Folau soars to haul in another spectacular take. Skelton busts one and they're 5m short now....
16 mins - Nonu busts one and surges to the Aus 10m line. Poor kick is deflected back to Aus but NZ win themselves a penalty through Sir Richie. Carter will take a shot from here, 40 plus metres on the angle, tricky one first up. Fantastic kick from DC and they've leveled the scores. (3-3)
15 mins - Some hard running and big defense as the ABs keep it tight.Carter opts to chip across field, Folau easily defuses and they're out of danger.
13 mins - NZ penalty at the scrum, Sio ruled to have collapsed. Carter takes us to a line-out at the 22m, excellent kick. Finally some attacking ball for the ABs.
12 mins - Aus sloppy at the line-out and NZ regather, messy ball as the suffocating Aus defense swarms. Back they go for the scrum near halfway.
10 mins - Folau with a stunning leap for the kick reception, Owen whistles the penalty against NZ, playing off their feet. Woodcock again. Aus line-out just past the NZ 10m.
9 mins - White clears from the restart...Ben Smith returns, Ashley-Cooper fumbles and eventually pings one back. Carter kicks for the corner but it rolls just slightly past the corner flag. 22m restart.
7 mins - White milks the penalty as Woodcock is offside, should be a straight-forward shot at goal...25m on the angle. NZ looking a little panicked early, forcing their hand. Cooper curls it over. (Aus 3-0)
6 mins - Skelton crashes forth at the halfway mark. NZ committing far more numbers at the ruck early. Savea takes the kick then throws an awful pass, Aus with momentum as they spin it wide...
5 mins - Carter goes quickly from the 22m, messy ball at the ruck and Aus have it back. Cooper taken at the 22m then throws an audacious no-look pass out to nobody at all, into touch.
4 mins - This time they have it, Cooper gets his first touch and chips over the line, NZ clean up. Smith box kick again, returned with credit and Ben Smith touchs back.
3 mins - Line out 5m from the 22m, great early chance for the visitors. Whitelock with a steal and Aaron Smith clears effectively. The troubles continue for the Aus line-out.
2 mins - Steady scrum both ways, Aus with a late shove to give Palu some momentum off the back and they've earned a penalty. Big statement early on.
1 min - Carter on the money with the kick-off, but the ABs knock on in the contest. Retallick comes down hard, a tough landing. First scrum.
We're underway...
7:31pm - It's a Kapa o Pango for this one, and the crowd loves it.
7:27pm - The rare sight of both teams emerging simultaneously, McCaw warmly greeted. Anthems done as we prepare for the haka.
7:19pm - The prize on offer here tonight, the Wallabies no doubt itching to lay a hand on it for the first time in 12 years. It's not the only streak on the line either, the All Blacks haven't lost at Eden Park since 1994, a 33 game winning run.
7pm - The man of the moment arrives at Eden Park earlier, Richie McCaw about to play a record 142nd Test match, likely his last at this famed venue.
Commentary will start from around 7pm. In the meantime check out the video above for a preview of tonight's game with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.
Line ups:
All Blacks: 15. Ben Smith, 14. Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13. Conrad Smith, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 11. Julian Savea, 10. Daniel Carter, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Kieran Read, 7. Richie McCaw (c), 6. Victor Vito, 5. Sam Whitelock, 4. Brodie Retallick, 3. Owen Franks, 2. Dane Coles, 1. Tony Woodcock
Reserves: 16. Keven Mealamu, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Nepo Laulala, 19. Jerome Kaino, 20. Sam Cane, 21. TJ Perenara, 22. Colin Slade, 23. Malakai Fekitoa.
Wallabies: 15. Israel Folau, 14. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Matt Toomua, 11. Drew Mitchell, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Nick Phipps, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Michael Hooper, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. James Horwill, 4. Will Skelton, 3. Sekope Kepu, 2. Stephen Moore (captain), 1. Scott Sio Reserves: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Kane Douglas, 21 David Pocock, 22 Matt Giteau, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Head to head:
New Zealand - $1.20 Australia - $4.20
Head to Head: Played – 153, All Blacks wins – 104, Australia - 42 Draws - 7
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Pre-match banter:
Cheika taunts NZ with Cooper selection
By Vince Rugari
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika pretty much asked for it and now New Zealand is duly obliging.
The All Blacks are set to make a bee-line straight for man-of-the-moment Quade Cooper in Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup decider at Eden Park.
That's the word from Cooper's nemesis, Richie McCaw, who even called for help from a parochial Auckland crowd to help throw the enigmatic Wallabies five-eighth off his game.
"From our point of view we've got to put as much pressure on him as we can," the New Zealand captain told reporters on Friday.
"He's the flyhalf for their team and we want to make it as tough a night for him as possible.
"That's all I'm worrying about. If the crowd help out with that, that'd be good."
That New Zealand will target Cooper, the perceived defensive weak link in the Australian side, should come as no surprise to Cheika.
Simply by having the gall to pick him, Cheika has effectively waved a red rag at the entire nation of New Zealand and asked them to take their best shot.
It is fair to question whether Cooper can handle the magnitude of the task and the occasion, particularly given his previous misfires at Eden Park and his recent social media brainfade when he lashed out at a New Zealand journalist who wrote that his "crazy" antics were damaging to the team's World Cup hopes.
But there seems little doubt inside Camp Wallaby that the 27-year-old is poised to provide an adequate response to the doubters.
"That's all peripheral stuff," captain Stephen Moore said.
"He's had a good week of training and we've got full faith in him.
"Cheik's made it clear everyone in the squad plays a huge role and to show faith in someone like Quade in a game like this is terrific."
Cooper is one of six changes made to the Wallabies side that beat New Zealand in Sydney last week to set up a first Bledisloe decider in seven years.
He joins halfback Nic White and the in-form Matt Toomua as part of an Australian playmaking nucleus from last year's Spring Tour that Cheika is keen to revisit.
But Cooper needn't treat this match as sink-or-swim in his bid to make Australia's World Cup squad, which will be announced next week.
"When he was selected, I spoke to him, saying: 'There's nothing to prove here. This is not some type of test for you. This is about you doing your job for the team in the game,'" Cheika said.
"I don't think that this is the appropriate match to say, play good here and you'll get in the World Cup.
"I'd say it's pretty obvious... our playmakers that have been rotating around, they're centre stage for me. They're coming."
