Three in a row! Kiwis down Kangaroos again

Kiwis players celebrate Shaun Johnson's first half try. Photo / Getty Images

Kiwis 26
Kangaroos 12

Let's not mince words. This was one of the greatest New Zealand league displays of the modern era, a win as convincing as it was astounding.

We can put it alongside the 18-0 win in 1985 and the 24-0 victory in Leeds twenty years later.

It was black gold.

A brilliant attacking display in the first half - where they scored 24 points in 20 minutes - was followed by an outstanding defensive effort in the second spell.

Remember most of the big guns were back for Australia, including Johnathan Thurston and several key forwards. But it didn't matter.

And Australian coach Tim Sheens didn't learn his lesson: the Kangaroos' uneasy mix of veterans and debutants didn't work in November and it was ineffective again last night.

The Australians were uncertain, hesitant and inaccurate, in no small part thanks to an aggressive, focused Kiwis team.

It was the Kiwis' third successive victory over Australia, their first trio of wins since 1952-53. They also, finally, ended the Anzac Test hoodoo, dating back to 1998.

Today the glory of the first half will be highlighted but the guts and grits in the second was just as important.

"It is very satisfying, a wonderful performance," said coach Stephen Kearney. "The defensive effort was the foundation of the victory. They had a number of shots on our try line and there was always more black jerseys there than green and gold jumpers. In the second half we kept turning them away."

Sheens paid tribute to the commitment of the Kiwis and Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith conceded that his team could no longer be ranked No1.

Meanwhile, Shaun Johnson, who defied the critics with a compelling performance, had no doubts.

"I guess we are number one now and it has been a long time coming," he said. "We know Australia will bounce back - they always do - but I think we will keep improving too."

The Kiwis set a physical tone early: Issac Luke and Sam Moa both smashed Cooper Cronk (legally) and Martin Taupau made some ferocious charges.

Yet Australia scored the first try through Sam Thaiday in the 13th minute, running off a Cooper Cronk pass.

Then came an onslaught, surely the best 20-minutes the Kiwis have enjoyed against the Kangaroos in the modern era.

They scored four tries and made numerous breaks, thundering up the field with power and poise.

Manu Vatuvei powered over close to the sideline, and eight minutes later the "Beast" crossed again, for his fourth try in two matches against Australia.

Now the Kiws had the bit between their teeth, and the fire in their eyes, epitomised by Taupau's aggressive confrontation with Thaiday.

Shaun Johnson produced a huge sidestep to touch down near the posts before the Kiwis scored a brilliant long range try on the stroke of halftime to Shaun Kenny-Dowall.

New Zealand's level dropped in the second half; it was an unprecedented situation to have a 20-point halftime lead, and Australia threw the kitchen sink.

The Kiwis conceded mountains of possession and territory and only some desperate defending stopped the Kangaroos mounting a serious comeback.

New Zealand 26 (M Vatuvei 2, S Johnson, S Kenny-Dowall tries, S Johnson 5 goals)
Australia 12 (S Thaiday, W Chambers tries, J Thurston 2 goals)
Halftime: 26-6.