All Blacks win Bledisloe Cup

By DANIEL GILHOOLY - 9.35pm

ALL BLACKS 21 AUSTRALIA 17

The All Blacks celebrated their 100 years of test match rugby in the best possible style in Auckland last night, beating the Wallabies 21-17 to regain the Bledisloe Cup.

After the final whistle, captain Reuben Thorne raised the cup above his head to a massive roar of 45,000 people at Eden Park, signifying the relief and delight at ending Australia's six-year reign as holders.

The All Blacks had nothing like the dominance of last month's 50-21 romp in Sydney but still deserved to win, playing the more enterprising style and scoring two tries to one.

Wallabies flanker George Smith crossed for a try to narrow the scores with five minutes remaining, ensuring a dramatic final stanza but the All Blacks held on grimly to maintain their unbeaten record in the Tri-Nations series, which they had wrapped up last week.

Otherwise the visitors relied on the boot of second five-eighth Elton Flatley, whose 12 points came via four penalties from as many attempts.

Both of New Zealand's tries went to right winger Doug Howlett in the first half while first five-eighth Carlos Spencer contributed the remaining 11 points with his boot.

The willingness of both sides to keep the ball in hand defied the greasy, showery conditions, with the All Blacks particularly adept at counter-attacking from deep while the Wallabies were at their most effective when stringing together quick phases of play.

It was a brave effort from the visitors, desperate to keep the Bledisloe Cup and reverse the embarrassment felt in Sydney, and they threatened to pull off another of the late victories that have marked their reign.

Although outplayed for much of the match, they stayed within sight of the All Blacks throughout, trailing just 9-15 at halftime.

Tonight's match came 100 years and a day after the All Blacks' first test, also against Australia. That match at the Sydney Cricket Ground was honoured this week by a gathering in Auckland of great rugby figures from both nations.

Flatley opened the scoring with a penalty in the first minute after lock Chris Jack infringed.

Five minutes later Howlett crossed for his first try. He took the final pass from outstanding hooker Keven Mealamu after a third Aucklander, fullback Mils Muliaina, sparked a counter-attack.

Flatley kicked another penalty in the 10th minute but the Wallabies were unlucky it wasn't more.

Winger Lote Tuqiri had crossed for a try under the crossbar but South African referee Jonathan Kaplan didn't give Australia any advantage from the All Blacks' ruck infringement.

A third Flatley penalty after 21 minutes gave them a 9-7 advantage but it was the last time they were to lead.

The arrival of rain threatened to ruin the spectacle but it had the opposite affect on the hosts, who played some of their most enterprising rugby in the 15 minutes before halftime.

An Australian turnover and Spencer chip saw Howlett outsprint Flatley for a try in the corner.

Five minutes from halftime Spencer kicked a penalty to give the All Blacks a 15-9 edge.

He missed another chance on the stroke of halftime which would have extended the lead but made amends with a successful kick seven minutes after the break.

Muliaina limped off at that point after falling awkwardly in a tackle, giving replacement fullback Leon MacDonald his first test appearance for more than a year.

With the test threatening to get away from them, the Wallabies opted to kick for a lineout in the 55th minute when they received a penalty within goalkicking range.

They crossed the tryline twice in the space of a minute but replacement flanker Owen Finegan and first five-eighth Stephen Larkham were both ruled not have grounded the ball by the third match official.

When the next penalty opportunity arose Flatley kicked it but Spencer responded with another in the 65th minute to open out a 21-12 lead.

Smith's try was the culmination of increasing Australian pressure.

Both teams now have six weeks' preparation before the World Cup starts in Australia on October 10.

- NZPA