Match Details

Qantas Wallabies

VS

All Blacks

	24	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Kick off times: 8:05pm (Local) Sat 13 Sep 8:05pm (AEST) Sat 13 Sep	28
	Head to Head: Played 155 : New Zealand 105, Australia 45, Drawn 5 Last Time: 13/09/08 : New Zealand 28 - Australia 24 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

A strong second half surge from the All Blacks saw the Tri-Nations title snatched away from the Qantas Wallabies tonight in Brisbane, as the Men of Gold went down 28-24 in a thrilling Test match.

The Wallabies led 17-7 early in the second half after a try to Queensland Reds lock James Horwill but the All Blacks hit back through tries to prop Tony Woodcock, replacement scrumhalf Piri Weepu and flyhalf Dan Carter to set up the hard-fought victory.

Ryan Crosscapped a superb game with a try late on and the Wallabies almost pulled off an amazing victory after the whistle but the All Blacks held on. New Zealand had opened the scoring in the first half with a try to fullback Mils Muliaina with the Wallabies fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper bagging one on the stroke of half time.

Earlier a packed Suncorp stadium saw Australia get some early free-kicks from referee Jonathan Kaplan for not rolling away at the ruck and in the third minute Ali Williams was penalized for pulling Nathan Sharpe down at the lineout.

Wallabies flyhalf Matt Giteau was however just short on the penalty attempt from 40 metres out and ten in from touch. The Wallabies had started well however with Giteau, Cross and even George Smith trying some clever grubber kicks, turning the New Zealand defence around.

A penalty and a free kick saw All Blacks No.8 Rodney So’oialo charge in to the Wallabies 22 from the back of a New Zealand scrum but a mistake from flanker Jerome Kaino saw the promising attack break down.

On 12 minutes another free-kick for a Wallaby ruck indiscretion saw an All Blacks scrum 30 metres out from the Wallabies line. The Wallabies looked to have turned over possession a few phases later but again were sanctioned at the ruck. New Zealand tapped the short-arm and scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan charged at the Men of Gold’s line

From the ensuing ruck the ball was spread by the All Blacks to the right were the Wallabies were caught short and fullback Muliaina dived in for the first try of the game. Carter slotted the conversion beautifully and after 14 minutes New Zealand led 7-0.

With both sides competing so fiercely at the breakdown it was very hard for either team to get continuity with a constant stream of free kicks and penalties from Kaplan.

The Wallabies put together some good continuity though soon after at the end of a kicking duel. The ball came wide to No.8 Wycliff Palu who had men on the outside. But just when it looked like the Men of Gold were away, Palu inexplicably dropped the ball.

A golden opportunity for Australia had gone begging.

But the Wallabies won a tighthead brilliantly from the ensuing scrum, casting in to considerable doubt the All Blacks supposed scrum superiority, and then Richie McCaw was penalized yet again for offside at the breakdown.

Giteau this time made no mistake from the penalty 30 metres out directly in front to make it 7-3.

On 25 minutes the Wallabies strung ten phases together superbly, with Cross prominent with two excellent breaks. They took the ball down field sixty metres to be only metres from the All Blacks line but just when it looked the Wallabies might score the All Blacks turned the ball over and Cowan cleared for New Zealand.

But with Kaplan’s patience stretched very thin the All Blacks were wary of any more ruck infringements and the Men of Gold were able to put together some consistent possession.

But Palu was struggling with a knock to his knee and on 33 minutes he trudged off and Richard Brown, the young Western Force flanker, was rewarded for his consistent form on the training paddock, coming on for his first Test cap. Palu was diagnosed soon after with medial ligament damage.

On the stroke of halftime the Wallabies were in front with one of their best tries in recent years.

It started on the Australian 22 with a break from Horwill who got the ball away to Rocky Elsom. Elsom went to ground and set up quick ruck ball. The ball came wide to Cross who made another excellent run.

He was stopped in the New Zealand 22 but some more quick ruck ball saw Giteau with time and he put in a well judged cross kick. Peter Hynes outjumped Sitiveni Sivivatu before popping the ball inside to fullback Ashley-Cooper who stepped through two All Blacks tackler to score a stunning Wallabies try.

Giteau converted from wide out and the Wallabies were worthy leaders at half time, 10 – 3.

The second half started as the first had ended with the Wallabies getting good quick ruck ball that they used in a structured and composed fashion. With just a few minutes gone in the second period McCaw was penalized again for slowing the ball down at ruck time. The All Blacks captain was pushing very close to receiving a Yellow Card.

From the ensuing lineout again the Wallabies spun the ball wide and put together numerous phases. Stirling Mortlock took the ball forward and again Cross got through a half gap taking the ball close to the All Blacks line.

The ball was quickly recycled and Giteau used the ball well, spinning it wide to Horwill who crashed over through Carter’s tackle for another superb Wallabies try. Giteau landed the conversion from the touchline and the Men of Gold were on fire at 17-7.

But just as suddenly the All Blacks were back in the match with a try against the run of play. A mistake from the Wallabies in dealing with a kick through by Carter saw New Zealand spin the ball wide to Conrad Smith.

Smith got into space and then found the unlikely Tony Woodcock on the wing outside. The big Blues prop sprinted away down the touchline to score his third try against the Wallabies in two Tests. Carter converted superbly from the touchline to bring the score back to 17-14.

The All Blacks then went to the bench with Weepu coming on for Cowan, Stephen Donald on for Ma’a Nonu and John Afoa on for Greg Somerville.

The Wallabies looked like they might hit back immediately as they put together double figure phases in the All Blacks 22 after another kick mistake, this time by New Zealand. But somehow the All Blacks defence held firm and when Sam Cordingley, playing in his last Test on his home ground in Brisbane, dove for the line they turned the ball over and cleared.

It was a thrilling, pulsating encounter going from end to end now and it was the All Blacks who were next to go close with lock Ali Williams charging towards the line before being dispossessed by a blockbusting tackle by Ashley-Cooper.

With twenty minutes to go the Tri-Nations was there for either team to win. Both sides were exhausted at the sheer pace of the game and it was a matter of who would crack first.

It looked like the Wallabies were threatening but lock Nathan Sharpe, running like a centre, ran one out at the defence out wide and lost possession. The All Blacks immediately attacked with So’oialo taking the ball into the Australian 22.

From the next ruck Sivivatu darted through and was well tackled but he popped up the ball to a charging Weepu who went in for the All Blacks third try. Carter again converted perfectly from far out and the All Blacks were back in the lead at 21-17.

The Wallabies once more threatened to hit back straight away but a mix up between Giteau and Tuqiri saw the ball go to ground and New Zealand escape again.

With 15 minutes to go one moment of brilliance would win it for either side and it was Carter, as he has done so many times, who tilted it further the All Blacks way.

With the New Zealand replacements making a massive difference, especially Weepu with his quick service at the base of the ruck as well as Donald, Afoa and Keven Mealamu, who had come on for Andrew Hore at hooker, the All Blacks took the ball close to the Wallabies line before Carter weaved his way through a number of Australian defenders to score close to the posts.

Carter again converted and the All Blacks were now well clear at 28-17.

Deans now went to the bench bringing on Hugh McMeniman for Elsom and Adam Freier for Stephen Moore, as the All Blacks seemed to be holding the edge in fitness and intensity.

But it was the Wallabies who went very close with five minutes to go after good work again from Cross and Giteau but the All Blacks scrambled effectively and the ball went to ground again just as it looked like the Men of Gold would score.

Cross however got the try he so richly deserved after great play from the Wallabies pack turned the ball over at scrum time just two minutes later. From the Australian feed the ball came to the Western Force centre who ran straight and hard and somehow got the ball over the line between four All Blacks defenders.

Giteau converted and it was 28-24. The Wallabies had ninety seconds to score a miracle try and win the Tri-Nations.

From the re-start Giteau tried a mid-field bomb but the All Blacks re-gathered. Then as the full time siren sounded the Wallabies again turned the ball over and had 75 metres to go for a stunning victory.

The Men of Gold took the ball down to the All Blacks 22 with some excellent handling and committed charges but the move broke down when it seemed an All Blacks player had clearly charged in at the side of the ruck.

Kaplan didn’t object however and the ball came to Weepu who booted the ball in to touch to give New Zealand victory in this thrilling, action-packed Tri-Nations decider that certainly lived up to its billing as the biggest game in Australia since the 2003 Rugby World Cup final.

It also allowed New Zealand to once again retain both the Tri-Nations crown and the Bledisloe Cup from the unlucky, valiant Men of Gold, who were warmly applauded by the capacity Suncorp Stadium crowd at the final whistle for their 100% effort.

Tri-Nations

Full time score

All Blacks 28 (Mils Muliaina, Tony Woodcock, Piri Weepu, Dan Carter tries; Dan Carter 4 conversions) defeated Qantas Wallabies 24 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, James Horwill, Ryan Cross tries; Matt Giteau 3 conversions, penalty) at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Crowd: 52,328 (Halftime: Wallabies 10-7)