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NEW Zealand fans taunted Australians with "four more years" chants as the All Blacks edged closer to ending their World Cup curse with victory over the Wallabies at Eden Park.
The nervous Australian team was blown off the park by the fired-up Kiwis, who now have one hand on the Webb Ellis Cup after booking a date with France in next weekend's final.
The relief of a jittery nation after 24 years of World Cup failure was obvious at Eden Park, where gloating All Blacks fans in the 60,027-strong crowd borrowed the famous sledge of George Gregan in 2003 to farewell their trans-Tasman rivals as they left the ground.
After beating the Wallabies for the first time in a World Cup, New Zealand now appear a certainty to break their title drought next Sunday in a replay of the 1987 final with a weak French outfit.
The Wallabies will have to make do with a replay of the 1987 third versus fourth playoff with Wales on Friday after simply failing to counter the All Blacks' huge intensity.
Australia's young side was a shadow of their normal confident selves, kicking too often and too poorly and coughing up far too much ball when rare attacks were launched.
New Zealand scored the only try of the match through Ma'a Nonu in the first half but, showing no ill-effects of missing Dan Carter, the boot of Piri Weepu did the rest.
But while the Kiwis appeared unfazed by the loss of Carter, the Wallabies desperately missed Kurtley Beale at fullback.
Australia gave up far too much territory and possession under the high ball, and lacked Beale's instinctive attacking thrust as well.
Quade Cooper had another poor night, making crucial errors and failing to lead Australia when they needed a talisman.
In contrast, the experienced All Blacks remained superbly composed under the vast pressure of an expectant nation and defended like demons.
Robbie Deans said it was the best All Blacks performance he'd seen while coaching against them.
"The All Blacks are a very good defensive side. We lost our fluency. All credit to the All Blacks, they attacked the ball very well," Deans said.
"They made it difficult for us to create any momentum.
"We felt the game was in our reach but we just didn't get enough possession to build any pressure. They inhibited our attack."
All Blacks coach Graham Henry praised his captain Richie McCaw, who outpointed his young rival David Pocock in a real captain's knock.
"They had a huge physical presence from minute one to minute 80, led by Richie (McCaw)," Henry said.
The Wallabies trailed 14-6 at halftime after an opening period in which they again conceded a vast majority of territory and possession to the All Blacks.
And it could have been more, had Piri Weepu not had a faulty radar with his goalkicking.
The television cameras focused on Quade Cooper during the national anthems and the under-siege five-eighth gave the black crowd plenty to jeer about when he put the ball straight into touch from the kick-off.
That gave New Zealand an early chance to set up camp in the gold half, and they barely left for the next 40 minutes.
Israel Dagg was brilliant all night and set up the only try in the seventh minute when he gassed around Rocky Elsom out wide and set up Nonu.
Australia rarely looked settled, both with the ball and when in defence.
They missed far too many tackles, and kicked poorly.
New Zealand set up camp. Penalties were traded Weepu missed it in the ninth minute but he made good two minutes later with a kick straight through the posts to lead 6-0.
When the Wallabies finally got some possession they showed glimpses of their potency.
A poor clearance kick by Weepu saw Digby Ioane slide through on the counter-attack and almost score, but a strong Jerome Kaino tackle held him up.
James O'Connor banged over a penalty but as a string of errors from out-of-sorts Cooper errors helped New Zealand back downfield, Weepu missed his second kick in the 18th minute.
Rookie All Blacks No.10 Aaron Cruden showed great composure to slot a field-goal in the 22nd minute but after escaping their territory briefly, Cooper answered him with a nerve-settling drop-goal himself.
The Wallabies' persistent inability to clear their own half saw New Zealand resume occupancy, and Weepu finally slotted a second penalty when Adam Ashley-Cooper was caught accidentally offside in the 37th minute.
The Wallabies immediately went a further three points down when Weepu slotted another penalty after the break but it sparked them into life.
Australia started to build some pressure with the ball in the Kiwi half, but the New Zealand defence proved the equal of the Wallaby attack.
Usually so slick with the ball, the Wallabies looked nervous and flat-footed with slow ball, and handling errors released the pressure at the worst times.
Pat McCabe's shoulder couldn't hold out and he was replaced by Berrick Barnes.
The Kiwis missed two chances to score in the third quarter, with Weepu missing another penalty shot and Dagg scuffing a field goal shot.
But they'd done enough by then.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/rug...-1226167923485
next time hey?
we certainly lost this game today
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Originally Posted by Garfiep
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