All Blacks prove doubters wrong at Eden Park

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The All Blacks have got their Tri Nations campaign off to the perfect start with a hard-fought come-from-behind 22-16 victory over Australia at Eden Park on Saturday night.

The home side found themselves down by 10 points early on as the Wallabies constantly looked dangerous with the ball in their hands and a strong win at their backs.

But as the All Blacks did last year they got stronger as the game went on and finally prevailed thanks to a try from captain Richie McCaw and the boot of much-maligned first five-eighth Stephen Donald.

The pivot missed a couple of kicks early on, but found his range in difficult kicking conditions to silence his critics and hand the All Blacks the early advantage in their bid to retain the Bledisloe Cup and win a fifth straight Tri Nations title.

But the game could have turned out very differently if the Wallabies hadn't blown an easy try when second five-eighth Berrick Barnes was caught in two minds and threw a hospital pass to 100-Test veteran George Smith.

After that opportunity the All Blacks came more into the game and finally triumphed to the delight of the capacity Eden Park crowd and Australia will head home having once more failed to break their Eden Park hoodoo.

But it all looked very different after a strong opening blast from the Wallabies.

The All Blacks showed their intent early with a couple of high bombs as they looked to put the visitors under pressure.

But it was the Wallabies who silenced the crowd with a brilliant try in just the fourth minute. Fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper wasn't held in a tackle, broke down the middle and fed Barnes.

The Queensland Red had far too much space on the right wing and with Sitiveni Sivivatu left marking four players he had the easiest of tasks to ghost past Muliaina and dot down. Matt Giteau converted for his 13th straight conversion against the All Blacks.

Hooker Andrew Hore threw a couple of lineouts long and his poor start continued when he was penalised on the half-way line. Giteau kicked to open up a double-figure lead for Australia as New Zealand looked stunned.

Under-pressure Donald missed his first kick at goal in the 12th minute, but reduced the difference just a couple of minutes later after the Aussies strayed offside as the All Blacks strived to stem the Australian tide.

Then came the moment which may have cost the Australians the match when they somehow conspired to butcher an opportunity with the try-line wide open. A Donald grubber attempt was blocked in midfield and Giteau fed the rampaging Barnes.

He had so much space but couldn't decided whether to pass or go for the try.

In the end he threw the ball at George Smith, he couldn't hold onto the pill and the All Blacks somehow escaped.

Giteau briefly stretched the lead again in the 21st minute after McCaw played the ball on the ground, but the returning captain had his revenge just three minutes later with the try that brought his troops back into the game.

The home side pushed deep into Wallabies' territory for the first time, and after a couple of half-chances were blown on the left, the ball was worked back right and Conrad Smith made a half-break. He passed to McCaw on the inside and the captain crashed over for the five-pointer. Donald converted.

But as the first half drew to a close it was the Australians who continued to look more dangerous with the ball in hand. Every time they had territory in the New Zealand half the visitors seemed to find space and if there passing had been better they could have made the second-half a lot harder for the home team.

The All Blacks had the final scoring attempt in the first-half when a brilliant break by Donald split the Wallabies' defence, but he couldn't find a team-mate with the pass and referee Craig Joubert blew to end a disappointing first period for the men in black.

Donald tied the game early in the second half when Wallabies half-back Luke Burgess handled the ball on the ground and then gave the All Blacks the lead for the first time just two minutes later after the Australians were penalised for obstruction.

Giteau then replied after Smith failed to support his own weight at the breakdown and the game was once more in the balance.

Both teams went to the bench early with Owen Franks and Keven Mealamu called to front-row duty for New Zealand, while David Pocock replaced Richard Brown for the Wallabies as they tried using two open-sides for the first time.

Heading into the final quarter the All Blacks grabbed the lead again after a Jerome Kaino knock-down led to yet another penalty for Donald but the game was still there to be won by both teams.

Donald increased the lead with his fifth penalty with just six minutes left after some good old fashioned forward play gave the home team territory deep in the AUstralian half.

But neither team seriously threatened the try-line again and the game ended after strong New Zealand defence kept the Wallabies near the half-way line and replacement Piri Weepu smashed the ball into touch.

The Wallabies have a few weeks to contemplate the loss before taking on the Springboks, while the All Blacks now face a difficult road-trip to the republic for a double-header starting in Bloemfontein next Sunday morning (NZ time).

New Zealand 22 (Try: Richie McCaw Conversion: Stephen Donald Penalties: Stephen Donald (5))
Australia 16 (Try: Berrick Barnes Conversion: Matt Giteau Penalties: Matt Giteau (3))

H/T: 10-13